GWKB1045 : The Path from JAWS to Window-Eyes Made Easy
Product: Window-EyesAuthor: Clarence Whaley
Date Added: 03/23/2006
Last Modified: 07/09/2008
The primary purpose of having a JFW keyboard layout for Window-Eyes is to offer individuals who use JFW, an easy way to use Window-Eyes without having to learn all new hot keys. In addition, trainers that are already familiar with JFW will have an easier time teaching others to use Window-Eyes. They will be able to concentrate on the computer, Windows and applications and spend less time on the screen reader.
Before we get into the details, there are a few concepts that must be understood. Ultimately, we hope that once you are familiar with the speed, power, and advantages of Window-Eyes plus the great tech support of GW Micro, you will want to switch to the default Window-Eyes keystrokes and become even more efficient.
We do not intend for this initial keyboard layout to be complete for all applications. We will add more features and keystrokes as time permits and will be available to you from our webpage. Please consider joining our gw-info or gw-news lists where we make announcements including when updates to this layout are available to download. This initial layout will help you get started but we welcome all suggestions for improvement.
First - a short explanation of the cursor and mouse pointer functions with Window-Eyes. Window-Eyes always allows the active cursor to remain in use and it is always visible. In addition, Window-Eyes offers special keys to move the mouse pointer on the screen making it possible to examine the screen, click in obscure places and perform other functions. While this is happening, the active cursor is still available. In addition, Window-Eyes offers a WE cursor, which allows examining the screen with the mouse without physical movement of the mouse pointer.
Now - a similar explanation of JFW. It has a PC cursor, which is actually the active cursor. It also has a JFW cursor, which is similar to the Window-Eyes mouse pointer. The primary difference here is that the JFW cursor takes control away from the PC cursor. So when using the JFW cursor the PC cursor is not available just as if it has gone away. In comparison, with Window-Eyes, everything is always available for use. There is no confusion which cursor is being used.
To provide this mode, it is necessary to emulate the JFW PC cursor. When the PC cursor is active, the keystrokes are relatively straightforward. For example, INSERT NUMPAD DOWN ARROW will produce the read to end that JFW users know so well. However, to use the JFW cursor we had to add a modifier key. To use the JFW cursor you must press the windows key along with the appropriate JFW keystroke. For example, to use the JFW cursor read current character hold down the windows key along with NUMPAD CENTER. In most cases, we were able to use the very powerful mouse movement keys that Window-Eyes offers. Some keystrokes had to be modified such as the Window-Eyes read by clip keys.
Here are the steps to switch between the JFW and Window-Eyes layouts.
First, you must download a file called jfwlayout.exe from our support page. Go to www.gwmicro.com/support/downloads, enter JFW in the search edit box and press ENTER, or simply select the following link:
Window-Eyes Keyboard Layout for JAWS/JFW Users
Download and save this file to your download directory and then run the jfwlayout.exe program. When you run the program, it will copy the two layout files plus this readme file to the default Window-Eyes directory, or whatever directory you choose during the Window-Eyes installation. After this is done, your ability to switch between the Default keyboard layout and the Vocal-Eyes layout will be replaced with the Default layout and the new JFW layout.
From the Window-Eyes Voice Control Panel press ALT-K, arrow up to the keyboard layout option and press enter. To run the JFW layout, arrow to the Vocal-Eyes keyboard layout and press enter. In future versions of Window-Eyes there will be a JAWS layout option. Once you have pressed enter you will be prompted to press "y" to confirm that you want to update Window-Eyes. After a few seconds, you will have the JFW keyboard layout. When you wish to switch back to the Window-Eyes, default layout, simply follow the steps above but choose Default layout instead of the Vocal-Eyes layout.
If you are a JFW user, you will immediately notice many cases where Window-Eyes will give you more information than JFW gives you. An example of this is reading the title bar. Now when you press insert-t to read the title bar you hear not only the name of the application but in addition the state of the window such as maximized or normal. Another example of this is insert-f for font. You will hear color and more information.
We expect you will have suggestions for changes and improvements and we welcome them. If you do, please contact support@gwmicro.com.
Here is a list of the keys in the velayout.txt file. Please do not modify that file or you may get unexpected results. This is only a list of the keys related to Jaws.
The following group refers to reading keys and reading movement keys.
Character = Numpad-Center
Prior Word = Insert-Numpad-Left Arrow
Word = Insert-Numpad-Center
Next Word = Insert-Numpad-Right Arrow
Line = Insert-Numpad-Up Arrow
Prior Sentence = Alt-Numpad-Up Arrow
Sentence = Alt-Numpad-Center
Next Sentence = Alt-Numpad-Down Arrow
Paragraph = Control-Numpad-Center
Top Cursor = Insert-Numpad-Home
Cursor Bottom = Insert-Numpad-Page Up
Left Cursor = Insert-Numpad-End
Cursor Right = Numpad-Page Down
Read To End = Insert-Numpad-Down Arrow
The next group is for miscellaneous functions
Key describer = Insert-1 (this will be implemented in WE version 6.0)
Field Data = Control-Shift-d
Field Name = Control-Shift-n
Label field name = Control-Shift-f
Speak Summary = Control-Shift-s
Default Button = Insert-e
Highlight Rotor = Insert-s
Time/Date = Insert-F12
Address = Insert-a
Menu = Insert-j
Edit dictionaries = Insert-d
Bypass = Insert-3
Read Active Window = Insert-b
Read Title/Status of Current App = Insert-t
Read status line = Control-Insert-s
Read Marked Block = Shift-Insert-Numpad-Down Arrow
Windows Help = Insert-F1
Word Mode Rotor = Insert-2
Auto Label Graphics = Control-Insert-g
MSAA windows Mode Toggle = Insert-z
Switch Language = Control-Windows-l
Sys Tray = Insert-F11
Reclass = Insert-7
Redraw = Insert-Escape
Read Progress or Scrollbar = Insert-Tab
The next group refers to Window-Eyes mouse keys or JFW cursor keys.
Mouse Boundary Rotor = Insert-r
Single Click Left Mouse Button = Numpad-/
Single Click Right Mouse Button = Numpad-*
Toggle Left Mouse Button = Insert-Numpad-/
Toggle Right Mouse Button = Insert-Numpad-*
Drag And drop = Control-Insert-Numpad-/
Mouse Bottom Right = Numpad-windows-End
Mouse Prior Character = Numpad-windows-Left Arrow
Mouse Current Character = Numpad-windows-Center
Mouse Next Character = Numpad-windows-Right Arrow
Mouse Prior Word = Insert-Numpad-windows-Left Arrow
Mouse Current Word = Insert-Numpad-windows-Center
Mouse Next Word = Insert-Numpad-windows-Right Arrow
Mouse Prior Line = Numpad-windows-Up Arrow
Mouse Current Line = Insert-Numpad-windows-Up Arrow
Mouse Next Line = Numpad-windows-Down Arrow
Mouse Prior Sentence = Alt-Numpad-windows-Up Arrow
Mouse Current Sentence = Alt-Numpad-windows-Center
Mouse Next Sentence = Alt-Numpad-windows-Down Arrow
Mouse Prior Paragraph = Control-Numpad-windows-Up Arrow
Mouse Current Paragraph = Control-Numpad-windows-Center
Mouse Next Paragraph = Control-Numpad-windows-Down Arrow
Mouse Next Clip = Control-Alt-Numpad-Page Up
Top to Mouse = Insert-Numpad-windows-Home
Mouse to Bottom = Insert-Numpad-windows-Page Up
Left to Mouse = Insert-Numpad-windows-End
Mouse to Right = Insert-Numpad-windows-Page Down
Mouse to Cursor = Insert-Numpad--
Cursor to Mouse = Insert-Numpad-+
Mouse Position = Insert-windows-a
Mouse ASCII/Attribute = Insert-windows-5
Mouse Search = Control-Insert-f
Continue Mouse Search = Insert-F3
This group refers to controlling the voices
Voice Down = Control-Alt-Numpad-Page Down
Voice Up = Control-Alt-Numpad-Page Up
Voice Selection Rotor = Control-Alt-Numpad-Right Arrow
Voice Parameter Rotor = Control-Alt-Numpad-Left Arrow
The following is for web navigation
Next Control = c
Prior Control = Shift-c
Next Text = n
Prior Text = Shift-n
Next Frame = m
Prior Frame = Shift-m
Next Different Line = d
Prior Different Line = Shift-d
Next Visited Link = v
Prior Visited Link = Shift-v
Next Anchor = a
Prior Anchor = Shift-a
Next Form = f
Prior Form = Shift-f
Next Heading = h
Prior Heading = Shift-h
MSAA Next Paragraph = p
MSAA Prior Paragraph = Shift-p
Next Block Quote = q
Prior Block Quote = Shift-q
Next List = l
Prior List = Shift-l
Next List Item = i
Prior List Item = Shift-i
Next Table = t
Prior Table = Shift-t
Exit All Table Modes = Control-Shift-Numpad--
Cell Right = Control-Alt-Right Arrow
Cell Left = Control-Alt-Left Arrow
Cell Up = Control-Alt-Up Arrow
Cell Down = Control-Alt-Down Arrow
End of Row = Control-Insert-Right Arrow
Beginning of Row = Control-Insert-Left Arrow
Top of Column = Control-Insert-Up Arrow
Bottom of Column = Control-Insert-Down Arrow
Element Properties = Insert-f
Page Navigation = Insert-F7
Previous Position = Insert-r
Auto Load Key = Insert-a
MSAA Verbosity Dialog = Insert-v
Refresh Toggle = Alt-Shift-m
Office Page Navigation = Insert-F7
Office Element Properties = Insert-f
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