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I installed ubuntu 16.04 w/ Firefox 47. The bookmark list shown by alt-b no longer responds to keyboard input.

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by John99

elvoking
elvoking
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Under Ubuntu 12.10, I could enter alt-b to pull up the bookmark list. I could then type the first character of the bookmark or folder to navigate to it. After a clean installation of Ubuntu 16.04 and Firefox 47, typing the first letter no longer has any effect. I have to use the cursor keys or the mouse to navigate to the bookmark or folder. The alt key doesn't display any underlined character in the bookmark list, it just hides the list.

The problem was previously described here: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2338883 None of the suggestions worked.

Under Ubuntu 12.10, I could enter alt-b to pull up the bookmark list. I could then type the first character of the bookmark or folder to navigate to it. After a clean installation of Ubuntu 16.04 and Firefox 47, typing the first letter no longer has any effect. I have to use the cursor keys or the mouse to navigate to the bookmark or folder. The alt key doesn't display any underlined character in the bookmark list, it just hides the list. The problem was previously described here: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2338883 None of the suggestions worked.

All Replies (3)

John99
John99
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I am not using Ubuntu at present and do not yet have 16.04. So this is not a definite answer more of a guess.

Alt is the Firefox shortcut for getting the menubar. Alt+B opens the Menu bar and moves to the Bookmarks tab A further keypress then works to highlight a bookmark or folder if it matches a first letter.

Ubuntu may use holding Alt for something else.

Note Ctrl+B should open the bookmarks sidebar - convenient if you have a wide screen and further keypress should navigate within that. Same with the bookmarks list from the icon - I am not ware of it having a Keyboard shortcut, - but it does work too with the Library (Ctrl+Shift+B)

See also

elvoking
elvoking Question owner
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John99 said

A further keypress then works to highlight a bookmark or folder if it matches a first letter.

The further keypress no longer works - that's the bug I'm seeing.

John99
John99
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What happens if you try the bookmarks sidebar does a further keypress work with that ?

Its going to be a few days before I look on Ubuntu myself, but as I mentioned my newest install is 14.04 LTS so I may not see the problem anyway.

Have you tried Firefox's safe mode, The 2011 problem report you found was apparently caused by an extension.

From your description I wondered whether you were pressing the Alt key again once you had the cursor inside a bookmarks listing.. Yes that could hide the display, Please try just pressing the letter key without the Alt.