Unexpected focus of AutoComplete's first search result item with slow filter requests and highlightFirst false

[Juveniel]

Bug report

The AutoComplete first option is focused incorrectly, when filter requests to the server are slow, although highlightFirst is set to false. Note that its default value is also false.

Reproduction of the problem

Reproduction video

1. Run the following Dojo example or the Server Filtering demo
2. Click on the AutoComplete and type gran - Grandma's Boysenberry Spread is filtered
3. Blur the AutoComplete
4. Set browser throttling (3G Slow) to simulate slow connection speed, which makes reproduction easier. Keep dev tools on Network tab to observe the filter requests.
5. Click on the AutoComplete after gran and type d - this triggers a filter request.
6. While the above filter request is still in progress, immediately after typing d press backspace to delete d - this triggers another filter request.

Current behavior

When the first filter request completes, Grandma's Boysenberry Spread is filtered in the search results.
And then when the second filter request completes, Grandma's Boysenberry Spread becomes focused, although highlightFirst is false.

Note that when the item is highlighted, pressing Tab to blur the component selects the item in the AutoComplete.

Screencast

Expected/desired behavior

The first option of the list should not be focused when highlightFirst option is set to false.

Environment

• Kendo UI version: 2021.2.511
• Browser: all

[jignesh-dalal]

I think this matches with the issue #4428 that I filed. Please see Workaround section for a possible fix.

[Dimitar-Goshev]

Increasing priority - reported in #4428 and #6443 . When addressing the issue, check the related issues for additional scenarios, if needed.
In #6443 the author added the following comment, which may be useful:
"I have debugged and found that open flag still false when it must be true to remove focus of first item. (probably race condition cause asynchronous operations)"

[dmitriy-barkalov]

Hi Team, please share if there is a plan to fix the issue.

[nelito987]

Reported in ticket id: 1567327