Re: focussing the desktop [was: Mozilla - like JAWS or like Hal?]

[Bill Haneman <Bill Haneman Sun COM>]

Tom and Esther Ward wrote, about desktop and panel focus:

> In addition to focusing the desktop we really need a quick and easy way to
> get to the pannel. Perhaps a new hot key such as alt+control+p.
> I don't mind alt+control+tabbing, but there are times I want to go directly
> to the pannel and nowhere else.
>  
Control-Alt-Tab doesn't take you to the desktop only, this is the same 
shortcut that takes you to the panel; it cycles between them.  The 
Control-Alt-d shortcut isn't intended to "focus" the desktop, it hides 
all the normal windows.  So we don't have desktop or panel specific 
focus shortcuts.  Since a typical user may only have one panel (and one 
desktop), the use of the same shortcut for both seems like good 
economy.  Keep in mind that all "global" shortcuts of this kind are 
exclusive, that is, they prevent the use of the same key combinations by 
all other applications.  For that reason, there's a strong need to 
restrict their number.   Also, it means fewer combinations to memorize.

Do you feel that the extra keystroke (Control-Alt-Tab-Tab) required to 
reach the next item in the focus chain (i.e. panel or desktop) is a big 
issue?  Or were you perhaps misunderstanding the way Control-Alt-Tab cycles?

best regards,

- Bill