Unexpected panel switching when navigate_with_arrows=true

[stopdesign]

I use "lynx-like motion" (navigate_with_arrows=true). I don't know if it’s common practice, but I find it very convenient for fast navigation.

My understanding of lynx-like motion:

• Right arrow == enter the highlighted directory (or open an archive)
• Left arrow == go to the parent directory

The problem is that the right arrow also moves focus to the opposite panel when a regular file is highlighted. It breaks the design pattern of moving back and forth with the left and right arrows. It is confusing and breaks the muscle-memory pattern.

It feels like a non-lynx-motion behavior that appears when the desired action (enter the directory) isn’t available. I think the correct behavior should be to do nothing, or at least not change the active panel.

Is this a bug or a feature?
Is there an option to disable panel switching while still using the arrows for navigation?

[stopdesign]

Also the "quick info" panel doesn't update when I move to the parent directory using the left arrow. It should show "Cannot view: not a regular file".

[mc-worker]

You didn't provide any info about mc you're using.

moves focus to the opposite panel when a regular file is highlighted

Absolutely unconfirmed. Please provide the step-by-step description how to reproduce that.

"quick info" panel

What is "quick info"? "Quick view" of "Info"? "Not a regular file" is a correct message for directory.

[stopdesign]

Okay, sorry for the inaccuracy.

Let's assume it's a bug. Actually, at least 2 different bugs.
Now I'm talking only about the issue with 2 panels in "File listing" mode.

I've found the second important condition.

I deleted the .config/mc/ini file, started mc and changed only these options:
navigate_with_arrows = true
command_prompt = false

Affected versions

I haven't seen any unaffected version.
Here are some specific affected versions that I use now:

$ mc -V
GNU Midnight Commander 4.8.33
Built with GLib 2.84.0
Built with S-Lang 2.3.3 with terminfo database
Built with libssh2 1.11.1
With builtin editor
With subshell support as default
With support for background operations
With mouse support on xterm
With multiple codepages support

Darwin localhost.local 24.4.0 Darwin Kernel Version 24.4.0: Fri Apr 11 18:33:47 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.101.15~117/RELEASE_ARM64_T6000 arm64

$ mc -V
GNU Midnight Commander 4.8.29
Built with GLib 2.74.5
Built with S-Lang 2.3.3 with terminfo database
Built with libssh2 1.10.0
With builtin Editor and Aspell support
With subshell support as default
With support for background operations
With mouse support on xterm and Linux console
With support for X11 events
With internationalization support
With multiple codepages support
With ext2fs attributes support

Linux rzp 6.1.59-1-stable #7d2440287 SMP PREEMPT Mon Oct 23 02:57:54 UTC 2023 aarch64 GNU/Linux

Conditions

navigate_with_arrows = true
command_prompt = false

Steps to Reproduce

• Navigate to a directory containing regular files
• Focus a regular file on one panel (any file, any panel)
• Press right arrow

Expected Behavior

• Nothing (as you can't "navigate" inside a file).
• The target file should remain focused.

Actual Behavior

• Focus switches to the opposite panel, like I pressed Tab.

[zyv]

I can indeed reproduce it if the command prompt is hidden, so I have created #4736.