Wish list: standard key combo to submit from anywhere

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AI-generated summary

ganncamp revived a feature request to standardize Ctrl-Enter (or Cmd-Enter) as a universal submit key combo across Discourse UI elements — especially for text fields that visually resemble post editors. While it already works for posts, assignment comments, and some dialogs, it inconsistently fails in others like user notes, category edits, or assignment notes. ganncamp emphasized the need for UI consistency: if something looks like a text box, it should behave like one. In response, pento announced that a core feature enabling Ctrl/Cmd+Enter submission for FormKit-based forms has been merged. They also fixed the user note plugin to use FormKit, making Ctrl-Enter work there too. The goal is to gradually unify behavior across Discourse and plugins, aligning with the principle that similar-looking UI elements should function similarly.

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I’ve previously requested that I be able to submit the assignment dialog with Ctrl-Enter.

And now I want to expand that request to… everything. I can submit a post - either creation or edit - with Ctrl-Enter, after that it gets really spotty - almost… random?

  • edit title - yup
  • edit category - nope
  • edit tags - yup
  • ‘Move to’ dialog - nope
  • create bookmark text field - yup
  • ‘Assign Topic’ user/group (as already stated) - nope
  • ‘Assign Topic’ note (yes, already stated) - nope
  • Invite user to private message - nope
  • …
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Well… I was just about to create a new topic for this, when this topic popped up at the top of the similar list. :sweat_smile:

(And yes, education prompt, I do want to revive this topic which, IMO, has gotten too little love. :joy:)

Since this is apparently a big ask, I’m willing to narrow it down a little :wink:
(Here’s what I had composed before I jumped back into this topic):

Wishlist: standardize Ctrl-Enter from a text box for submit

I can submit a post with Ctrl-Enter
I can submit an assignment from its comment box with Ctrl-Enter

I cannot submit a user note with Ctrl-Enter
[I’m willing to bet there are more things that go in this list]

So let me renew my request for making UI features that look similar, work similarly.

Pretty please?

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Discourse roadmap?
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Good news, @ganncamp!

Yesterday I merged a core feature allowing a form to be submitted from a textarea with Ctrl/Cmd+Enter: this will work with any form that’s built using FormKit.

The tricky bit is that not every form in Discourse or in plugins is built using FormKit: your user note example is one such form. But, it’s a pretty quick job to switch to FormKit, so I’ve handled that in the user note plugin. :slight_smile:

I definitely agree with your sentiment that UI features that look similar should work similar, so here’s a small step towards that!

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