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Keyboard-Only Interaction and the Escape Key

Mark 1 Reputation point
2022-11-28T12:01:34.923+00:00

This question pertains to keyboard-only interactions (so no mouse) and the meaning of the Escape key.

In Outlook, if you start in the list of messages and then press Alt to go to the menu, then you press Escape, the keyboard input focus will return to the list of messages. Likewise, if you start in the Inbox, then press Alt to go to the menu bar, then press Escape, you go back to the Inbox. However, if you press F6 to go to the Status Bar, then press Alt to go to the menu, then press Escape, you do not return to the status bar but rather go to the list of messages.

Is this inconsistent behavior a bug? Seems like it to me. What is the meaning of "Escape" key that would explain this behavior?

Outlook Management
Outlook Management
Outlook: A family of Microsoft email and calendar products.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. ChristyZhang-MSFT 25,776 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff
    2022-11-29T02:11:03.93+00:00

    Hi @Mark ,

    Welcome to our forum!

    However, if you press F6 to go to the Status Bar, then press Alt to go to the menu, then press Escape, you do not return to the status bar but rather go to the list of messages.

    Based on my test, i found that when i started in the list of messages of Inbox folder> pressed F6 > pressed Alt > pressed Escape, i went back to the list of messages of Inbox folder, which is the same result as yours. In addition, I did other things after pressing F6, and I found that after pressing Escape at the end, I did not return to the status bar. So, i'm afraid that it is by design.

    What is the meaning of "Escape" key that would explain this behavior?

    As i know, this key will play different roles in different views, so the functionality will not be exactly the same. If you have any suggestions for this, it is recommended that you could post the functions you expect and your sincere suggestions on the website dedicated to collecting feedback. We sincerely welcome your suggestions, and thanks for your understanding and support!

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