JAWS for Windows screen reading software
Overview
JAWS screen reader uses an integrated voice synthesizer which dictates the text and information from the screen.
JAWS should automatically startup on login. If the JAWS screen reader does not automatically start, check the speakers are switched on and the sound has not been switched off via the volume button in the system tray. If JAWS still does not respond, shutdown and restart the computer. If you still encounter problems contact the Disability Support team.
JAWS online help facility
To start the JAWS online help facility, press INSERT+J to activate the JAWS application Window, and press ALT+H to display the help menu.
Starting JAWS Help from within other applications
To start the Online Help facility from other Windows applications press F1
Other Help options
To hear screen sensitive help about a particular application that you are working with press INSERT+F1
Sometimes JAWS can provide a help topic for the application you are currently running. Internet Explorer has a help topic within JAWS for instance. To see if one exists for the application you are using and to hear the help facility, press INSERT+F1 twice quickly.
Hot Keys
A hot key help facility is available to tell you what keystrokes you can use within specific screens. To activate this and hear the options available to you, press INSERT+H
Other Standard application Keystrokes
In addition to JAWS having its own keystrokes, you can also use the standard windows keystrokes such as ALT+F to open the file menu, ALT+E to open the edit menu, etc.
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Useful JAWS keystrokes
JAWS keystrokes for reading text
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Say All |
INSERT+DOWN ARROW (Note: to change voice rate when using Say All use the page down key to increase the speed and page up to decrease) |
| Say Prior Word |
INSERT+LEFT ARROW |
| Say Next Word |
INSERT+RIGHT ARROW |
| Say Character |
NUM PAD 5 |
| Say Prior Character |
LEFT ARROW |
| Say Next Character |
RIGHT ARROW |
| Say Word |
INSERT+NUM PAD 5 |
| Spell Word |
INSERT+NUM PAD 5 pressed twice quickly |
| Say Sentence |
ALT+NUM PAD 5 |
| Say Prior Sentence |
ALT+UP ARROW |
| Say Next Sentence |
ALT+DOWN ARROW |
| Say Paragraph |
CTRL+NUM PAD 5 |
| Say Prior Paragraph |
CTRL+UP ARROW |
| Say Next Paragraph |
CTRL+DOWN ARROW |
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Other useful JAWS keystrokes
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Interrupt speech |
CTRL |
| Say Window title |
CAPS LOCK+T |
| Say Window prompt and Text |
CAPS LOCK+TAB |
| JAWS Find |
CAPS LOCK+CTRL+F |
| JAWS Find Next |
CAPS LOCK+F3 |
| JAWS Find Previous |
CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+F3 |
| Say Selected Text |
CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+A |
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General Windows keystrokes
Windows keystrokes
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Get Help |
F1 |
| Open the Start menu |
WINDOWS KEY or CTRL+ESC |
| Find File or Folder from Desktop |
F3 |
| Switch between open applications |
ALT+TAB |
| Quit the active application |
ALT+F4 |
| Minimize all applications |
WINDOWS KEY+M |
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For windows and menus
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Open the application control menu |
ALT+SPACE BAR |
| Move to the Menu bar in application |
ALT |
| Choose a Menu item |
ENTER |
| Move between menus |
ALT, ARROW KEYS |
| Cancel or close a menu |
ESC |
| Cancel or close a cascading menu |
ALT |
| Open a child window control menu |
ALT+DASH |
| Close a child window |
CTRL+F4 |
| Open the applications menu |
APPLICATIONS KEY or SHIFT+F10 |
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For dialogs
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Move through dialog controls |
TAB |
| Move backward through dialog controls |
SHIFT+TAB |
| Move to another page |
CTRL+TAB |
| Reverse direction through pages |
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB |
| Select or deselect in list view |
SPACEBAR or CTRL+SPACEBAR |
| Toggle a check box on/off |
SPACEBAR |
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For frames
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Frame Get Top Left |
CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT BRACKET |
| Frame Get Bottom Right |
CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT BRACKET |
| Frame Set to Window |
CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT BRACKET pressed twice quickly |
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Keystrokes for Internet Explorer 5 and 6
The following Keystrokes are used with Internet Explorer 5 and 6. To obtain more information from within Internet Explorer press and hold INSERT and Press F1 twice quickly. Press F6 to move to the help topic window.
General commands
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Go Back a Page |
ALT+LEFT ARROW |
| Read Address Bar |
INSERT+A |
| Next Link |
TAB |
| Prior Link |
SHIFT+TAB |
| Open Link |
ENTER |
| List Links |
INSERT+F7 |
| List Headings |
INSERT+F6 |
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Movement commands
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Skip Past Links |
N |
| Next Visited Link |
V |
| Prior Visited Link |
SHIFT+V |
| Next Heading |
H |
| Prior Heading |
SHIFT+H |
| Next List |
L |
| Prior List |
SHIFT+L |
| Next Frame |
M |
| Prior Frame |
SHIFT+M |
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Forms commands
Action
|
Keystroke |
| Enter Forms Mode |
ENTER |
| Exit Forms Mode |
NUM PAD PLUS |
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Tables
Action
|
Keystroke
|
| Next Table |
T |
| Prior Table |
SHIFT+T |
| Next Row |
WINDOWS KEY+DOWN ARROW |
| Prior Row |
WINDOWS KEY+UP ARROW |
| Read Row |
R |
| Read Column |
C |
| Next Cell in Row |
ALT+CTRL+RIGHT ARROW |
| Prior Cell in Row |
ALT+CTRL+LEFT ARROW |
| Cell below in Column |
ALT+CTRL+DOWN ARROW |
| Cell Above in Column |
ALT+CTRL+UP ARROW |
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Further information
Manuals
A JAWS Manual and basic training cassette tape is also available in the ASSL Assistive Technology room. The manual is available in text and Braille formats.
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