google chrome - How do I prevent my cursor from changing fields when loading websites?

08
2014-07
  • Adriaan

    I often start typing into a text field on a website before the website has loaded completely, for example to log into Gmail while the login screen is loading, to log into my banking website, etc.

    Often when I do this, the cursor will move to a different field once the website has completed loading, e.g. on Gmail it will move to the password field.

    The effect of this is that I may inadvertently be typing into the wrong field without realising, ending up with a portion of the text in the correct field and the remaining text in the wrong field, forcing me to start over, e.g. having to retype my username, which seems an unnecessary waste of time.

    Why does this happen and how can I prevent this from happening?

    I am using Google Chrome on Windows 7 and on Windows Vista.

    • Answers
  • Matty McLeod

    A lot of people blame the mouse settings for this, I'm pretty sure it's because as the website is still loading when you are typing, a script will move the cursor to a specific text box (usually their search engine). To get around this, as soon as the page comes on and you can see where you want to type, click the 'X' icon at top toolbar and it will stop it loading any more, (the icon changes to a refresh icon if the page is fully loaded). You can then click into your text box any type without interruption.

  • Ash

    I hope the implications of browser skipping over to the next text field in a web page may be out of scope for SU but could be answered by somebody more savvy over server fault.

    As to adress your issue you may either try

    1)Stop loading the page by hitting the esc and then enter the values. or

    2)Use a password manager like Lastpass and overcome the need to enter the values into text fields each time the webpage loads.


    • Related Question

    openoffice.org - How to turn off the cursor in OpenOffice
  • hcs42

    When OpenOffice opens a file in read-only mode, it does not show a cursor, and the arrow keys (up and down) will move the page instead of the cursor.

    (By "cursor", I mean the blinking thing also called "caret" and not the mouse cursor.)

    Is there any way to turn off the cursor when the document is not read-only?


    • Related Answers
  • user190353

    I don't find any options to disable the cursor. You can use the mouse wheel to scroll rather than arrow keys for smooth movement while reading.

  • orcmid

    Try the File | Page Preview menu selection. You will have to fuss with the Zoom. The Preview toolbar provides page turning buttons.

    PS: For me, it is actually annoying that there is no cursor in read-only documents. It means you can't select text and copy it, etc.

    In OpenOffice, there is no cursor where you can't type. I suspect that is hard-wired. (This has got to be an interesting accessibility issue though.)

  • hcs42

    I found a workaround that works on Unix systems. If I remove write-mode from the document (chmod -w mydoc), OpenOffice won't diplay a cursor and the arrow keys will move the page.

  • Dave Rook

    It annoys me too. OpenOffice should copy Notepad++. In Notepad++, I go Settings > Preferences > Editing > Blink rate. Blink rate is maximum slow, which is a freeze.

    Edit: Nevermind. Just go Control Panel > Keyboard > Cursor blink rate. I'm on Windows 7 though.