fix(a11y): status-bar indicators work from the keyboard and read as buttons. Principle VI.

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -1446,6 +1446,7 @@ set(GUI_SOURCES
     src/gui/GreenHeronApplet.cpp
     src/gui/TitleBar.cpp
     src/gui/RoundedMenu.cpp
+    src/gui/StatusIndicator.cpp
     src/gui/BrandMark.cpp
     src/gui/RadioTabBar.cpp
     src/gui/WindowCaptionButtons.cpp

docs/architecture/aetherd-touchpoints.md

@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ Burndown manifest for the engine/UI decoupling ([RFC](../aetherd-headless-engine
 | `core/SystemInventory.h` | 1 | ui-support — Startup and support-bundle inventory of host CPU, SIMD and RAM capabilities. Process diagnostics, not radio state. | unconverted |
 | `core/TciServer.h` | 3 | mixed(flex) — TCI WebSocket server for WSJT-X et al: protocol surface is canonical radio state, but audio/IQ rides Flex DAX | unconverted |
 | `core/TgxlConnection.h` | 3 | peripheral(4o3a) — Direct TCP client for the 4O3A Tuner Genius XL (port 9010, relay/autotune), reverse-engineered from the 4O3A management app — a standalone accessory transport, not SmartSDR. Not radio-family wire; a peripheral accessory, NOT behind the IRadioBackend radio seam (reclassified from vendor(flex), #4087 follow-up). | unconverted |
-| `core/ThemeManager.h` | 167 | ui-support — Qt token-based theming singleton (colors/fonts/QSS, theme files, editor hooks) — pure client GUI plumbing, no radio state. | unconverted |
+| `core/ThemeManager.h` | 168 | ui-support — Qt token-based theming singleton (colors/fonts/QSS, theme files, editor hooks) — pure client GUI plumbing, no radio state. | unconverted |
 | `core/ThreadCpuRing.h` | 2 | ui-support — Short host-thread CPU history used by Runtime Monitor peak and sparkline presentation. Diagnostic UI support, not radio state. | unconverted |
 | `core/TimeFrameVoter.h` | 1 | universal — Shared AetherClock time-frame types plus confidence-weighted cross-frame bit voting over a sliding window. Map-agnostic pure DSP/logic — no Qt, no GUI, no vendor ties. | unconverted |
 | `core/TxKeyingMarker.h` | 15 | ui-support — QWidget property marker guarding TX-keying controls from the automation bridge; GUI-shell plumbing, no radio state. | unconverted |

src/gui/MainWindow.cpp

@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@
 #include "DvkAvailabilityGate.h"
 #include "VoiceModeGate.h"
 #include "DvkPanel.h"
+#include "StatusIndicator.h"
 #include "core/DvkWavTransfer.h"
 #include "AmpApplet.h"
 #include "MeterApplet.h"
@@ -5656,6 +5657,15 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
     const QString redInd    = "QLabel { color: #e04040; font-weight: bold; font-size: 21px; }";
     const QString greyIndLg = "QLabel { color: #404858; font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px; }";
     const QString greenIndLg= "QLabel { color: #00e060; font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px; }";
+    // Tab, Return/Enter and the accessible Press action reach the same action
+    // as a click (#6257, docs/a11y.md interactive-QLabel rule). On/off
+    // indicators are checkable, so their state is not colour alone.
+    const auto keyboardOperable = [this](QWidget* indicator, bool onOff = false) {
+        StatusIndicator* helper = StatusIndicator::attach(indicator);
+        helper->setCheckable(onOff);
+        connect(helper, &StatusIndicator::activated, this,
+                [this, indicator] { activateStatusIndicator(indicator); });
+    };
 
     // Use a container with HBoxLayout for 3-section layout:
     // [left items] → stretch → [STATION centered] → stretch → [right items]
@@ -5733,7 +5743,9 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
             m_bandStackIndicator->setPixmap(buildBandStackIndicatorPixmap(false));
             m_bandStackIndicator->setCursor(Qt::PointingHandCursor);
             m_bandStackIndicator->setToolTip("Open band stack panel");
+            m_bandStackIndicator->setAccessibleName(QStringLiteral("Band stack panel"));
             m_bandStackIndicator->installEventFilter(this);
+            keyboardOperable(m_bandStackIndicator, true);
             hbox->addWidget(m_bandStackIndicator);
         }
 
@@ -5746,6 +5758,7 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
         addPanBtn->setCursor(Qt::PointingHandCursor);
         addPanBtn->setToolTip("Add Panadapter");
         addPanBtn->installEventFilter(this);
+        keyboardOperable(addPanBtn);
         hbox->addWidget(addPanBtn);
         m_addPanLabel = addPanBtn;
     }
@@ -5756,7 +5769,9 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
     m_tnfIndicator->setStyleSheet(greyIndLg);
     m_tnfIndicator->setCursor(Qt::PointingHandCursor);
     m_tnfIndicator->setToolTip(buildTnfTooltip(m_radioModel.tnfModel()));
+    m_tnfIndicator->setAccessibleName(QStringLiteral("Tracking notch filters"));
     m_tnfIndicator->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_tnfIndicator, true);
     hbox->addWidget(m_tnfIndicator);
     auto updateTnfTooltip = [this]() {
         if (m_tnfIndicator) {
@@ -5772,15 +5787,19 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
     m_cwxIndicator->setStyleSheet(greyIndLg);
     m_cwxIndicator->setCursor(Qt::PointingHandCursor);
     m_cwxIndicator->setToolTip("CW Keyer — click to toggle");
+    m_cwxIndicator->setAccessibleName(QStringLiteral("CW keyer"));
     m_cwxIndicator->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_cwxIndicator, true);
     hbox->addWidget(m_cwxIndicator);
 
 #ifdef AETHER_ASR_ENABLED
     m_asrIndicator = new QLabel("ASR");
     m_asrIndicator->setStyleSheet(greyIndLg);
     m_asrIndicator->setCursor(Qt::PointingHandCursor);
     m_asrIndicator->setToolTip("Speech-to-text (Copy Assist) — click to toggle");
+    m_asrIndicator->setAccessibleName(QStringLiteral("Speech-to-text (Copy Assist)"));
     m_asrIndicator->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_asrIndicator, true);
     hbox->addWidget(m_asrIndicator);
 #endif
 
@@ -5792,13 +5811,16 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
     m_dvkIndicator->setToolTip(dvkIndicatorTooltip(DvkIndicatorBlocker::None));
     m_dvkIndicator->setAccessibleDescription(dvkIndicatorTooltip(DvkIndicatorBlocker::None));
     m_dvkIndicator->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_dvkIndicator, true);
     hbox->addWidget(m_dvkIndicator);
 
     m_fdxIndicator = new QLabel("FDX");
     m_fdxIndicator->setStyleSheet(greyIndLg);
     m_fdxIndicator->setCursor(Qt::PointingHandCursor);
     m_fdxIndicator->setToolTip("Full Duplex — RX stays active during TX (click to toggle)");
+    m_fdxIndicator->setAccessibleName(QStringLiteral("Full duplex"));
     m_fdxIndicator->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_fdxIndicator, true);
     hbox->addWidget(m_fdxIndicator);
 
     addSep();
@@ -6111,7 +6133,10 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
     m_tgxlContainer->setToolTip("Tuner Genius XL\nClick to cycle OPERATE / BYPASS / STANDBY");
     m_tgxlContainer->setAccessibleName("Tuner Genius XL status");
     m_tgxlContainer->setAccessibleDescription("Click to cycle between OPERATE, BYPASS, and STANDBY");
+    m_tgxlContainer->setProperty("aetherStateCycle",
+        QStringLiteral("Press to cycle between OPERATE, BYPASS, and STANDBY"));
     m_tgxlContainer->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_tgxlContainer);
     m_tgxlContainer->setVisible(false);
     {
         auto* vbox = new QVBoxLayout(m_tgxlContainer);
@@ -6148,7 +6173,10 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
     m_pgxlContainer->setToolTip("Power Genius XL\nClick to cycle OPERATE / STANDBY");
     m_pgxlContainer->setAccessibleName("Power Genius XL status");
     m_pgxlContainer->setAccessibleDescription("Click to cycle between OPERATE and STANDBY");
+    m_pgxlContainer->setProperty("aetherStateCycle",
+        QStringLiteral("Press to cycle between OPERATE and STANDBY"));
     m_pgxlContainer->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_pgxlContainer);
     m_pgxlContainer->setVisible(false);
     {
         auto* vbox = new QVBoxLayout(m_pgxlContainer);
@@ -6183,6 +6211,7 @@ void MainWindow::buildUI()
     m_txIndicator->setAccessibleName("Cancel transmit");
     m_txIndicator->setAccessibleDescription("Click to send key up, PTT off, Tune off, and MOX off.");
     m_txIndicator->installEventFilter(this);
+    keyboardOperable(m_txIndicator);
     m_txIndicator->setStyleSheet("QLabel { color: rgba(255,255,255,128); font-weight: bold; font-size: 21px; }");
     hbox->addWidget(m_txIndicator);
 
@@ -7356,6 +7385,7 @@ void MainWindow::updateBandStackIndicator()
     m_bandStackIndicator->setPixmap(buildBandStackIndicatorPixmap(visible));
     m_bandStackIndicator->setToolTip(visible ? "Close band stack panel"
                                              : "Open band stack panel");
+    StatusIndicator::setCheckedFor(m_bandStackIndicator, visible);
 }
 
 bool MainWindow::activateMemorySpot(int memoryIndex, const QString& preferredPanId)
@@ -10461,6 +10491,7 @@ void MainWindow::updateKeyerAvailability()
         setIndicatorStyle(m_cwxIndicator, txIsCw ? kAvail : kDisabled);
     }
     m_cwxIndicator->setCursor(txIsCw ? Qt::PointingHandCursor : Qt::ArrowCursor);
+    StatusIndicator::setCheckedFor(m_cwxIndicator, m_cwxPanel->isVisible());
 
     // DVK: available in voice modes (SSB, AM, FM — not DIGU/DIGL), and only on
     // a radio that reports the DVK entitlement (see dvkIndicatorBlocker).
@@ -10478,6 +10509,7 @@ void MainWindow::updateKeyerAvailability()
     }
     m_dvkIndicator->setCursor(dvkAvailable ? Qt::PointingHandCursor
                                            : Qt::ArrowCursor);
+    StatusIndicator::setCheckedFor(m_dvkIndicator, m_dvkPanel->isVisible());
     // An unlicensed radio gets a tooltip naming the missing subscription; the
     // mode gate keeps the normal one, since the panel's own title and the F-key
     // rows already make "wrong mode" obvious once it opens.
@@ -10541,6 +10573,7 @@ void MainWindow::updateKeyerAvailability()
         setIndicatorStyle(m_asrIndicator,
                           asrVisible ? kActive
                                      : (asrIsVoice ? kAvail : kDisabled));
+        StatusIndicator::setCheckedFor(m_asrIndicator, asrVisible);
         // Cursor tracks the ENABLED state, not the mode, so the hand appears on
         // exactly the clicks that do something — including the close-an-open-
         // panel case where the mode gate says no.

src/gui/MainWindow.h

@@ -905,6 +905,10 @@ private slots:
     // keyer panels mutually exclusive and restore the splitter identically.
     void toggleCwKeyerPanel();
     void toggleVoiceKeyerPanel();
+    // Status-bar indicators are click-handled labels and containers; a mouse
+    // press (eventFilter) and the keyboard (StatusIndicator) share one action.
+    bool isStatusIndicator(const QObject* obj) const;
+    void activateStatusIndicator(QObject* obj);
     // Shared by the status-bar +PAN affordance and Tools ▸ Add Panadapter… so
     // both route through PanLayoutDialog and the layout machinery.
     void showAddPanadapterDialog();

src/gui/MainWindow_Shortcuts.cpp

@@ -851,24 +851,55 @@ bool MainWindow::eventFilter(QObject* obj, QEvent* event)
         toggleConnectionDialog();
         return true;
     }
+    // Status-bar indicators: a press and the keyboard (StatusIndicator's
+    // Return/Enter/Space and the accessible Press action) run one action.
+    if (event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress && isStatusIndicator(obj)) {
+        if (obj == m_txIndicator
+            && static_cast<QMouseEvent*>(event)->button() != Qt::LeftButton) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        activateStatusIndicator(obj);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return QMainWindow::eventFilter(obj, event);
+}
+
+bool MainWindow::isStatusIndicator(const QObject* obj) const
+{
+    if (!obj) {
+        return false;
+    }
 #ifdef AETHER_ASR_ENABLED
-    if (obj == m_asrIndicator && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
-        if (!m_asrIndicator->isEnabled()) return true;
+    if (obj == m_asrIndicator) {
+        return true;
+    }
+#endif
+    return obj == m_cwxIndicator || obj == m_tnfIndicator
+        || obj == m_fdxIndicator || obj == m_bandStackIndicator || obj == m_tgxlContainer
+        || obj == m_pgxlContainer || obj == m_txIndicator || obj == m_addPanLabel
+        || obj == m_dvkIndicator;
+}
+
+void MainWindow::activateStatusIndicator(QObject* obj)
+{
+#ifdef AETHER_ASR_ENABLED
+    if (obj == m_asrIndicator) {
+        if (!m_asrIndicator->isEnabled()) return;
         showCopyAssist();           // toggles the docked Copy Assist panel
         updateKeyerAvailability();  // refresh the indicator's active/available style
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
 #endif
-    if (obj == m_cwxIndicator && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
-        if (!m_cwxIndicator->isEnabled()) return true;
+    if (obj == m_cwxIndicator) {
+        if (!m_cwxIndicator->isEnabled()) return;
         toggleCwKeyerPanel();
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_tnfIndicator && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
+    if (obj == m_tnfIndicator) {
         m_radioModel.tnfModel().requestGlobalTnfEnabled(!m_radioModel.tnfModel().globalEnabled());
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_fdxIndicator && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
+    if (obj == m_fdxIndicator) {
         bool on = !m_radioModel.fullDuplexEnabled();
         m_radioModel.sendCmdPublic(
             QString("radio set full_duplex_enabled=%1").arg(on ? 1 : 0),
@@ -882,15 +913,15 @@ bool MainWindow::eventFilter(QObject* obj, QEvent* event)
                 // Radio accepted; no status echo follows, so apply manually.
                 m_radioModel.setFullDuplex(on);
             });
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_bandStackIndicator && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
+    if (obj == m_bandStackIndicator) {
         bool show = !m_panStack->bandStackPanel()->isVisible();
         setBandStackPanelVisible(show);
         updateBandStackIndicator();
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_tgxlContainer && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
+    if (obj == m_tgxlContainer) {
         auto& t = m_radioModel.tunerModel();
         // Cycle: OPERATE → BYPASS → STANDBY → OPERATE
         if (t.isOperate() && !t.isBypass())
@@ -901,29 +932,26 @@ bool MainWindow::eventFilter(QObject* obj, QEvent* event)
             t.setBypass(false);
             t.setOperate(true);
         }
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_pgxlContainer && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
+    if (obj == m_pgxlContainer) {
         // Simple toggle: OPERATE ↔ STANDBY (PGXL has no BYPASS)
         m_radioModel.amplifier().setOperate(!m_radioModel.amplifier().operate());
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_txIndicator && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
-        auto* mouseEvent = static_cast<QMouseEvent*>(event);
-        if (mouseEvent->button() == Qt::LeftButton)
-            cancelTransmitFromIndicator();
-        return true;
+    if (obj == m_txIndicator) {
+        cancelTransmitFromIndicator();
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_addPanLabel && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
+    if (obj == m_addPanLabel) {
         showAddPanadapterDialog();
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    if (obj == m_dvkIndicator && event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress) {
-        if (!m_dvkIndicator->isEnabled()) return true;
+    if (obj == m_dvkIndicator) {
+        if (!m_dvkIndicator->isEnabled()) return;
         toggleVoiceKeyerPanel();
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
-    return QMainWindow::eventFilter(obj, event);
 }
 
 // Shared by the status-bar +PAN affordance and Tools ▸ Add Panadapter… so both

src/gui/MainWindow_Wiring.cpp

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 // panFollowVfo()/revealFrequencyIfNeeded().
 
 #include "MainWindow.h"
+#include "StatusIndicator.h"
 #include "models/CwDecodeSettings.h"
 #include "PeripheralAuthStore.h"
 #include "core/backends/AutoRfGainControl.h"
@@ -4373,6 +4374,7 @@ void MainWindow::wirePanadapter(PanadapterApplet* applet)
             m_tnfIndicator->setStyleSheet(on
                 ? "QLabel { color: #00b4d8; font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px; }"
                 : "QLabel { color: #404858; font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px; }");
+            StatusIndicator::setCheckedFor(m_tnfIndicator, on);
         });
 
     // FDX indicator style update
@@ -4383,6 +4385,7 @@ void MainWindow::wirePanadapter(PanadapterApplet* applet)
             m_fdxIndicator->setStyleSheet(fdx
                 ? "QLabel { color: #00b4d8; font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px; }"
                 : "QLabel { color: #404858; font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px; }");
+            StatusIndicator::setCheckedFor(m_fdxIndicator, fdx);
         });
     connect(sw, &SpectrumWidget::tnfCreateRequested,   tnf, &TnfModel::createTnf,
             Qt::UniqueConnection);
@@ -7305,6 +7308,16 @@ void MainWindow::wireMeters()
         stateLbl->setStyleSheet(
             QString("QLabel { color: %1; font-size:11px; }").arg(color));
         stateLbl->setText(state);
+        // The TUN/AMP container is the keyboard target; its description leads
+        // with the state, which the colour alone otherwise carries.
+        if (QWidget* container = stateLbl->parentWidget()) {
+            const QString cycle = container->property("aetherStateCycle").toString();
+            const QString described = cycle.isEmpty() ? state
+                                                      : QStringLiteral("%1. %2").arg(state, cycle);
+            if (container->accessibleDescription() != described) {
+                container->setAccessibleDescription(described);
+            }
+        }
     };
 
     auto updateTgxlStyle = [this, setIndicatorHtml]() {