Unable to switch to Virtual Cursor Mode after invoking Menubar with menu items navigation using Up/Down arrow keys

[MohammedAjaz]

Test Environment:
OS : Windows 10 version 2004(OS Build 19041.450).
Browser: Chrome version 86.0.4240.75(Official Build) (64-bit).
URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-practices-1.1/examples/menubar/menubar-1/menubar-1.html#
Screen readers used: JAWS 2020.2006.12 ILM.

Repro Steps:
Step 1: Enable JAWS and Open the above URL in Chrome browser with valid credentials.
Step 2: Navigation Menu Bar example page is opened
Step 3: Navigate to Example section using Virtual PC Cursor Mode (Down Arrow)
Step 4: Press Enter on About/Admissions/Academics menu
Step 5: Navigate to menu items using Up/Down Arrow key (Forms Mode)
Step 6: Verify switching from forms mode to Virtual PC Cursor mode by using Insert/Capslock+Z

Actual Result:​
JAWS focus is not moving out of navigation region after selecting any menu item while navigating using JAWS cursor mode.
Observation:
JAWS focus is moving in a loop with in menu items of the expanded menu.

Expected Result:​
JAWS mode should be changed after pressing Insert/Capslock+Z and able to to navigate using Virtual PC Cursor Mode (Down Arrow navigation).

[frex65]

Bug confirmed using JAWS 2020.2008.24 with Chrome 86.0.4240.183. Also present using Firefox 82.0.2 and Edge 86.0.622.63.

[MohammedAjaz]

Hi @frex65 - as this issue is confirmed as per your above comment is there a tentative ETA by when this issue would be resolved.

[MohammedAjaz]

@frex65 - Could you let us know if this issue has any tentative ETA for resolution. Thanks in advance.

[AnkuGarg0912]

Hi @BenKeyFSI, @frex65 - Hope you are doing good. Just checking if you have some tentative ETA for this issue?

[AnkuGarg0912]

Hi @BenKeyFSI, @frex65 - Hope you are doing good. Just checking if you have some tentative ETA for this issue?

[BenKeyFSI]

The issue is not that you are not able to switch to Virtual Cursor Mode since Virtual Cursor Mode is not deactivated in this scenario. The issue is that you are not able to exit Forms Mode.

[BenKeyFSI]

Reported the following bug in Bugzilla.

ID

119023

Summary

Unable to exit forms mode in menu bar.

Product

JAWS

Description

Once you activate Forms Mode in an element with the menubar role you cannot easily exit forms mode. This makes navigating beyond the menu bar without activating one of the menu items unnecessarily difficult.

Test Environment

• Windows 10 Pro Version 20H2 build 19042.685 with Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.551.0
• Google Chrome Version 87.0.4280.141 (Official Build) (64-bit)
• The Navigation Menubar Example found at https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-practices-1.1/examples/menubar/menubar-1/menubar-1.html.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start JAWS and Google Chrome.
2. Go to https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-practices-1.1/examples/menubar/menubar-1/menubar-1.html.
3. Navigate to the Example heading (level 2).
4. Use the down arrow key to navigate line by line through the page until you get to the "About Admissions Academics" line in the "Mythical University navigation region".
5. Press Enter to enter Forms mode.
6. Use the arrow keys to navigate between menus and menu items.
   a) Expected Result: The Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys should navigate between menus. The Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys should navigate between menu items. Escape should return to the menu bar from the menu.
   b) Actual Result: Everything works as expected.
7. Call the PCCursor script by pressing NumPadPlus.
   a) Expected Result: JAWS should exit Forms Mode and the down arrow key should navigate to the next element in the web page beyond the menu bar.
   b) Actual Result: JAWS speaks the message Forms Mode Off but pressing the down arrow key does not allow you to move beyond the menu bar. Instead the arrow keys continue to navigate between the menus and menu items.

To move beyond the menu bar it is necessary to use tab to move to the next focusable element.

Hopefully I will be able to fix this bug in time for the next JAWS 2021 update.

[AnkuGarg0912]

Thanks for the update Benilda. Quick question - What's the tentative timeline for JAWS 2021 release.

[BenKeyFSI]

@AnkuGarg0912
JAWS 2021 is available now. If you are asking when the next update for JAWS 2021 will be released it is currently scheduled for 2021/02/16.

[AnkuGarg0912]

Hi @BenKeyFSI, Hope you are doing good. Just checking, if these updates are released now?

[MohammedAjaz]

@BenKeyFSI could you please confirm if the fix for this issue is available in JAWS 2021.2102.34 - February 2021 release.
I verified and the issue still reproducible in above release.
@AnkuGarg0912 - FYI.

[petroholo]

I have the same issue on JAWS 2022
Here the layout where you can reproduce issue https://codepen.io/patrokl42/full/QWaavEO
To reproduce this issue try navigate to elements in menuitem in focus mode and try to switch to Virtual Cursor Mode by NumPad Plus/ Insert + Z