**Description:
I want to be able to set Caret-Browsing permanently ON by default for all new windows.
**Rationale:
I have very poor eyesight. As such, I use Windows Magnifier to read all text. I keep a Magnifier window docked on one monitor, and a browser on the other monitor, where I browse as you would expect. The Magnifier is set to follow the cursor, so I just move the cursor around text to read it in the Magnifier window.
The problem is, I have to turn Caret Browsing on for every new window, including every new window that opens when I follow a link. To make matters worse, it takes three keystrokes to turn Caret Browsing on [F7-F7-Enter—Not sure why the first F7 is ignored]. In addition, Caret Browsing just turns off at random times for no reason I can discern, so I keep having to turn it back on.
With all these problems, I switch to Firefox whenever I have some text to read.
Of course, I would hope that any changes would satisfy all of the “Caret Browsing permanently off crowd”.
I don’t think changing it in the settings turns it fully ‘on’. Please set it on in the settings, and then switch to a page with text on it and press F7. You should see that it asks if you want to turn caret browsing ON. Well, if it is already on, how could that turn it on.
Try running Windows Magnifier and turn caret browsing on. When it is fully on, the Magnifier will follow the caret (if set up to do so). If it is not fully on, it does not follow the cursor.
You can tell if caret browsing is really on by pressing F7.
@jpmcgrath what I was explaining is if you disable the F7 toggle in shortcuts and then have it enabled in your Accessibility settings, then it stays on. While testing it persisted across new windows and even after turning off (restarting) my PC.
If you just merely turn on the setting, it’s just the same as F7.
That is not true. I have had the setting turned on for several years, and I still have to press F7 to get it to work properly. If you have not pressed F7, the Magnifier is not informed about caret changes, and it does not properly follow the caret.
To see if it is working properly, you have to use Windows Magnifier at the same time in Docked mode. Set Magnifier to Follow the Mouse Pointer, Keyboard Focus and Text Cursor. When Caret Browsing is on (i.e.F7) the Magnifier window will follow the cursor and will adjust the Magnifier view to keep the cursor in the window. If you turn Caret Browsing off (F7 again), you will still see the cursor move in the Magnifier window, but it will just run off the edge of the window. Magnifier will not follow it.
Notice how it turned on? This is what I was saying in terms of enabling the setting in the browser is the same as just hitting F7, they are not independent of each other.
Not sure I’m tracking on this part. If I turn off caret mode, then I’m getting rid of the caret (text cursor). So then what it did as I was testing is that it just followed my mouse pointer if I had it on. Otherwise it tracks whichever other settings I had. It seems to work perfectly well on keyboard focus and all others. Initially I had the mouse off because it was getting annoying, so it was just the other three:
While in that, I turned off caret browsing and opened a new window. In doing so, it didn’t tell me anything. But obviously since I had caret mode off, it didn’t have a text cursor to follow. So it just stayed centered on whatever I had on my screen.
If I turned caret mode on again, it just immediately started tracking from wherever my text cursor had been.
All of that said, if I go to shortcuts as I mentioned before and remove the F7 shortcut, then it no longer toggles when I hit F7. So caret mode would only be able to be turned on/off via the option in Settings.
When I had the shortcut removed and only used the setting, it seemed to retain it. So if you were worried about accidentally hitting F7 to turn off caret mode, then I was saying to go into Brave’s settings → Shortcuts and delete the shortcut for caret browsing. With that done, hitting F7 will do nothing unless/until you reset the setting. But you would still be able to toggle it by opening Brave’s settings if necessary.
Yes. I understand exactly what you are saying. And it is still absolutely wrong. It looks true to you because you are not testing whether the Magnifier is receiving the updates of the cursor position.
It appears as if you have the Magnifier set to 100%, which is not very useful. If you can see at 100% magnification, you can see without the magnifier. Try setting the magnification up to 500%.
Now the magnified text takes up more space than the unmagnified text. So the magnified text runs off the end of the Magnifier window. And if you move the cursor beyond the edge of the magnifier window, it will scroll the window to keep it in view, IF caret browsing is really on. Now turn Caret Browsing off and see how it works.
I thank you for all the pictures of the caret browsing setting. As I said, I known what it looks like and I have been running with it ON for many years (and I do know what ON looks like). Note that the settings window says: “To turn caret browsing on or off, use the shortcut F7”. That kind of contradicts your assertion that it is the same without pressing F7. I have no idea why the Brave guys put that setting there. It does seem to make sure the caret is always visible, but it does not function as needed until you turn Caret Browsing ON.
@jpmcgrath you do realize you are deviating from your original issue, right?
You asked how to have it permanently on. I told you what settings to change to have this happen.
From there you’re telling me to turn it off to make some message come up. Just to be clear, are you wanting like you said originally which is for it to always be on? Or you looking to always turn it on and off?
I didn’t say that. I said toggling that in the setting is the exact same as hitting F7.
I also said you can disable the F7 shortcut so that it won’t enable or disable when you press the button. And if you have the setting enabled there, it will remain on until you manually visit settings and turn it off again.
It would be nice if perhaps you could try the instructions you were given rather than defaulting to arguing with me and telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about. Not onlky did I give instructions but I’ve been sharing screenshots to help show exactly what I’m looking at and to let you see I’ve attempted replicating in all the ways you have mentioned.
@jpmcgrath you do realize you are deviating from your original issue, right?
That is incorrect. You have made several incorrect claims and most of my efforts have been toward explaining to you what the problem is and the nuances that you appear to be missing. Everything I have said was toward trying to get you to understand the issues.
Let me make a few points that you seemed to have missed:
Your suggestion to remap F7 was a complete non-starter. I would certainly do that if having the key mapped was causing me problems. Instead of remapping the key, let’s agree that I won’t press the F7 key when trying your ideas.
You seem convinced that turning on the "navigate pages with a text cursor "setting is the same thing as turning on caret browsing, even though I have shown you that they are different.
The fact that on the settings page for “Navigate Pages”, it tells you that you should use F7 to turn on “Caret Browsing” should make it obvious that they are not supposed to be the same thing.
From the very first message of this conversation, I explained what I wanted to do. You knew that the Magnifier Window needed to follow the cursor. I have shown you that if I press F7, that works and if I just turn on the Navigate Pages setting, it does not. They are not the same thing!
Do you disagree with any of these points? If so, tell me and I will explain it to you.
This thread is far too long for it’s own good. @jpmcgrath can you please, succinctly, tell me what exactly it is that you’re trying to achieve at this time? Thank you.
can you please, succinctly, tell me what exactly it is that you’re trying to achieve at this time?
Sure, Mattches. I am trying to avoid having to press F7 everytime I browse to a new window. Read my first post in this topic to understand the issues I am dealing with.
For me, on Windows 11, if I enable caret browsing in one browser window, then click on another browser window, caret browsing is still enabled. I do not have to press F7 again when clicking into another window.
If this is something you’re seeing, then there must be something else at play here. Do you have any extensions installed in the browser at this time?
For me, on Windows 11, if I enable caret browsing in one browser window, then click on another browser window, caret browsing is still enabled.
I do not think we are using the same definition of “Caret Browsing”. I see two contenders.
The effect of pressing F7.
The effect of enabling “Navigate pages with a text cursor”
I have been using this feature to read virtually all text I read on a computer for over 10 years, and I long ago concluded that choice #1 is the correct one. The difference between the two is that with #1, the Windows Magnifier (WM) is able to track the cursor changes and with choice #2, WM is not able to do so. As you can see from my original post, this tracking is essential.
The reason I came to that conclusion is that the Settings→Accessibility page says:
Navigate pages with a text cursor
To turn caret browsing on or off, use the shortcut F7
From this, I long ago concluded that the Navigate Pages setting does not constitute Caret Browsing.
I have been using Windows 10, so I am not certain that this applies to Windows 11, but I suspect it does.
Can you share a screenshot or recording of an example of the type of caret browsing you’re referring to then in another browser?
A screenshot will not show you anything. I will try to get you a recording. This may take me a little time. I need to figure out how to make a recording. I know there is software available, but I have never used it.
