Combobox with autocomplete = 'on' is narrated as read-only by Windows Narrator

[SarveshNamjoshi]

Environment Information
Package version(s): current
Browser and OS versions: Microsoft Edge Version 81.0.416.34 (Official build) beta (64-bit)

Please provide a reproduction of the bug in a codepen:
Code pen : https://codepen.io/Namjoshi/pen/oNXVmNp
repro-steps : 1. Run the codepen in Edge (preferably in Edge chromium)
2. Start windows narrator (with scan mode off)
3. navigate till combobox
4. Observe that narrator is narrating the combobox as read-only

Actual behavior:
For Combobox with autocomplete = 'on', windows narrator is narrating as read-only.

Expected behavior:
Since user is able to type in the combobox, narrator should not narrate the combobox as read-only.

Priorities and help requested:
Requested priority: High

[aneeshack4]

Hi @SarveshNamjoshi, thanks for reaching out o this. I confirm repro of this behavior:

When autocomplete is on but allowFreeForm is also set to true, it doesn't repro
. This behavior is explicitly defined in ComboBox.tsx. When freeform is not allowed, readonly is set to true. I believe this is because it's not allowing the user to input options outside of the pre-set ones. So Narrator is correctly reading this out loud as read only. @joschect - correct me if I'm wrong.

[SarveshNamjoshi]

@aneeshack4 Thanks for clarifying the behavior.
@joschect
Considering the clarification provided by @aneeshack4, my understanding is:
In our case, since user is typing in the combobox, however the selection is happening from pre-set values and it is not allowing the user to input any options outside the pre-set values, hence as per the default behavior expected from Combobox, the narrator is stating it as read-only.
Could you please confirm on this behavior.

[aneeshack4]

@SarveshNamjoshi Yes confirming that behavior.

[msft-github-bot]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has marked as requiring author feedback but has not had any activity for 4 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 3 days of this comment. Thank you for your contributions to Fabric React!

[betrue-final-final]

Hey @aneeshack4, @smhigley brought this to my attention. I understand that if you think about how it's built it may make sense for it to be "read-only", but that's a confusing message for someone hearing and using the control. Is there anything we can do?

[smhigley]

If it helps, there's work on creating an example of exactly this pattern in the APG: w3c/aria-practices#1026 (code preview: https://raw.githack.com/w3c/aria-practices/select-only-combo/examples/combobox/combobox-select-only.html).

The gist is that rather than use an <input>, the combobox role goes on a <div>, so a readonly attribute is not needed to prevent freeform input