GWKB1057 : Arrowing Through Combo Box Items on Web Pages Automatically Loads New Page

Product: Window-Eyes
Author: Aaron Smith
Date Added: 02/28/2007
Last Modified: 02/28/2007

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Symptom: When you navigate to a combo box on a web page, press ENTER to turn off Browse Mode, and then down arrow to move through the combo box items, a new page immediately loads and Browse Mode turns back on.

Cause: The web page author is using JavaScript to automatically load a new page based on combo box option changes. Sighted people can click a small downward pointing arrow to the right of the combo box to expand the list of options, and then click on the option they want to select. When using the keyboard, however, pressing the down arrow automatically selects the first option, causing a new page to load immediately.

Solution: After pressing ENTER on the combo box to turn off Browse Mode, expand the combo box items by pressing ALT-DOWN ARROW before attempting to arrow through the options. Once the combo box is expanded, you will be able to use your UP and DOWN ARROWS without automatically selecting an item. When you find the item you do want to select, press ENTER, and the new page will load reflecting the option you chose.