Popup search filter popover on [Ctrl]+[F]
Current behavior
Using the [Ctrl]+[F] keyboard shortcut toggles the search bar visibility. It is equivalent to the search button in the header bar.
Virtues
- Backwards compatibility ─ before search-as-you-type was introduced, [Ctrl]+[F] was the only way to start a search from keyboard.
- External consistency ─ the use of [Ctrl]+[F] as a shortcut to search/find/filter is widespread in other GNOME and non-GNOME apps.
Limitations
- Futility (revealing the search bar) ─ for a keyboard user, there is no advantage to use Ctrl+F first instead of just start typing.
- Redundancy (hiding the search bar) ─ the [Esc] key does the same thing.
- Unhelpfulness (filtering search) ─ reaching the filter popover requires 2 extra steps: hit [Tab], then hit [Enter]/[Space].
Proposed behavior
Using the [Ctrl]+[F] keyboard shortcut opens the search filter popover (and gives it keyboard focus). If the search bar was not shown, it is revealed before opening the filter popover.
Added benefits
- Makes the search filter feature more keyboard-accessible.
- (Makes the search filter feature more discoverable?)
Possible drawbacks
- Breaks habits of people who still hit Ctrl+F (in vain) before they start typing.
Edited by António Fernandes