[Accessibility][Layout Engine] Suggestion: Layer Selector

[aphelionz]

Fast follow-on to #25503 - if there is a keyboard accessible way to move the Selected layer then there should also be a keyboard-accessible way to select a layer, perhaps something like the Layers panel in Photoshop.

#24159 Kibana 6.5 Meta Issues
#23534 Canvas Accessibility

Relevant WCAG Criteria: 2.1.1 Keyboard

[elasticmachine]

Pinging @elastic/kibana-canvas

[rayafratkina]

Not sure how feasible this is short-term?

[monfera]

Our terminology on layers and layering hasn't been consistent so I'll try to clarify this first:

1. Layers: things like layers, selected layer, layers panel, disable editing of a layer etc should refer to discrete layers similar to those in vector editing software, as you refer to, a functionality that doesn't exist yet in Canvas, but it should and part of this issue refers to it
2. Vertical positioning of elements or groups, a functionality that exists now, and which now has keyboard controls in addition to the sidebar buttons (we confusingly call it layering here and there)

It's a fair point that for accessibility, it's not enough that vertical positioning is enabled via keyboard action - indeed, selection should be possible too.

So let's understand this issue to

• A. primarily require that elements and groups be selectable via keyboard shortcuts,
• B. secondarily, suggest (support) that we should eventually add layers support (as in item 1) and shortcuts for that

The question regarding item A is, I think it'd be a relatively uncomplicated development to add once I'm done with the layout engine middleware refactoring, or even parallel with it if there's availability, @cqliu1 @ryankeairns please add your thoughts, eg. keys to cycle through elements / groups

[nreese]

Closing as not planned