Keyboard and dropdown lists

[David Mayerovitch]

The time you take between keystrokes affects the behavior of a search
through a list; I'm interested in how this works.

Windows helpfully allows you to reach an entry in a dropdown list by typing
the first one or two letters of the entry you want. This also works for
various similar lists, such as a contacts list in Outlook.

If you type B, you are taken to the first entry beginning with B. If you
wait a bit and then type I, you are taken to the first entry beginning with
I.

However, if you type B and I in quick succession, you are taken to the first
entry beginning with BI.

I find that on my XP system if you want to match the first two letters, you
must strike them within a certain time interval. Let's call it delta. On my
system, delta is about 0.5 seconds.

Does anyone know whether this interval is hard-wired or configurable by the
user?

Thanks.

David

 

[Twayne]

The time you take between keystrokes affects the behavior of a search

through a list; I'm interested in how this works.

Windows helpfully allows you to reach an entry in a dropdown list by
typing the first one or two letters of the entry you want. This also
works for various similar lists, such as a contacts list in Outlook.

If you type B, you are taken to the first entry beginning with B. If
you wait a bit and then type I, you are taken to the first entry
beginning with I.

However, if you type B and I in quick succession, you are taken to
the first entry beginning with BI.

I find that on my XP system if you want to match the first two
letters, you must strike them within a certain time interval. Let's
call it delta. On my system, delta is about 0.5 seconds.

Does anyone know whether this interval is hard-wired or configurable
by the user?

Thanks.

David

I can't see it happen; what application specifically do you see it
happen in?

 

[David Mayerovitch]

Try Microsoft Outlook, Contacts. Set Current View to Address Cards.