SUMMARY STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. cd to a folder that contains e.g. pictures 2. select a first picture 3. ENTER -> picture opens in external app 4. close external app 5. observe that focus is still on selected pic. do not move focus (neither kn nor mouse) 6. delete pic (DEL key) 7. observe that focus is changed to an underline mode. do not move the focus. 8. hit ENTER to open that pic 9. observe that ENTER does work (external app is opened) 10. close external app 11. observe there is still that odd focus (underline) 12. attempt to delete the file with keyboard DEL. OBSERVED RESULT DEL does not delete the file, while ENTER can open the file EXPECTED RESULT DEL should delete the file the focus should be inversed video on the next available file, rather than a thin underline. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Linux/KDE Plasma:??? (available in About System) KDE Plasma Version: 5.12.9 KDE Frameworks Version: Qt Version: 5.9.5 (can't this be copy-pastable from that dialog???) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There is a difference between selection and keyboard focus. I doubt Dolphin should automatically select any item that has the focus. > (can't this be copy-pastable from that dialog???) It can, in recent versions.
The problem is that DEL does not delete the file, while ENTER can open the file (even with this funny focus thing). The workaround is always to advance the focus with arrow down and then arrow up. Can you confirm that at least the steps work for you?
I really don't like this implicit underline selection mode thingy. IMO it makes it quite unclear what the selection state actually is. Personally I think we should reserve it entirely for when nothing has ever been selected in the view, so that you know where selection *would* be if the view was focused. But in general unless the selection is explicitly dismissed by the user, I think something should always be selected following some kind of user-initiated action.
Workaround: before attempting to delete the file, one can press SPACEBAR to enable the normal focus highlight.