[kmail2] [Bug 452860] New: Kmail external editor opening on modifier keypress

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https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=452860

            Bug ID: 452860
           Summary: Kmail external editor opening on modifier keypress
           Product: kmail2
           Version: 5.19.3
          Platform: Manjaro
                OS: Linux
            Status: REPORTED
          Severity: normal
          Priority: NOR
         Component: composer
          Assignee: kdepim-bugs at kde.org
          Reporter: tenger at protonmail.com
  Target Milestone: ---

This is related to https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=25755 but different.
Also, https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=48841 is the same issue but for the
original kmail.

I know that besides the external editor automatically opening when starting a
new mail, it can also be re-opened later by pressing any key while the main
body textbox part of the composer is in focus. This latter is good and intended
behaviour, however it triggers on indeed *any* key, e.g. also for modifiers
such as Meta or Alt. 

This can be very frustrating when trying to operate KMail by keyboard: e.g. if
I navigate into the main textbox via Tab-ing, I cannot navigate out via
shift-tabbing, or if I want to close the composer window via a keyboard
shortcut, the external editor launches while the composer has closed/is
closing.

I see two possible solutions:
- Do not launch the external editor for any keypress, only for printable
characters or similar (but definitely do not spawn if for modifier keys or
anything involving a modifier key), or
- add an option to the external editor plugin that can disable the automatic
launching of the external editor (on opening and/or on any keypress), which
could be instead launched by a dedicated keyboard shortcut.

The second proposed soluton ties in to the comment
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=25755#c7, as the external editor launching
behaviour should indeed be more granularly configurable to accommodate
different workflows (which is the whole point of the external editor).

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