Bug 439610 - Autoscroll using middle click
Summary: Autoscroll using middle click
Status: REPORTED
Alias: None
Product: okular
Classification: Applications
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Okular developers
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2021-07-07 18:37 UTC by Gabriel
Modified: 2024-11-10 13:31 UTC (History)
6 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
Example of autoscrolling a PDF in Firefox (21.88 KB, image/jpeg)
2021-07-07 18:37 UTC, Gabriel
Details

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Description Gabriel 2021-07-07 18:37:20 UTC
Created attachment 139925 [details]
Example of autoscrolling a PDF in Firefox

SUMMARY
It would be quite nice to have autoscrolling by middle clicking and controlling speed and direction with the cursor and not just by using 'shift-arrow keys'. Such an option is wonderful to have when browsing through large documents. 

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Open a document in Okular
2. Middle click

OBSERVED RESULT
Nothing

EXPECTED RESULT
A symbol (see attachment) appears as a reference point and scrolls based on the cursors distance from it.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
KDE neon User edition 5.22

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
Apologies if this is more relevant to another part of the software stack, e.g. Qt. If so, then please point me to the right place.
Comment 1 Laura David Hurka 2021-07-09 18:30:39 UTC
> STEPS TO REPRODUCE
> 1. Open a document in Okular
> 2. Middle click
> 
> OBSERVED RESULT
> Nothing

Is this description accurate? Okular should zoom in or out without discrete steps, that is what middle-click-and-drag is currently used for.
Comment 2 Gabriel 2021-07-10 09:08:40 UTC
Ah, that is true. I wasn't aware that dragging the cursor while middle clicking would do that. However, a simple middle click will still not do anything. Perhaps it would then conflict with the zooming action to have autoscrolling as well?
Comment 3 Laura David Hurka 2021-07-10 11:30:06 UTC
What you described is middle-click-and-release-then-drag, instead of middle-click-and-drag, right?

Now that I think about it again, I think that can be implemented both at the same time.
Comment 4 Gabriel 2021-07-11 09:22:57 UTC
Yes, that's correct. Simply middle clicking enters an autoscrolling "mode" which allows you to scroll the page by moving the cursor until the next click. It seems however that autoscrolling can usually also be done by holding middle click and dragging, but of course that would conflict with zooming in the case of Okular.

Perhaps it would still be fine to compromise between having both zooming and scrolling, however similar the actions to perform them are? I would certainly not mind and probably use both a lot, but I can't speak for everyone.
Comment 5 Axle 2021-08-11 23:16:01 UTC
I Think adding autoscrolling support across all application i.e.(discord, document viewer, web browser.) would be great.

I really don't like having to do hacky code just to get this feature.

I don't know if x11 can support it, but I think wayland is the future, and can probably be implemented in the wayland kwin compositor.
Comment 6 Visne 2022-06-25 18:45:57 UTC
I would also love to have this feature system-wide. It is basically the only thing I miss from Windows.