Any GUI element except text fields on KMail main window handles common keys: <A>-<Z>, <Enter>, arrow keys, etc not in normal way but according to general scheme. E. g. <Right> will select next message no matter what is focused. It very useful, but makes impossible to quick filter messages by status (new / unread / replied / has attachment / etc) by keyboard. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Press Alt-Q → quick search field will be focused, 2. Press <Tab> → status drop-down list will be focused, 3a. Try to go down the list by pressing <Down> or expand by <Space> → nothing happens, 3b. Try to start type ‘Replied’ → reply window opens (due to <R> shortcut) Expected Results: Status drop-down control should handle keys like any normal drop-down control in focus. Now pressing <Tab> is the only way to unfocus quick search field (see https://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=215&t=117778). If behavior of drop-down list will be fixed, it will be neccessary to allow to return focus to message list by pressing <Esc> (and maybe <Enter>). Otherwise, after searching you will have to press <Tab> several times before you will can navigate messages by pressing <Right> / <Left> and so on.
I confirm it. I will investigate how to fix it.
Git commit 52719e783252d799ba34ba6f3f7dc51fbab45b0d by Montel Laurent. Committed on 23/03/2014 at 09:41. Pushed by mlaurent into branch 'KDE/4.13'. Fix Bug 325565 - There is no way to quick search messages by status (new / unread / etc) without mouse M +39 -0 messagelist/core/quicksearchline.cpp M +2 -0 messagelist/core/quicksearchline.h http://commits.kde.org/kdepim/52719e783252d799ba34ba6f3f7dc51fbab45b0d
Fixed in 4.13