Miscellaneous Hacks - Keyboard Navigator (CTRL+Arrows shortcuts)

vb 4.x version here

This hack adds some keyboard shortcuts for accelerated navigation. Very convenient, when you browse forum without mouse (notebook with touchpad and so on).

Current shortcuts:

• Ctrl + Left - previous page (current page - 1)
• Ctrl + Right - next page (current page + 1)
• Ctrl + Up - 1 level up.
• (!) Ctrl + Down - Go to next unread thread in current forum (only for registered forum members)

Demo: http://forum.rcdesign.ru/f22/ (without CTRL+DOWN for guests)

(!) "Next Unread" is taken from end (the most old unread thread). Reason is simple - that makes less returns, since top threads are updated very often.

PS. As you can see from screenshot, only Ctrl + Left/Right have visual helpers. If someone have good idea how to show, that Ctrl+ Up/Down are working too - feel free to share.

This mod is developped here: http://github.com/rcdesign/vb-keyboard_navigator . Patches are welcome.

History

0.6
- Redirects for moved threads caused error for CTRL+Down

0.5
- added lock when cursor focus is in edit area
- removed CTRL+HOME shortcut (uncomment in template, if really need it)

0.4
- added Ctrl+Down

0.2, 0.3
- Small JS fixes
- Nice helpers in pagebar (see screenshot)

0.1
- First Public Release

[dvbusuario]

Originally Posted by xuanhuy238

i don't use shortcut of previous and next pages

Me too!

[Vitaly]

Everybody welcome to test new version 0.4 !

What's chaged:

• No uploads needed (desided to include javascript in template)
• CTRL + DOWN hotkey (not for guests) !!! - Move to new unread thread in current forum. If no new thread - then go up to thread list.

How CTRL + DOWN work.

The most old unread thread taken from current forum. Then user redirected to first unread post in that thread.

Why oldest thread, not newest?

Usability question. Still not desided, what is better. It seems, that top threads are updated more often. So, if you navigate from start, more "come back" happens. IMHO, that's a bit irritating.

How to install:

1. Make shure, that "readed posts" are tracked in database (forum setting).
2. Just import product.

[Vitaly]

Fixed some bugs in 0.4 pre-release and released new 0.4 version (first post). Ctrl+Down added enougth functionality to browse forum with shortcuts.

Enjoy!

As you can see from screenshot, only Ctrl + Left/Right have visual helpers. If someone have good idea how to show, that Ctrl+ Up/Down are working too - feel free to shre.

[Jasem]

Great job, thank you!

installed

[Vitaly]

I've added all shortcuts lock, when user edit text in any input or textarea field.

That prevents conflicts, when user wish to move cursor on word left/right, but is redirected to another page instead.

[Dr. Bantham]

Great mod!

The latest version introduces a conflict with cyb Chatbox. The "Message..." prompt will not disappear as it should when activating the input box.

[Vitaly]

Try to comment out (or delete) this block:

var c = document.getElementsByTagName('input'); 
for (var i=0; i<c.length; i++) { 
    if (c[i].type == 'text') { 
        c[i].onfocus = onFocusHandler; 
        c[i].onblur = onBlurHandler; 
    } 
} 

in template kbd_nav_block.

[Zi55]

I install it in my forum , but only the CTRL Up/down is working Left and right not working at all
.l try it also in test forum , the same thing happen
Thanks

[TK1990]

Originally Posted by Zi55

I install it in my forum , but only the CTRL Up/down is working Left and right not working at all
.l try it also in test forum , the same thing happen
Thanks

Same here.

[Vitaly]

1. vB version ?
2. Skin ?

Please check. that Ctrl -> and <- Ctrl were added as on screenshot from description.