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[GH-ISSUE #7634] [Bug]: Previously selected Category dropdown opens when window gains focus #100550

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opened 2026-05-29 20:35:17 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 5 comments
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-29 20:35:17 -05:00
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Originally created by @wpetrowski on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/7634

What happened?

I was trying to enter categories for un-categorized transactions, and occasionally had to switch windows to search for a payee. When I click back to Actual Budget, the dropdown for the most recently selected category automatically opens. Since I am trying to click on the row below to enter its category, I end up clicking Split Transaction on the row above, which is annoying to cancel out of.

Example 1

My actual usage: entering two transactions normally, then clicking on another window, then clicking back to Actual Budget intending to open the Category for the "Sp Fabricvilleonline" row. Instead, a split is created for the row above, "Sq* Purl and Han". This may seem like a minor issue but it really throws off the flow of trying to work through a backlog of uncategorized transactions!

Image

Example 2

Clicking the title bars of the windows, to demonstrate that the Category for the previously-entered row is opening when Actual Budget gets focus.

Image

How can we reproduce the issue?

  1. Go to any Transaction view
  2. Click on the Category for a transaction, select a category, then don't click anything else in Actual Budget (field should have a purple selection outline w/ a flashing cursor)
  3. Click on any other window - Notepad, for example
  4. Click on the Actual Budget window. If you click the title bar, the category dropdown for the row that was previously selected should open and remain open. If you click somewhere in the app itself (the empty header area above the transactions list, for example) the category dropdown will open briefly then close itself.

Where are you hosting Actual?

Docker

What browsers are you seeing the problem on?

Chrome, Other

Operating System

Windows 11

Originally created by @wpetrowski on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/7634 ### What happened? I was trying to enter categories for un-categorized transactions, and occasionally had to switch windows to search for a payee. When I click back to Actual Budget, the dropdown for the most recently selected category automatically opens. Since I am trying to click on the row below to enter its category, I end up clicking Split Transaction on the row above, which is annoying to cancel out of. ### Example 1 My actual usage: entering two transactions normally, then clicking on another window, then clicking back to Actual Budget intending to open the Category for the "Sp Fabricvilleonline" row. Instead, a split is created for the row above, "Sq* Purl and Han". This may seem like a minor issue but it really throws off the flow of trying to work through a backlog of uncategorized transactions! <img width="1370" height="677" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/c4a2dd2f-0eec-4b95-8ee4-491b24236693" /> ### Example 2 Clicking the title bars of the windows, to demonstrate that the Category for the previously-entered row is opening when Actual Budget gets focus. <img width="1205" height="574" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/c6912f84-2a53-4451-92c9-58ebbbe4419e" /> ### How can we reproduce the issue? 1. Go to any Transaction view 2. Click on the Category for a transaction, select a category, then don't click anything else in Actual Budget (field should have a purple selection outline w/ a flashing cursor) 3. Click on any other window - Notepad, for example 4. Click on the Actual Budget window. If you click the title bar, the category dropdown for the row that was previously selected should open and remain open. If you click somewhere in the app itself (the empty header area above the transactions list, for example) the category dropdown will open briefly then close itself. ### Where are you hosting Actual? Docker ### What browsers are you seeing the problem on? Chrome, Other ### Operating System Windows 11
GiteaMirror added the bugtransactions labels 2026-05-29 20:35:17 -05:00
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-29 20:35:31 -05:00
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@alecbakholdin commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026):

I think I found something that works, need the core team to review it to see if they are okay with the approach as this may be a little too hacky for their liking.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4329204824 --> @alecbakholdin commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026): I think I found something that works, need the core team to review it to see if they are okay with the approach as this may be a little too hacky for their liking.
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-29 20:35:36 -05:00
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@youngcw commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026):

Looks like the issue is that you aren't saving the new category before navigating away. There isn't an issue if you press enter or tab first

<!-- gh-comment-id:4329227926 --> @youngcw commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026): Looks like the issue is that you aren't saving the new category before navigating away. There isn't an issue if you press enter or tab first
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-29 20:35:40 -05:00
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@alecbakholdin commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026):

@youngcw You are right, but I think I agree with @wpetrowski that this is still weird, especially the scenario where you click back and create a split transaction out of nowhere.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4329262124 --> @alecbakholdin commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026): @youngcw You are right, but I think I agree with @wpetrowski that this is still weird, especially the scenario where you click back and create a split transaction out of nowhere.
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-29 20:35:45 -05:00
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@MatissJanis commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026):

Yeah, I agree, this is sub-optimal user experience.

Thanks for the comprehensive write-up!

<!-- gh-comment-id:4330515651 --> @MatissJanis commented on GitHub (Apr 27, 2026): Yeah, I agree, this is sub-optimal user experience. Thanks for the comprehensive write-up!
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-29 20:35:50 -05:00
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@didibilel2-coder commented on GitHub (Apr 28, 2026):

Reproduction Confirmed on Windows 11 + Edge

I successfully reproduced this bug on my setup:

Item Value
Browser Microsoft Edge (latest)
OS Windows 11
Version v26.4.0
Hosting Local-only / Docker

Steps I followed:

  1. Opened Actual Budget in Edge browser
  2. Went to an account with 2+ uncategorized transactions
  3. Clicked Category field of top transaction → selected a category
  4. Did NOT press Enter/Tab (field still had purple outline + cursor)
  5. Switched to another window using Alt+Tab
  6. Clicked back on Actual Budget window

Results:

Method Result
Clicked on title bar to return Category dropdown opened and stayed open ✅ reproduced
Clicked on empty header area to return Dropdown opened briefly then closed ✅ reproduced

The annoying behavior (confirmed):

After the dropdown opened from regaining focus, I tried to click on the Category field of the transaction below. Instead, I accidentally clicked "Split Transaction" on the top row. This disrupts workflow when processing many uncategorized transactions.

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d2210906-366a-436a-9d3f-ebd5ef2944c1

Additional note:
As mentioned by @youngcw in the comments, pressing Enter or Tab after selecting a category prevents this issue. However, from a user experience perspective, this is unexpected behavior – users shouldn't have to remember to "save" the category before switching windows.

This happens consistently on Edge (Chromium-based, same as Chrome).

<!-- gh-comment-id:4339190808 --> @didibilel2-coder commented on GitHub (Apr 28, 2026): ## Reproduction Confirmed on Windows 11 + Edge **I successfully reproduced this bug on my setup:** | Item | Value | |------|-------| | **Browser** | Microsoft Edge (latest) | | **OS** | Windows 11 | | **Version** | v26.4.0 | | **Hosting** | Local-only / Docker | **Steps I followed:** 1. Opened Actual Budget in Edge browser 2. Went to an account with 2+ uncategorized transactions 3. Clicked Category field of top transaction → selected a category 4. Did NOT press Enter/Tab (field still had purple outline + cursor) 5. Switched to another window using Alt+Tab 6. Clicked back on Actual Budget window **Results:** | Method | Result | |--------|--------| | Clicked on **title bar** to return | Category dropdown opened and stayed open ✅ reproduced | | Clicked on **empty header area** to return | Dropdown opened briefly then closed ✅ reproduced | **The annoying behavior (confirmed):** After the dropdown opened from regaining focus, I tried to click on the Category field of the transaction below. Instead, I accidentally clicked "Split Transaction" on the top row. This disrupts workflow when processing many uncategorized transactions. https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d2210906-366a-436a-9d3f-ebd5ef2944c1 **Additional note:** As mentioned by @youngcw in the comments, pressing Enter or Tab after selecting a category prevents this issue. However, from a user experience perspective, this is unexpected behavior – users shouldn't have to remember to "save" the category before switching windows. This happens consistently on Edge (Chromium-based, same as Chrome).
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Reference: github-starred/actual#100550
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