Outlook Online, New Outlook: Outlook loses keyboard focus when add-in pane is pinned in Read mode

[DmitryKostochko]

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We are developing an Outlook add-in for Read mode. Recently we've started to receive complaints that Outlook loses keyboard focus when our pane is pinned. See the steps leading to the issue below. Please note that all Outlook add-ins are affected.

Your Environment

• Platform: Office on the web
• Host: Outlook Online, New Outlook
• Office version number:
• Operating System: Windows 10 & 11, MacOS
• Browser: Google Chrome 132.0.6834.111, Microsoft Edge 132.0.2957.127

Expected behavior

Outlook should not lose keyboard focus when a pinned add-in pane is open.

Current behavior

Outlook loses keyboard focus.

Steps to reproduce

1. In Outlook Online or New Outlook, select the first email in your Inbox.
2. Start any Outlook add-in that works in Read mode, for example Script Lab for Outlook.
3. Pin the add-in pane.
4. While the pane is pinned, select several emails in your Inbox (note that the pane will be hidden).
5. Press the Up or Down arrow key (note that the pane will be shown).
6. Now you have the problem - all subsequent presses of the Up or Down arrow key do not work because Outlook has lost the keyboard focus.

Context

Our users find this current behavior annoying, and we are receiving complaints.

If you have any questions or need more information, please let me know.

[ElizabethSamuel-MSFT]

@DmitryKostochko Thanks for raising this.

@exextoc Please take a look.

Thanks.