Activate Search Bar

Emperor, Look at all the support we have on this issue.  Can anybody imagine going to Google.com and having to click in the search bar?!  If Google is wise enough--even when they run creative art directing visitors to some special info page (an influential writer's 184th birthday, a holiday celebration, etc.)--they maintain autofocus! Damnit IMDb just DO IT. Please! THANK you.

I am not sure why you directed that at Emperor who says he's in support, but most people that like it the way it is are not likely to come here to comment. I just happen to be here and I go from, prefer it the way it is to don't care either way. I rarely start out with a search and when I do, I don't even notice any problem. That said, there are sites where the first field is necessary and they don't activate it...that's damn annoying. I've never noticed a problem with IMDb though and rarely accidentally clickk an add of any kind (can't even recall ever doing it). Your example is not a good one. Google's only purpose or activity is a search. Sure, the search there should start with the cursor in place. Ask 100 IMDb users what they're here for, you might get 100 different answers. So, there's that. There are 45 people in support. The site gets 100 million visitors per month. IMDb tracks clicks and what people are using. I would bet that if there ever is a time where the majority of users have to click and then search, they'd activate it. So, there's that. Chalk me up for a vote that it's not worth a change.

My comment was a rant, not AGAINST Emperor, just a rant.  Hope IMDb knows that half the clicks on ads, if they are accidental like mine, should be CHALKED up as zero clicks, not deliberate ad clicks.

I don't see any viable reason for IMDb to not have this feature. When any page loads, you have two options; click/scroll using the mouse, or type something. On IMDB (and almost all sites), the most common thing would be using the mouse. Having the search textbox focused when a page loads would not in any way affect anyone trying to click or scroll somewhere. IMDb's search bar is probably one of IMDb's most used features since they have it at the top of every single page. When you need to type something, unless its a review or the message board, it will most likely be a search. Even in those cases, you would still have to click/navigate the page using a mouse, then scroll down using a mouse to the typing area. In that case, you would only need a minor extra step, to click where you need to type.  Implementing this feature would definitely help anyone who wants to perform a search as their first action after loading a page, while not adding any significant drawbacks to the users who wish to use the mouse or write a comment/review. Just my 2 cents.

Hi Emperor, Do you think there's any way we can convince IMDb's decision-makers to just do this?  It makes no sense whatsoever that they are refusing, "not planned" or whatnot. Thanks! Jen

True, but that doesn't necessarily mean tablet users don't also use desktops and/or laptops like my husband and I do. Thanks for your replies, Jen

Suppose if any user is using keyboard, and he wants to find some actor or movie details then it will become headache for him to navigate to search bar. It takes about 5-6 tabs to navigate to search bar. And if you already have search bar activated, then you can click a tab and can navigate the whole page through keyboard.

Would an autofocus cause a specific problem for those using arrow keys?  Would an arrow key user have to click an additional arrow key twice, for instance?  I'd really like to hear an argument that explains fully all the reasons, precisely why autofocus should not be implemented. I want to hear from somebody that works at IMDb, directly. You guys/gals have my email address; if you don't want to reply here send me an email. Thank you.

Let's take a poll (is there a way to set up polls within this community?) because I'd love to discover how many people use keyboard/arrow keys to navigate this site.

Good work. I assume it'd be easy enough to do through Greasemonkey too.

Tommy, Thank you!  The script works great in Chrome which we use almost exclusively, especially with IMDb and Netflix. Take care, Jennifer

Thank you Tommy.  And sorry for the delay--I'd forgotten my password to log in and resetting it has been on the back burner so to speak.  But I did see and appreciate your work when I was notified :) Jen

Can you do that with this thread (flag it up)?  Thank you for your endless support on this issue! :)

Yes, IMDb -- PLEASE fix this! Thank you in advance, Jen