Report Taskbar icon location when moving using alt+shift+arrows

[Qchristensen]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

It is possible to re-organise taskbar icons in Windows 11:

1. Press Windows+t to move focus to the taskbar
2. Use the arrow keys to select the icon to move
3. Press alt+shift+arrow to move the icon in the desired direction.
4. Use the arrow keys to confirm current location of icon.

The issue is that at step 3, the icon moves in the desired direction, but nothing is reported by NVDA.

Describe the solution you'd like

NVDA should report the new location on the taskbar at step 3 (when alt+shift+left or right arrow is pressed).

Describe alternatives you've considered

Additional context

Using NVDA 2022.3beta1
on Windows 11 (64-bit) Version: 21H2 (2009), Build: 22000.795

Note that Narrator does not report anything during this operation either, so it is possible the needed information is not being exposed (I will confirm with Microsoft, but at least for now this is a place to record any knowledge on this issue).

[josephsl]

Hi,

Resolved in Windows Insider dev channel build 25267 (released December 14, 2022) - UIA notification event is used to announce taskbar item reordering results. I expect this wil be backported to Windows 11 22H2 at least in the near future.

Thanks.

[Qchristensen]

That will eventually make its way to regular builds. Should we call this issue resolved, or should we try to look into a way of providing the information for Windows 10 users as well? (I don't expect Microsoft will back port this to Windows 10)

[josephsl]

Hi, this cannot be done for Windows 10 because Alt+Shift+left/right arrow keys do not even work there (if it did, I would have edited Windows App Essentials add-on to deal with it, but since Windows 10 is in maintenance mode…). As for marking this issue as resolved, I advise waiting until Microsoft does backport it to a stable build (likely 22621 unless Windows 11 2023 Update (Version 23H2) turns out to be based on build 25300 range). Thanks.

[josephsl]

Hi,

April 2023 update: I see two resolution paths:

1. Ask Microsoft to backport UIA notification event for taskbar item rearrangement to build 22621 and/or 23H2.
2. Bring the work from Windows App Essentials add-on to NVDA Core with the understanding that this will work on older Windows 11 releases prior to build 25267 and/or a backport is made.

I am in favor of option 1 as it can benefit more than one screen reader.

Thanks.

[josephsl]

Hi,

September 2023 update: the whole thing is removed from recent Insider Preview builds so may have been scrapped for 23H2 (for now). I am still not in favor of option 2 (backporting from NVDA side) as a resolution from Microsoft side benefits more people (I have removed the backport from Windows App Essentials add-on also).

Thanks.

[Adriani90]

This works as expected in Windows 11 24 H2. Closing as works for me.