summary says it all: in the browser [at least, cc'ing nbaca for mailnews info], f6 will cycle through the frames in a counter-clockwise manner, whereas shift+f6 will cyclem through frames clockwise. this, from what i can tell [but using the tab key], is how 4x worked. however, i'm filing this as an RFE in case anyone else would prefer f6 to go clockwise and shift+f6 to go ccw. [i don't have strong feelings either way.] after speaking with german, he mentions that the direction for f6 and shift+f6 be the *same* btwn the browser and mailnews. if it isn't, that's a bug [prolly should be filed separately so as not to digress too much from this rfe].

->over to aaronl; punt as needed. :)

Using WinMe: FYI: In Mail F6 moves clockwise through the mail panes and Shift+F6 moves counter-clockwise (Tab, Shift+Tab works the same). This matches the behavior of 4.x Mail. I am not an expert with frames and links, but using 4.x I went to Wired.com and it appears that Tab moves clockwise and then down the left column. Shift+Tab is counter-clockwise.

nbaca: that's weird, coz tab in 4x [i tested on mac, winnt and linux] went counter-clockwise, and shift+tab went clockwise in www.faqs.com. what platform were you using? i better check the spec --cycling might be defined in the html [eg, the order of the frames within the frameset]... anyhow, there should be a separate bug, i think, to resolve the directional diff btwn mail and browser --whichever way we go, it should be consistent. :)

Unmodified tabbing should always go from left to right, up to down (what I guess you're calling `clockwise'). Shifted tabbing should always go in the opposite direction. Therefore, this be a bug, not an RFE.

(Er, when I said `unmodified', I meant `unShifted'. It might be modified by Control or Alt or Command, but still unShifted. Sorry for the confusion.)

Oddly, IE behaves the same way we currently do.

-> bryner

moving these out to 0.9.5 since it doesn't look like I will have time for 0.9.4.

Wait a minute- What about making F6 bring up the address text-box? I've been trying to search Bugzilla to see if anyone has suggested this before, and I came across this bug to make F6 cycle frames. Well, can they be combined, i.e., a first press of F6 will bring up the address text-box (ala IE on Windows), while continued presses will cycle back down into browser and any frames? Or, should I submit a new request (in opposition to this existing request) for F6 to imitate IE on Windows platforms?

You can do whatever you like, but i'd mark it invalid, since it's wrong. Steps to reproduce: install google toolbar for ie, show explorer sidebar (I picked History), show address bar show google toolbar (below address bar) click into the google search region press f6. Behavior on ie5.5w2k is to focus the [x] of History, not to bring focus to the address bar. Alternative steps to reproduce, somehow manage to focus an entry in the history list (this takes talent), press f6. Behavior on ie5.5w2k is to focus the content panel, not to bring focus to the address bar.

If F6 is inconsistent in IE, then it must be a bug! (ha ha) I don't use the sidepanel in IE, so F6 has consistently worked for me. All I'm asking is that Mozilla have some consistent shortcut key to jump to the address window -- it doesn't have to be F6! I only suggested that because it doesn't do anything in Mozilla currently, and (most of the time) it works in IE...

I'd say we do go left to right, up to down as mpt suggests, on both www.faqs.org and in mailnews. Therefore, I'm marking this invalid.

okidoke, v.