[Rich Content Editor] Active Text Cursor when Inserting Links

Problem statement:

When inserting a link in the New RCE, you have to click the "Link" field in order for it to be active. For example, let's say I want to insert an external link on some text. I highlight the text, press CTRL+K to insert a link, then I have to switch to my mouse and click the "Link" field before I can paste the link and select "Done" to save. I frequently find myself highlighting text, using CTRL+K to open the Insert Link window, using CTRL+V to paste, then using Enter to save the change... all for nothing, because the Link field wasn't active for me to paste into.

Proposed solution:

When inserting a link in the New RCE, it would be ideal to have an active text cursor in the "Link" field, which mimics behavior that existed in the old RCE. Whether you insert links using keyboard shortcuts (CTRL+K or CMD+K) or the Insert >> Link >> External Link tabs in the New RCE, having the text cursor already in the "Link" field would make it easy to simply paste and save instead of taking the extra time to select the "Link" field.

User role(s):

admin,instructor,student,ta,designer

3 Comments
AllisonHowell
Instructure
Instructure
Status changed to: Will Not Consider

Thank you for your suggestion! I have marked it as "Will not consider" because it's not something we will be able to get to soon. We still have record of this request and it's something we may reconsider in the future.

canvasadmin8
Community Explorer
Problem statement:

At present, when users add a hyperlink to a Canvas text editor, they must manually move their cursor to the URL input field. This extra step, while small, adds unnecessary friction to the process, especially for users frequently inserting multiple links. The lack of auto-focus interrupts the workflow and may feel unintuitive to those accustomed to other platforms such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Proposed solution:

The hyperlink dialog appears with the cursor already positioned in the URL field. This also ensures the behavior aligns with what users are familiar with in productivity tools like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to maintain a consistent user experience by auto-focusing on fields where the next logical action is pasting or typing, eliminating unnecessary clicks.

User role(s):

admin,instructor,student,ta,designer,observer

EmilyCottrell
Community Participant
Problem statement:

I very frequently have to add external links to websites, and love the universal ctrl+k function to insert an external hyperlink. I appreciate that Canvas recognizes this function, but I hate that I can't simply do my keyboard shortcuts of ctrl+k and then ctrl+v to paste. All other platforms/software that recognizes the ctrl+k function for a link automatically have the textbox selected where a seamless ctrl+v paste can happen without a mouse click. Canvas does not do this. Canvas requires a mouse click. It may seem like a problem but it's almost on the verge of being an accessibility issue when you consider the need for keyboard-only functionality, where this misses the mark.

Proposed solution:

Again--seems like a very "small" problem, but it is definitely a design flaw that shouldn't be hard to remedy (as it isn't an issue elsewhere). Would love to see that auto-selected text box when ctrl+k is pressed--it is the only box available to be selected, so it shouldn't even be a question where I intend to paste the link I am entering. Even if the main focus is doing so in and effort to be more accessible for keyboard-only users.

User role(s):

admin,instructor,ta,designer