bug(windows): Chrome bypasses Keyman keyboard in `SELECT` fields when selecting items by keypress

[nileshbandhiya]

User cannot select a list from a list box in website by using netGujarati keyboard (netgkb). It is working on my old netGujarati keyboard layout which was developed in Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. But when I am using netGujarati keyboard which is developed in Keyman's platform, not working properly.

I am attaching a GIF which can explain my query.

[nileshbandhiya]

Video List: https://drive.google.com/file/d/139vVMZks2E3vqSZUKmnVnkd0CvmQGe0o/view?usp=sharing

[LornaSIL]

This is maybe an implementation issue? I don't think it's a problem with the keyboard itself. I don't know which repo this belongs in. @mcdurdin

[nileshbandhiya]

This is maybe an implementation issue? I don't think it's a problem with the keyboard itself. I don't know which repo this belongs in. @mcdurdin

https://github.com/keymanapp/keyboards/tree/master/release/n/netgkb

[DavidLRowe]

@nileshbandhiya Can you give some more details on this issue?

• What operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux) and version is in use?
• What browser are you using? Do you get the same results when using a different browser?
• What site are you accessing?
• Can you give a detailed list of instructions (including specific keystrokes) to demonstrate the problem?

Can you go to http://keyman.com/keyboards/netgkb and try using the keyboard online?

Thanks!

[nileshbandhiya]

I have created this (netgkb) keyboard using Keyman but I am beginner in Keyman. Hence I am not much aware of editing the keyboard souce code.

I am using Windows 11 with browser Chrome and Edge. Both have same issue. In windows application, I can select any list by typing / keypress. But when using any browser, not able to select any list by key press. I have uploaded the video and shared the link above.

At video 00:35, you can see, I am changing keyboard to keyman's netgkb, and pressing many keys for selecting a list, but not working.

At video 00:15, you can see, I am using same keyboard which is created using MSKLC, selecting a list by pressing a any key, works very well.

Hence, I could not understand, where is a problem?

[LornaSIL]

Can you give a link to your website so we can try it?

[nileshbandhiya]

https://anyror.gujarat.gov.in/LandRecordRural.aspx

You may select District (જિલ્લો) by pressing key S for ક etc... You may press/type any key for testing

[DavidLRowe]

I'm getting a timeout error on that link.

[mcdurdin]

I have reproduced this issue here. (I needed to VPN into India in order to open the page.) This would be an interop issue with Chrome (and Edge) on Windows, not a problem specific to this keyboard.

The 'Select Any One' field has English names first. With Netgkb active, press e.g. O, and you'll see Chrome successfully (and unexpectedly) selects "OLD SCANNED". This means that Chrome is bypassing the Keyman keyboard for SELECT elements, and using the base keyboard key values.

Firefox works correctly -- pressing S in the District field will select the expected item.

I will transfer this issue to the Keyman repository for further investigation (@rc-swag) and possible connection with Chrome developers -- it looks like something in the Chrome implementation isn't catering for 3rd party input methods on Windows. Would be interesting to test this on Linux also (@ermshiperete).

[mcdurdin]

@rc-swag can you repro this and triage please? Happy to discuss further.

[rc-swag]

I don't have a vpn to repo however we can we possibly set up at another test with a page that has SELECT elements?

[mcdurdin]

I don't have a vpn to repo however we can we possibly set up at another test with a page that has SELECT elements?

Yes, shouldn't be hard. Can use probably any non-Latin script keyboard, e.g. khmer_angkor for familiarity

[nileshbandhiya]

You may also try on another Gujarati website: https://tahuko.com/ And go to CATEGORIES in right section of the website. And may press/type any Gujarati character for testing using Keyman's netgkb keyboard.

[rc-swag]

Thank you @nileshbandhiya. I think I was able to reproduce the problem with the new site, however if I am right it occurs on both Firefox and Chrome. I am not sure I am using the correct keys as I am not user what letter to choose. I tried E, ,F, M, As there was all Latin in options in the category. They all went to the latin options as if using the base keyboard values. This was for both Chrome and Firefox. I am I reproduicing this correctly?

[mcdurdin]

@rc-swag I just tried that site and pressing, e.g. r I got ચંદન યાદવ -- but one time I switched in with Alt Tab and then suddenly I got Radio -- so there is a consistency issue on Firefox, which may be related to deep TSF integration.

[nileshbandhiya]

@rc-swag I just tried that site and pressing, e.g. r I got ચંદન યાદવ -- but one time I switched in with Alt Tab and then suddenly I got Radio -- so there is a consistency issue on Firefox, which may be related to deep TSF integration.

It's not working yet in netgkb keyboard. I've tested again. When pressing r it shoud choose a word list start with ચ. Instead of it, selects LATIN r word list.

When I am using my old keyboard wich is developed in MSKLC, works fine. [00:15].

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e039bf21-7266-482c-9d4b-0add6ce3ab2e

[nileshbandhiya]

You may use this https://jsfiddle.net/fL8az13m/7/ to test all keys.

[rc-swag]

@mcdurdin and @nileshbandhiya thanks for verifing my reproduction and the so it looks is a problem at times in Firefox as well. Also thanks for the nice isolation of the select box with the jsfiddle . It has been added to the list for the sprint starting next week.

[ermshiperete]

I see the same wrong behavior on Linux with both Chromium and Firefox.

[nileshbandhiya]

Is there any update on the issue?

[mcdurdin]

No, we have not been able to progress investigation on this