Press F6 for Instructions

Welcome to Window-Eyes 7.0

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Welcome to the Window-Eyes manual, the number one place for documentation about all Window-Eyes features and functions.

This version of the Window-Eyes manual is written in the Windows Help format, providing an easy to access table of contents in a navigation pane along the left hand side of the manual window, and the documentation relating to each help topic in a pane on the right hand side of the manual window.

The actual text of the manual is provided in a window that supports Browse Mode, meaning that all Browse Mode navigation keys (such as P and SHIFT-P for next and previous paragraph, L and SHIFT-L for next and previous link, etc.) can be used to make navigating the manual text a painless process.

The most important key to remember when using this version of the Window-Eyes manual is the same key you pressed to read this information: F6. F6 (that's Function Key 6) toggles between the navigation pane (where the table of contents is located) and the manual content (the information you're reading right now). When you're in the navigation pane, press F6 to access the content. When you're in the content pane, press F6 to access the navigation pane.

Selecting a Section to Read

To select a section of the manual to read, arrow down through the items in the table of contents, and press ENTER to load that topic into the content pane. Focus will still be in the navigation pane after you press ENTER, so you will need to then press F6 to focus the content. Once you're in the content pane, you can read through the section of the manual that you selected. To get back to the table of contents in the navigation pane, press F6. Arrow down to the next topic you want to read, press ENTER, then F6 to access the content. Press F6 again to get back to the table of contents.

Other Navigation Options

You may notice links at the beginning of each manual section that say, "previous page," "return to chapter overview," and "next page." These links let you access each section of the manual consecutively, meaning that if you want to read section after section, you can do so without pressing F6 to access the table of contents. Instead, use the next page link to move forward one section, or the previous page link to move backward one section. You can also use the Return link to bring you back to this help information.

Navigation Tabs

Along with the table of contents, the navigation pane offers two additional tabs: Index, and Search.

The Index tab contains an edit box, and a list of terms that you can TAB between. Index terms, or keywords, are a words that are associated with a specific topic. You can use the edit box to enter a specific term that you're interested in, and the results will show up in the list. Alternatively, you can use the list by itself to browse through all available terms. Once you have found a term that you are interested in, press ENTER to open that section in the content pane. Since focus is still in the navigation pane, you will need to press F6 to access the content pane. When you're done reading through the content, you can press F6 to place focus back in the Index term list.

The Search tab contains an edit box, an operator button, a list topics button, a display button, a list containing search results, and three check boxes for modifying search options. The simple concept of searching through the Window-Eyes manual goes like this: enter a word or phrase in the search edit box, press ENTER, then tab 4 times to the results list. The results list works just like the index terms list and the table of contents, meaning that you must press ENTER on the search result to open the information in the content tab, and then press F6 to read the content information in Browse Mode. Press F6 again to return to the search results list.

To search for topics that contain a specific word, search for that word alone. For example, to find topics that contain the word verbosity, enter verbosity in the search edit box, and press ENTER.

To search for topics that contain multiple words, enter multiple words separated by spaces. For example, to find topics that contain the words mouse and click, enter mouse space click, and press ENTER.

To search for topics that contain a specific phrase, enter the phrase surrounded by quotes. For example, to find topics that contain the phrase Braille output, enter open quote Braille output close quote, and press ENTER.

Advanced Search Options

If you check the Search previous results check box, you can restrict searches to previous results. For example, if you searched for the phrase Braille output, received a number of results, and then wanted to search through those results for the word activates, you would check the Search previous results check box, enter the words activates in the search edit box, and press ENTER.

If you uncheck the Match similar words check box, the search function will only search for the word you entered, and no other derivatives will be included. For example, with Match similar words unchecked, searching for the word activate will only yield results that contain the word activate. With Match similar words checked, however, searching for the word activate will yield results containing the words activate, activated, activates, etc.

If you check the Search titles only check box, search results will be restricted to section names; the section content will not be searched.

Navigation Hot Keys

The following navigation hot keys can make maneuvering through the Window-Eyes manual quick and easy:

F6 - Toggles between the navigation pane, and the content pane

ALT-Period - Navigates to the next page in a section, or if at the end of a section, navigates to the beginning of the next section.

ALT-Comma - Navigates to the previous page in a section, or if at the beginning of a section, navigates to the end of the previous section.

ALT-C - Selects the Table of Contents tab in the navigation pane

ALT-N - Selects the Index tab in the navigation pane

ALT-S - Selects the Search tab in the navigation pane

For information on all the keys you can use while in Browse Mode, refer to Section 19: Working with the Internet.

One final note about the Windows Help version of the Window-Eyes manual is that it remembers. If you close the Window-Eyes manual with the Table of Contents tab selected in the navigation pane, the Table of Contents will be the selected tab in the navigation pane when you next open the Window-Eyes manual. If, however, you close the Window-Eyes manual with the Search tab selected in the navigation pane, the next time you open the Window-Eyes manual, the Search tab will be selected in the navigation pane. If you open the Window-Eyes manual, and are unable to locate the Table of Contents, chances are the manual was closed with one of the other navigation tabs selected. As mentioned above, pressing ALT-C will select the Table of Contents tab, regardless of which tab is selected when the manual is opened.

Not only do you now have the knowledge to navigate the Window-Eyes manual, but also any other application manual that also uses the Windows Help format. The navigation pane (including the table of contents, the index, and the search options) and the content pane are usually always found in most Windows Help documentation, and the keys used to move through content in Browse mode provide a consistent way to read through all of the help text.