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How do I stop the cursor/text entry box auto-centering on the screen?

  • 8 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by sthowell

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I realise this is a bit of a niche problem, but it's really annoying.

I use a British newspaper crossword site, https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords

The crossword consists of a lot of 1-character text fields, and when you type into one of them, it auto-advances to the next one. Firefox on Android always tries to put the new box that the cursor is in as close to the center of the display as possible. This takes 1/2 a second, during which Firefox misses the next letter I'm trying to type.

Either I need to slow my typing down, or I need to stop Firefox auto-centering the new text box.

Is this possible?

Simon

I realise this is a bit of a niche problem, but it's really annoying. I use a British newspaper crossword site, https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords The crossword consists of a lot of 1-character text fields, and when you type into one of them, it auto-advances to the next one. Firefox on Android always tries to put the new box that the cursor is in as close to the center of the display as possible. This takes 1/2 a second, during which Firefox misses the next letter I'm trying to type. Either I need to slow my typing down, or I need to stop Firefox auto-centering the new text box. Is this possible? Simon

Modified by Paul

All Replies (8)

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Hi Simon

Are you using an Android phone or a tablet device?

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Hi Seburo,

I get this issue on both; a Pixel 6 phone and a Galaxy S6 tablet.

Modified by Paul

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Would I be right in saying that this is happening when you are zoomed in a little to the crossword?

What happens when you are zoomed out (the default when the page opens)?

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Hi Seburo,

This happens even when I'm zoomed out. In portrait mode on the phone there's room for the full puzzle and the keyboard. When I fill in a down clue, the puzzle scrolls vertically to keep the cursor mid-way in the display. When I fill in an across clue, the puzzle doesn't move, but I still lose characters.

Simon

Modified by Paul

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I think I might need to get this in front of our developers to look at. Do you have a link to the crossword puzzle where this is happening?

I think I am seeing the same thing happen on the "quick crossword". The letters are going in, but if entered swiftly, the key tap does not seem to register as the crossword is trying to move down at the same time.

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Hi Seburo,

Yes, that's the problem I see.

I've seen the issue on the quick, cryptic, quiptic, prize and everyman crosswords on this site. I think it's just how the site codes their crosswords.

I double-checked the problem appears on this puzzle, using Firefox on my phone.

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quiptic/1170

Thanks for looking into this.

Simon

Modified by Paul

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Before I flag this to our developers:

  1. Do you have any add-ons installed in Firefox for Android?
  2. What level of enhanced tracking protection do you have set?

This will help them to recreate and hopefully get to the root cause of the problem.

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Hi Seburo,

 I have the uBlock Origin add-on installed. 
 Enhanced tracking protection is on for the crossword site, and is set to standard.

Simon