[syslinux] Arrow key feature request

[Gene Cumm]

On Thu, Sep 11, 2014 at 4:09 PM, Ady <ady-sf at hotmail.com> wrote:

>> Since keystrokes were brought up, this seems like a reasonable time to
>> make the following seemingly simple-to-implement feature request:
>>
>> Navigating a multi-level menu structure seems to require use of
>> UP/DOWN/ENTER/ESC. It would be easier to quickly search/navigate if it
>> could be done with fingers stationed on the arrow keys so that the eyes
>> can stay focused on the screen.
>>
>> Current (disliked-by-me) behavior:
>>    LEFT ARROW: Jump to top menu entry (same as HOME and PAGE UP)
>>    RIGHT ARROW: Jump to bottom menu entry (same as END and PAGE DOWN)
>
>
> A minor correction. In a boot menu, [Home] and [End] move to the
> respective first and last items. In a "short" (less than one screen)
> menu, the [Page Up] and [Page Down] keys seem to obtain the same
> result. But in a "larger" menu,  the [Page Up] and [Page Down] keys
> will move the selection one page up/down, respectively.
>
>
>> Preferred (requested) behavior:
>>    LEFT ARROW: Return to previous menu (same as ESC on a submenu)
>>    RIGHT ARROW: Enter submenu (or no action if not on a submenu entry)

> Considering that there is no "new" proposed action, breaking the
> current behavior would be questionable for users that are already
> taking advantage of it.

> I am not against changing behaviors (sometimes, it is worth), but
> IMHO breaking a current behavior has to bring a very _clear_ gain,
> while such change should be as less traumatic as possible for current
> users.

In my opinion, this would be better addressed with a conditional
directive than an outright change in current behavior.  Since it only
affects (vesa)menu.c32, it should begin with "MENU ", perhaps "MENU
ARROWKEY" (perhaps someone will think of another alternate behavior in
the future).  It should also accept 1 optional parameter to turn it on
or off.  When not present, it should turn the new behavior on.

-- 
-Gene