Cannot use tab to jump to next field in some single-line fields

[tobiasdiez]

JabRef version

5.15 (latest release)

Operating system

Windows

Details on version and operating system

No response

Checked with the latest development build (copy version output from About dialog)

• [X] I made a backup of my libraries before testing the latest development version.
• [X] I have tested the latest development version and the problem persists

Steps to reproduce the behaviour

1. Go into the URL field in the entry editor
2. Press Tab.

Empty space is inserted instead of jumping to the next field.

Appendix

The reason is that https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/blob/main/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/fieldeditors/EditorTextArea.java is used over https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/blob/main/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/fieldeditors/EditorTextField.java in some fields that sholud be normal single-line fields: Url, Identifier, Owner, Issn

[ryan-carpenter]

in some fields that sholud be normal single-line fields: Url, Identifier, Owner, Issn

It is not uncommon for applications not to allow use of Tab key to insert a Tab character, even with multi-line text. I think it would be suitable for Tab to behave the same (move to next field) in single-line and multi-line fields. Alternatively, consider adding default or custom shortcuts to for moving forward and backward through the fields.

Note that <Shift + Tab> moves backward, regardless of the current field type but forward navigation using is interrupted by the multi-line fields.

[tobiasdiez]

The only real multi-line fields would be comment and abstract, right? These are usually on their own tab, so it's not important to have Tab as a navigation between fields in this case.

[ryan-carpenter]

The only real multi-line fields would be comment and abstract, right?

Good point, but remember that standard fields can be configured as multi-line in preferences and that non-standard fields can be added and configured as multi-line.