Address field adjustments

February 8, 2012 · by Blazej Kazmierczak

Recently I have been working on improvements in the address field. The main UI related complaint was that Opera didn't show the full address any more, even when there is room for it. That was true; in 11.6x versions the length was limited to around 1/3 of the address field length.

As a result, we have replaced the 3 column solution (icon, URL, title) with 2 columns. The first column contains the icon (no, not favicon yet), and the second column contains the text. This text includes the address, page title, and optional page excerpt (when the row contains information provided by history results). In cases where there is not enough space, we still cut the text.

We have also improved bolding rules, and provided new colors.

For bookmarks fans, we have further adjusted bookmark prioritization when ordering them in the drop down.

Please remember that work here is still ongoing, and further improvements are planned.

Known issues

Further improvements to contrast and formatting are still being considered
Favicons are not displayed and there is currently no option to bring them back
Important parts of URLs can be cut off, if there is not enough space
Mac: Some font rendering issues, and crashes with Web fonts

WARNING: This is a development snapshot: It contains the latest changes, but may also have severe known issues, including crashes, and data loss situations. In fact, it may not work at all.

Download

Changelog

Use page title instead of page excerpt for full page search results
Combine the URL and page content columns in the address field drop-down
CORE-43506 (POST request for application/x-www-form-urlencoded is always sent as two packets)
CORE-43829 (Error message when sending mail at centrum.cz)
DSK-347472 (Opening localhost server using hostname + port number + slash fails)
DSK-355092 (New Speed Dial dialog address field font size too small)
DSK-356130 (Crash on starting Opera with a saved session)
DSK-356621 (Text in Preferences -> Search configuration dialog is misleading)
DSK-352734 (Mac: Font in new Speed Dial dialog address field cropped at the top and bottom)

Readers' comments

Comments left by My Opera members under the original post: the first 50, as archived.

WorlonWednesday, February 8, 2012 12:45:40 PM
Moderator edit: This comment has been removed for breaching our terms of use.
Макаров АндрейwinandWednesday, February 8, 2012 12:51:08 PM
never thought that address field is bad, but, yeah, that's even better:)
redfalconWednesday, February 8, 2012 12:53:08 PM
It would be nice to have an option which type of entry (bookmark, adress, search) in the adress field should be prioritized and in what order. I strongly prefer the bookmarks in first place and don't care about searches.
DayderDayWednesday, February 8, 2012 12:56:37 PM
Originally posted by redfalcon:

I strongly prefer the bookmarks in first place and don't care about searches.

+1
OlegYchWednesday, February 8, 2012 12:57:54 PM
awesome, certainly the way to go
hope the Known issues will be fixed soon

one thing which is not listed and is very annoying - opera still doesn't search in urls (or it is flaky to the point that it doesn't work 90% of time)

e.g. i visit https://github.com/nicta/scoobi and then enter "scoobi" in address field and get nothing
as i already showed (in comments to previous build) this works flawlessly in firefox
woj-tekWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:03:12 PM
Combine the URL and page content columns in the address field drop-down

I have black title and black address -- now it is barely distinguishable as opposed to 3 columns

for some pages instead of title i have address as well (i.e. it is twice)

like bookmarks prioritizing

make search suggestions go away, please, pretty please, with a cherry on top!

'show x more' and the dropdown is twice as big yet there is 2/3 of the screen free -- make it use 2/3 instead?

type 'ome_domain' and you will not get a hit when the name/address is bla.some_domain.tld (i.e. there is a letter after the dot but before the searched string)
ZotlanWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:03:12 PM
Still crashing when attempting to play webm files on linux.
AdamBaciorWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:03:43 PM
Originally posted by redfalcon:

I strongly prefer the bookmarks in first place and don't care about searches.

+1
It should be customizable.
Jordan TrillesCristallixWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:04:02 PM
Originally posted by redfalcon:

It would be nice to have an option which type of entry (bookmark, adress, search) in the adress field should be prioritized and in what order. I strongly prefer the bookmarks in first place and don't care about searches.

You can disable searches if you don't want it.

And look at the time of the post
Diego SchildtekonazaWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:15:18 PM
Originally posted by redfalcon:

I strongly prefer the bookmarks in first place and don't care about searches.

Originally posted by OlegYch:

one thing which is not listed and is very annoying - opera still doesn't search in urls (or it is flaky to the point that it doesn't work 90% of time)

+1
pursanovdWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:16:30 PM
Originally posted by tekonaza:

I strongly prefer the bookmarks in first place and don't care about searches.

+1.
After disabling search suggestion results in address bar completion is pretty nice.
nimu_channimuchanWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:16:35 PM
Thank you !! Just install!!
minhoWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:30:56 PM
DSK-356130 (Crash on starting Opera with a saved session)
Thanks!
MichałEmdekWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:31:23 PM
(no, not favicon yet)

Downloading right now. :-)
Blazej KazmierczakbkazmierczakWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:40:30 PM
Originally posted by OlegYch:

one thing which is not listed and is very annoying - opera still doesn't search in urls (or it is flaky to the point that it doesn't work 90% of time)

Yes, on our list, sorry, forgot to mention that.
Ruarí ØdegaardruarioWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:45:47 PM
Originally posted by Worlon:

Where is the HTML 5, Hardware acelleration, x64 and the other updates????

Originally posted by ObeseMaurice:

Thanks, but I'm a little worried about HWA. No fixes since December 19th? Huh?

These things are all being worked on internally. We have plenty of things to work through and that do not require further feedback. What you see in the changelog is not the sum of what we have done. Patience my friends, patience!
Helge GjølmehelgeagWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:50:23 PM
Originally posted by Zotlan:

Still crashing when attempting to play webm files on linux.

Did you do what Ruario suggested?
http://my.opera.com/desktopteam/blog/show.dml/40310822?startidx=50#comment80540332
Blazej KazmierczakbkazmierczakWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:54:06 PM
Originally posted by woj-tek:

I have black title and black address -- now it is barely distinguishable as opposed to 3 columns

you can try manipulating the skin, to get your preferred color
[Address DropDown URL Label]
[Address DropDown URL Title]
[Address DropDown Suggestion Label]
Ruarí ØdegaardruarioWednesday, February 8, 2012 1:54:12 PM
@Zotlan: To expand on Helge's link to my earlier reply. If you download the video (granted you might need to use another browser for this) and load it in Totem, Parole or another GStreamer-based media play and see the same crash, then the problem is your GStreamer libs and you should report upstream to your distro or the GStreamer guys, not us.
OlegYchWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:09:27 PM
getting crashes when entering numbers in address field, submitted crash report
João DavidpiroxicamWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:12:27 PM
Nice new colors in the search field. Thanks. They do look good.
MichałEmdekWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:13:23 PM
Yeah, default colors in dropdown are weird now, I got light blue. :-D
Which is similar only to role of "selection background" in mine workspace colors definition (custom colors of Oxygen style, KDE 4.8.0).
PengePenge4Wednesday, February 8, 2012 2:24:13 PM
The bold fonts in the M2 are intentional or accidental?
FavDjiXasWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:28:15 PM
I don't know from which build you started following font size settings, which increased the size of RSS feed titles as well as news titles but thank you very much.
Blazej KazmierczakbkazmierczakWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:37:23 PM
Originally posted by Penge4:

The bold fonts in the M2 are intentional or accidental?

Accident
AmpaWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:37:53 PM
+1 for customisable priority in the address bar list - I too would like to see bookmarks first, then history, then searches.
James OakleyJamesOakleyWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:38:29 PM
It will be good to have bookmark-priority back. By definition, sites I've bookmarked are more relevant to me than those I have visited but never bookmarked.

Will we get back the ability to see search history in the address bar? In 11.5x we used to be able to type the search abbreviation, then a space bar (e.g., "g " for Google) and a drop-down shows a list of recent searches
minhoWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:50:06 PM
Originally posted by OlegYch:

getting crashes when entering numbers in address field, submitted crash report

Same on Fedora 16 x32.
woj-tekWednesday, February 8, 2012 2:55:53 PM
Originally posted by bkazmierczak:

Originally posted by woj-tek:
I have black title and black address -- now it is barely distinguishable as opposed to 3 columns

you can try manipulating the skin, to get your preferred color
[Address DropDown URL Label]
[Address DropDown URL Title]
[Address DropDown Suggestion Label]

still one tiny issue remains - not everyone is so good with colours therefore 3 columns were better ;-)
Gousti FruitGoustiFruitWednesday, February 8, 2012 3:01:31 PM
I also don't like the integrated search results in the URL toolbar. I know other browsers tend do oversimplify things, but sometimes it just feels wrong. Even for beginners or computer illiterates, having a dedicated search field is easier.
And this makes me think that the URL toolbar is just too much *visible*, it pops too much out of the interface: I know a lot of people that don't understand what a URL is ("what is that http://... text ???") so I suggest that the URL dropdown could be changed into a breadcrumb toolbar, working like the one in Windows Explorer or about every modern file explorer. And when you click on the right of the path, it turns into selectable text.
delarge42Wednesday, February 8, 2012 3:03:47 PM
Originally posted by OlegYch:

getting crashes when entering numbers in address field, submitted crash report

Confirmed
danielmmmmWednesday, February 8, 2012 3:24:13 PM
Åååå, panel still not fixed yet :-(
But nice to see that we get new versions quickly :-)

Btw. any news on tab stacking? Would be nice if tabs would remain stacked after closing and re-opening Opera.
Gap51Wednesday, February 8, 2012 3:28:20 PM
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/downloads
tankbergWednesday, February 8, 2012 3:29:47 PM
Not sure if this has been mentioned on earlier builds, but clicking an imagelink (such as a Thumbnail) does not work. Nothing happens when I click there. Clicking on a text link works fine.

Win 7 x64, Opera 12 Build 1289

Edit: Right click and open from the context menu works.
QuHnoWednesday, February 8, 2012 3:50:50 PM
typed
[driveletter]:
into the address bar, hit enter, waited until the listing was done and the address bar showed
file://localhost/[driveletter]:/
clicked on a folder to display the contents - reproducible crash.

clean start with memguard activated, first action.
w7x64
OlegSmilyUserWednesday, February 8, 2012 3:56:49 PM
Originally posted by OlegYch:

getting crashes when entering numbers in address field, submitted crash report

Confirmed
Linux Mint x64 RU / GNOME3
```
./opera-next
opera [crash logging]: CRASH!!
/media/diskD/upload/opera-next-12.00-1291.x86_64.linux/lib/opera-next/opera-next got signal SIGSEGV at address 000000D6142C
```
Originally posted by Crimi:

I think the primary funtion of a "Address" field is showing and selecting web-addresses. Not searching with Google (there is a "search" field next to the address field) or selecting bookmarks

+1 here. While trying to choose some address first it goes to search, not to history. Completely inconvenient.

PS/ Same as it's been on prev snapshot. Address bar is cut sometime (really accidentally)
OlegSmilyUserWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:02:19 PM
Also, when choosing language other than english for spellchecking (RU for me), it's unable to choose type of dictionary to be used.
Add dictionaries -> Add, confirm -> Leave english as default -> Right button -> Dictionaries -> no any menu visible

Edit: Hmm... that's not only for dictionaries.
For me that's no any submenus other than main are visible on right button clicking.
So it's unable to post any notes or primary data.

Linux Mint x64 | GNOME3
BakLANWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:04:49 PM
Problems with flash objects is still there in Linux version. When using some flash object in one tab, then try to use any object in other tub, the first flash object stops working.
Ide StoutjesdijkCrimiWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:08:43 PM
Originally posted by SmilyUser:

Originally posted by Crimi:
I think the primary funtion of a "Address" field is showing and selecting web-addresses. Not searching with Google (there is a "search" field next to the address field) or selecting bookmarks

+1 here. While trying to choose some address first it goes to search, not to history. Completely inconvenient.
Indeed please don't force us to use Google for every address. When we need search in the address field there is a simple solution, press "g"
Sk0lWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:13:21 PM

That's a good example, IMHO.
fmbbWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:16:04 PM
- very slow scroll on flash pages (opera 12). http://www.lun.com/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?dt=2012-02-08&PaginaId=27&bodyid=0

- simple progress bar do not show full items count (opera 11, 12). http://postimage.org/image/wvb44t9pv/

- address bar lost focus on extensions buttons load (opera 11, 12)
ClashCityRockerclashcityrockerWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:24:15 PM
Anyone else seeing font rendering problems in M2 RSS view compared to previous builds?

Windows 7 Aero, HWA Disabled.
tootbrushWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:29:55 PM
Hilarious. We're pretty much back to what the address field used to look like before the solution with 2 rows. Opera 9.50 until 10.something, if I remember correctly.
ThangarajthangarajjWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:31:06 PM
My 2 cents:
This is one thing I think many of us would agree that firefox has done a brilliant job (much better than chrome or IE). The 2 line display for each url is visually very explicit demarcation that really works & removes the need to scrutinize.
While other browser makers have copied so many opera's features, I think we can copy a few good things like this
dityanaoanWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:31:12 PM
I'm sorry but I can't and won't participate on bug testing of opera 12 build until the unresponsive edge bug got ironed out for public testing, dunno how many other users feels the same way but I really hope you guys sort this one issue first before anything else (yes, I'm aware it has been fixed on internal build).
OlegSmilyUserWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:36:28 PM
Originally posted by fmbb:

very slow scroll on flash pages

+1 =)
Not only with flash, but also with many images and JS files on it.
Price.ua completely slow to scroll while choosing any category

Chrome and even FF9 shows it faster
berend ytsmaytsmabeerWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:37:37 PM
Originally posted by naoan:

I'm sorry but I can't and won't participate on bug testing of opera 12 build until the unresponsive edge bug got ironed out for public testing, dunno how many other users feels the same way but I really hope you guys sort this one issue first before anything else (yes, I'm aware it has been fixed on internal build).

If you test, you know that not everything works, and you work arround the known bugs.
DubyWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:43:42 PM
Originally posted by Gap51:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/downloads

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/msdrivers.jpg/][/URL]
If you go to site preferences and identify as Firefox then it displays correctly. So is this an Opera issue or an issue with MS for sending different content based on browser?
trpWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:46:15 PM
Originally posted by Blazej Kazmierczak:

no, not favicon yet

By "yet", you mean the favicons will be back some day?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
ainstusharWednesday, February 8, 2012 4:48:07 PM
The authentication scheme used in https://app.mc.uky.edu/medicine/echoportal/content.aspx has never worked. Not sure if this is the right place or not. In other browsers, it would popup with a username and a password dialog box.

OSX10.7.3, tested on latest build.

About this article

Published in	Desktop Team blog
Date	February 8, 2012
Author	Blazej Kazmierczak
Original	Internet Archive

Address field adjustments

Readers' comments

About this article

Browsers

Add-ons

Services

Developers

Help

Company