Combobox with grid aria-activedesendant switching to browse mode for non gridcell elements

[adamsamec]

Steps to reproduce:

1. Turn on NVDA.
2. Visit this combobox with aria-activedescendant grid containing interactive elements example.
3. Using the Tab key, navigate to the "Search" combobox.
4. Using the Down arrow key and then Down/Up/Right/Left arrow keys, try to navigate by cells in the grid popup.
5. Visit this W3C combobox with aria-activedescendant grid containing only focusable gridcells.
6. Using the Tab key, navigate to the "Fruits and vegetables" combobox.
7. Using the Down arrow key and then Down/Up/Right/Left arrow keys, try to navigate by cells in the grid popup.

Actual behavior:

In the first example, after transitioning to the grid and trying to navigate with the Down/Up/Right/Left arrow keys, NVDA switches to browse mode as soon as element other than role="gridcell" is referenced using the aria-activedescendant attribute set on the combobox. Compare this with the second example by W3C, where NVDA stays in the forms mode as one navigates grid using arrow keys.

Expected behavior:

NVDA should stay in the forms mode no matter which focusable element is referenced using the aria-activedescendant attribute set on the combobox.

System configuration

NVDA installed/portable/running from source:

Installed.

NVDA version:

NVDA 2024.1.0.31547.

Windows version:

Windows 11, version 23H2 (OS Build 22631.3447).

Name and version of other software in use when reproducing the issue:

• Google Chrome, version 124.0.6367.61.
• Mozilla Firefox, version 125.0.1.

Other questions

Does the issue still occur after restarting your computer?

Yes.

Have you tried any other versions of NVDA? If so, please report their behaviors.

No.

If NVDA add-ons are disabled, is your problem still occurring?

Yes.

Does the issue still occur after you run the COM Registration Fixing Tool in NVDA's tools menu?

Yes.

[Adriani90]

Closing as duplicate of #11413.