Accessing a roll-over dropdown menu in the browser 22
Many websites (including the full PreCentral.net website) are not built with a mobile browser in mind, often using dropdown menus that are only accessible by rolling your mouse cursor over a certain area of the screen. Since the mobile web browser doesn't have a mouse, you need another way to access these menus. Luckily, the browser does allow for a press-and-hold method to bring down these menus. Unfortunately, when you lift your finger from the screen after the dropdown menu appears, the browser then registers that as a tap and loads up any link that was tied to that dropdown menu (for example, the "articles" link in the attached screenshot). There are 2 simple ways to combat this behavior:
- Instead of a press-and-hold, double-tap on the screen to access the menu. This may result in an odd zoom-in due to the double tap, but just pinch-to-zoom out and you will be able to access the drop-down menu as needed
- Still use the press-and-hold method to bring down the menu, but then just drag your finger slightly in any direction across the screen. This movement will tell the browser not to load up the link from the initial tap, allowing you to then select whatever option you need from the dropdown menu.
Thanks to emusician in the forums for this tip
22 Comments
well that's a new one. Thx!
News to me! Thanks for the tip!
I have been wondering how to access drop down menus for a long time!! THANKS A LOT, webOS gets better each and everyday!
It's a shame these tip articles weren't here sooner, because some of them are useful, even to old launch-day dogs like myself. Good job!
Great tip thanks!
>Many websites (including the full PreCentral.net website) are not built with a mobile browser in mind
Of course, many Web sites (NOT including PreCentral or PreCentral forums) implement some very simple device detection and redirect mobile devices to the versions of those sites that ARE designed for mobile browsers. Why doesn't PreCentral do this?
+1. Especially for a site that's dedicated to mobile devices running WebOS, you'd think the site's designers would have done that right from the get-go.
Actually, I was wondering if there was a way to override that so I would go to the full site. If you're redirected to a mobile site the only way to go back is if there is a link back to the full site.
+1
Thanks, could never get it right all the time. Now I know what I was doing wrong.
but I want to use scroll boxes too =(
but I want to use scroll boxes too =(
Woah - I never knew this!
Can anyone get the "Schedules" drop down to work on this website? http://intsports.com/MTL_2/default.asp I need to access my flag football schedule on my phone sometimes and I can't get it to work!
Can anyone get the "Schedules" drop down to work on this website? http://intsports.com/MTL_2/default.asp I need to access my flag football schedule on my phone sometimes and I can't get it to work!
very helpful
I have also been to sites where the given tips do not work, but another method does. To access roll over dropdowns on some sites I press the shift key and then single press on the menu. It then is selected (in yellow, as for copying) and drops down.
Thanks so much rbraun. For some reason, tap+hold doesn't work on my phone, but shift+tap does.
did not know. thanks
Great Tip, but everytime i take my finger from the Screen the Browser goes the next link. So you don't need one finger, you needed two. First finger opens the Dropbox, after that the second finger tips everywhere on the Screen and...the Dropbox still is opened. So you can now easily find your target in the Dropbox.
thank you!
is there a way to send a double click to a website? i have an internal business app that wants you to double click on list of records to bring up a specific record. (i know this isn't the place but can you do it on android or iOS ?)