Javascript for up and down keyboard-accessible controls on a sortable list with sortable.js

keyboard-sortable-example.js

// Move the element either up or down in the list
// this piggybacks on Sortablejs's `sort` function

// This code needs to have access to the Sortablejs object that controls the list.
// A couple of things you'll need to customize
// LIST_CONTAINER is the DOM element that shoud contain the list 
// LIST_ITEM_SELECTOR is the 
// (e.g. The UL where the LI elements should be sortable)

// You will probably want to customize these, or use a different way to select your list and list items
const listContainerSelector = 'UL#my-sortable-list'
const listItemSelector = 'LI.sortable-list-item'

// If your code already has access to the sortablejs object, 
// comment this part out and update any references to `sortable_list` below 
// to reference your sortablejs object
var sortable_list = Sortable.create(document.querySelector(listContainerSelector), {
  dataIdAttr: 'data-sortable-id', // required to calculate the custom sort
  
  // Any other sortablejs configuration...
  handle: '.drag-handle', 
  animation: 250
})

moveElement(element, direction) {
  // bail out if we get input that we don't expect
  if (["up", "down"].includes(direction) == false ) {
    return false
  }
  if (typeof(element.dataset.sortableId) == 'undefined') {
    return false
  }
  
  // `sortableId` is whatever you've set in your sortablejs config for `dataIdAttr`
  let sortableId = element.dataset.sortableId
  let order = sortable_list.toArray()
  let index = order.indexOf(sortableId)
  
  // pull the item we're moving out of the order
  order.splice(index, 1)
  
  // put it back in at the correct position
  if (direction == 'down') {
    order.splice(index+1, 0, sortableId)
  } else if (direction == 'up') {
    order.splice(index-1, 0, sortableId)
  }

  sortable_list.sort(order, true)
}

// Attached to the up control's `onKeyDown` event 
moveElementUp(event) {
  // only proceed if `ENTER` was pressed - keyCode 13
  if (event.keyCode == 13) {
    event.stopPropagation()
    event.preventDefault()
    
    // get the list item that contains the control that was activated
    // (in this case, it matches the selector `DIV.topic-list-item`)
    this.moveElement(event.currentTarget.closest(listItemSelector), 'up')
    
    // Check the visibility of the control. 
    // If it's new place in the list caused 'up' or 'down' to be hidden, switch to the other one
    if (window.getComputedStyle(event.currentTarget).display == 'none') {
      event.currentTarget.parentNode.querySelector('A[data-direction=down]').focus()
    } else {
      event.currentTarget.focus()
    }

  }
}

// Attached to the down control's `onKeyDown` event
moveElementDown(event) {
  if (event.keyCode == 13) {
    event.stopPropagation()
    event.preventDefault()
    this.moveElement(event.currentTarget.closest(listItemSelector), 'down')
    if (window.getComputedStyle(event.currentTarget).display == 'none') {
      event.currentTarget.parentNode.querySelector('A[data-direction=up]').focus()
    } else {
      event.currentTarget.focus()
    }
  }
}

Updated to something that should work more generically now. There's a section at the top to define the sortablejs list and set selectors for the list and the list items. Should be usable as-is, but depending on your existing code you may want to modify it to point to your existing sortablejs obj.

Thank you