Bug: Can't toggle selection on item with keyboard navigation (folder only contains one item)

[skst]

Description

When I use the keyboard to open a folder (by selecting a folder and pressing Enter), if there is only one item (file or folder) in that folder, I am unable to use the keyboard to select it. I have tried up/down arrow, Tab, and the Space bar--all of which work in the Windows File Manager.

Steps To Reproduce

1. Create a folder named "Test."
2. In the "Test" folder, create a file named "Test.txt." (Alternatively, create a folder named "Foo.")
3. Make the "Test" folder the current folder.
4. Use the mouse or keyboard to open the "Test" folder.
5. Try to use the keyboard to select the "Test.txt" file.

Requirements

Pressing the Up or Down arrow keys or the Space bar should select the file.

Files Version

3.0.1.0

Windows Version

10.0.22621.2428

Log File

debug.log

[yaira2]

What happens if you type the first letter of the item?

[skst]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that, yes, using that method does select the item. Selecting it with the mouse works as well, but I often prefer to operate solely from the keyboard. 🙂

[yaira2]

@skst it appears that the shortcut for selecting items is ctrl + space, can you see if this works?

[skst]

Yes, that does work, but CTRL+Space is the shortcut for selecting multiple files/folders, not selecting a single item. (Although, of course, selecting the first item in a multi-selection is the same as selecting a single item.) Space should select the item that has the current focus (and un-select any others). You can try out these shortcuts in Windows File Explorer to confirm that Files does not act the same way. If that's a design choice, that's fine, of course, but I feel that the selection mechanism should match because that's probably what people expect. At least, that's what I was expecting. 🙂

Ref:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/keyboard-shortcuts-f2302f54-02a3-a62b-36ef-74ee5a83cb87
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec