Almost every Windows application has a status line of some sort. In a word processor, the status line may display how many pages your document is and what page, line and column your cursor is currently on. In a WEB browser, the status line may display the status of loading the current page or the URL for the currently selected link. In other words, the status line usually gives the user very specific information regarding the application at any given time.

Window-Eyes has the ability to look for a status line and read it automatically. When you press the Status Line hot key (CTRL-INS-S), Window-Eyes will search the application for a status line and read it. Window-Eyes uses one of two methods to determine where a status line is.

Application developers have the option of using a special type of window to display status information. This window was designed by Microsoft to be used specifically for status information. Window-Eyes will first scan to see if the application is using this special type of window. If it is, the contents of that window will be read. This is a relatively new type of window so many of the older applications don't use it. But as applications get updated the use of this special type of window is getting used more and more. This is the most reliable way for Window-Eyes to determine where the status line is displayed.

If Window-Eyes couldn't find the special type of status window, it will automatically read the last printed line of the application. Since most applications display the status line as the last line of the application, this usually gets the correct information read.

So when you press the Status Line hot key, Window-Eyes will usually read something based on the two rules above. If, however, Window-Eyes isn't reading the correct information for your application you will need to set up a user window (which will be discussed in Section 12) around the actual status line and read that user window. In older versions of Window-Eyes this was your only option. You will find, however, that the Status Line hot key will more than likely read the status line of a new application right out of the box with no user set up required.