Focus

Karellen · 03-09-2026, 07:30 PM

Hello @kovidgoyal

Hoping you could look at Focus of elements in the Editor.

1. I often highlight a bit of text and press ctrl-f, then press ctrl-n to find the number of instances. When it is just a single instance I try to tab back to the edit screen, but it takes 35 tabs to get there. If I use shft-tab, it takes 17 tabs to get there. And during the tabbing, I lose sight at what is in focus. It looks like nothing is focused. Can it be modified for a single tab back to the editor screen?

2a. The Insert Special Character dialogue box which I tend to leave open and off to the side. While typing I will move the mouse and select a character to insert, the character is inserted, the cursor in the editor is focused and I am able to then continue typing. I am able to type the first letter in the editor, then for some reason the cursor jumps back to the Insert Character box and I end up typing the next few letters in the Search by Name field. Can you change that behaviour to keep the focus back in the editor. This does not happen every time, and I haven't been able to find what triggers it, but it does happen more than half the time.

2b. If I alt-tab away from the Editor to, say, my web browser, then alt-tab back, it is the Insert Character box that has focus, not where I left the cursor in the editor screen.

Thanks.

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 12:59 AM

This will take care of (1) https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...f81b739b749d3f I cannot replicate either of the other two on my windows syste,. Unfortunately since the insert character dialog is a separate window, we are at the mercy of the system window manager with regards to focus.

Karellen · Yesterday, 01:15 AM

That is great. Thank you!!

BetterRed · Yesterday, 01:32 AM

Windows 10.0.19045.6937, Installed Calibre: 9.4.0.

I cannot reproduce 2a or 2b.

If you have any editor plugins installed try running without them, I don't have any, and I don't know if they can be disabled.

Also try running in Windows Safe mode.

BR

Karellen · Yesterday, 05:45 PM

Thanks @BetterRed I'll disable the editor plugins but only have Diaps Toolbag and epubCheck installed for editor work.

It does not happen 100% of the time, but it is roughly equal happen/not happen and I haven't figured out the catalyst that causes it to happen.

I'll skip the Safe Mode suggestion. My safe mode increases the font quite large, windows are only partially visible as most are off screen due to their enlarged size. An all round horrible experience to work on. I guess I am doing something wrong, but currently have no motivation to figure it out.

BetterRed · Yesterday, 07:28 PM

Know what you mean about safe mode, for me its only suitable for a quick peek

An alternative to Safe mode is to disable all third party apps (and any unwanted MS apps

) in Task Manager's Start up tab.

BR

03-09-2026, 07:30 PM	#1
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,784 Karma: 9501034 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Focus Hello @kovidgoyal Hoping you could look at Focus of elements in the Editor. 1. I often highlight a bit of text and press ctrl-f, then press ctrl-n to find the number of instances. When it is just a single instance I try to tab back to the edit screen, but it takes 35 tabs to get there. If I use shft-tab, it takes 17 tabs to get there. And during the tabbing, I lose sight at what is in focus. It looks like nothing is focused. Can it be modified for a single tab back to the editor screen? 2a. The Insert Special Character dialogue box which I tend to leave open and off to the side. While typing I will move the mouse and select a character to insert, the character is inserted, the cursor in the editor is focused and I am able to then continue typing. I am able to type the first letter in the editor, then for some reason the cursor jumps back to the Insert Character box and I end up typing the next few letters in the Search by Name field. Can you change that behaviour to keep the focus back in the editor. This does not happen every time, and I haven't been able to find what triggers it, but it does happen more than half the time. 2b. If I alt-tab away from the Editor to, say, my web browser, then alt-tab back, it is the Insert Character box that has focus, not where I left the cursor in the editor screen. Thanks.

Yesterday, 07:28 PM	#6
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,468 Karma: 31000706 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Know what you mean about safe mode, for me its only suitable for a quick peek An alternative to Safe mode is to disable all third party apps (and any unwanted MS apps ) in Task Manager's Start up tab. BR Last edited by BetterRed; Today at 03:40 AM.

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Yesterday, 12:59 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 46,067 Karma: 29579912 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	This will take care of (1) https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...f81b739b749d3f I cannot replicate either of the other two on my windows syste,. Unfortunately since the insert character dialog is a separate window, we are at the mercy of the system window manager with regards to focus.

Yesterday, 01:15 AM	#3
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,784 Karma: 9501034 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	That is great. Thank you!!

Yesterday, 01:32 AM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,468 Karma: 31000706 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Windows 10.0.19045.6937, Installed Calibre: 9.4.0. I cannot reproduce 2a or 2b. If you have any editor plugins installed try running without them, I don't have any, and I don't know if they can be disabled. Also try running in Windows Safe mode. BR

Yesterday, 05:45 PM	#5
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,784 Karma: 9501034 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Thanks @BetterRed I'll disable the editor plugins but only have Diaps Toolbag and epubCheck installed for editor work. It does not happen 100% of the time, but it is roughly equal happen/not happen and I haven't figured out the catalyst that causes it to happen. I'll skip the Safe Mode suggestion. My safe mode increases the font quite large, windows are only partially visible as most are off screen due to their enlarged size. An all round horrible experience to work on. I guess I am doing something wrong, but currently have no motivation to figure it out.