[vip_students] Jaws notes: Examples of using the jaws cursor!
- From: "Paul Traynor" <paul.traynor@xxxxxxx>
- To: <vip_students@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:22:08 +0100
Hi All,
A nice amount of materials explaining the jaws cursor have been sent into
the list recently and I would like to thank those like Flor and tony who
took the time both to ask the question and give the needed information. I
thought for my contribution to this topic I would give some examples of what
I use the jaws cursor for in everyday scenarios.
Important: This example of using the jaws cursor is written up with the
standard keyboard in mind. Those using laptops may find that some of the
techniques for using the jaws cursor may be different. If anyone requires
more detail about this and the differences then please let me know.
So the example I shall give is the following.
I have files in my "documents folder" and one of those files I am not sure
about. I would like for example to know;
*. The file type and extension.
*. The size of that file.
*. The size of the file on disk.
*. When it was created.
*. When it was modified.
This kind of information is called the "metadata of the file" and gives us
much needed information about the above mentioned details and in some
cases even the author of that particular file.
How do I go about accessing this information?. Well it should be pretty
simple and in the true fashion of Microsoft there are many ways to skin a
cat, for me in this case there are many ways to locate file data but well I
prefer this one.
Lesson begins:
1. Go into my documents.
2. Arrow down to a file in the documents folder. Please remember to pick a
file as the information in its properties is more complete.
3. When you have arrowed to that file, "press and hold down the left alt
key and then press the enter key."
After a couple of seconds the properties of that file will open up.
Notes: At this point the first thing we will normally hear jaws announce is;
The file name, the mention that it has gone into that files properties and
finally something like, "read only checkbox checked."
Okay this is a start but what I want to know isn't being announced. Maybe if
I use the "tab key something will happen. Here is what I get;
*. Hidden, checkbox not checked.
*. Advanced... button
*. Ok button.
*. Cancel button.
*. General tab.
Above is what I got after using my tab key but still none of the information
I wanted was given to me, so what next?.
This is where the jaws cursor will come t my assistance and here is how:
1. While in the properties screen as I am now I will press the "numpad dash"
key on my keyboard. This will engage the jaws cursor.
This key is just on the top right corner of the number pad of a standard
keyboard.
2. Next I will press "numpad 9" to bring me to the top of the file
properties window.
Note: This is only made possible for me because of the jaws cursor as this
file properties screen has no PC cursor of its own and therefore arrowing
through it using normal arrow keys is not possible which is why I cannot
read it easily in the first place.
3. Sometimes and this is optional I press the numpad key 7 which indicates
to me that I have hit the "home key for the jaws cursor. This basically
takes me to what I believe to be the "top left" of the properties window.
Notes: Now I have set my jaws cursor into position for me to begin arrowing
down the screen and hearing the relevant information spoken to me as I go.
Remember I have no arrow key ability in this screen so all this is being
done thanks to the jaws cursor via the numpad of my keyboard.
Now my arrow keys become the
*. Numpad "2" for the Down arrow.
*. Numpad 8 for the up arrow"
*. Numpad 4 for the left arrow.
*. Numpad 6: for the right arrow.
Note: Remember the above actions as they are important.
Ok, so once I positioned my jaws cursor at the top of the file properties
window I am now ready to move down through what available information is
there for me to hear.
*. Using the numpad 2 key I begin going down through the information a line
at a time and I receive the following information:
(File properties information)
First line gives me the title of the file:
*.Microsoft Windows Xp - Command-Line Reference A-Z...
Second line gives me the list of tabs that are available in the file
properties. I can access these using the keys: "control + tab".
*. General Security Details Previous Versions
Next line gives me details on what the file type is of the file I am
examining.
*. Type of file: Rich Text Format (.rtf)
Next line informs me that this file can be opened up using Microsoft word.
*. Opens with: Microsoft Office Word.
Next line informs me of where exactly this file is located on my computer.
*.Location: C:\Users\Paul\Documents
Moving down another line using the "numpad 2" I am told the size of the
file.
*. Size: 1.88 MB (1,973,298 bytes)
The next line tells me the size of the file on the disk.
*.Size on disk: 1.88 MB (1,974,272 bytes)
Again moving down another line I come to the date and time it was created.
*.Created: 08 April 2008, 08:46:45
Another line tells me when or if the file was modified.
*.Modified: 08 April 2008, 08:46:45
Another line tells me when my file was last accessed.
*.Accessed: 08 April 2008, 08:46:45
The second last line tells me about the various attributes of the file. We
were able to tab through these checkboxes earlier but do you recall we were
not informed of what the purpose of the checkboxes were for and therefore
we have been given more detail here as to their purpose.
*. Attributes: Read-only Hidden Advanced...
On the last line of the properties we have various things such as the "ok,
cancel and apply buttons".
*.OK Cancel Apply
Notes: I used exclusively nothing else except the jaws cursor to obtain this
useful information. This kind of information may not be what the average
user might want very often in their lives but for someone who is working
extensively day in, day out it can be essential. My reason however for
showing you this particular screen is to highlight how valuable the jaws
cursor can be. There are still many screens out there that are devoid of a
standard PC cursor. Also if we didn't have the virtual cursor in the
internet we would have no way of trawling through all that wonderful
information on the internet.
I would like if you would take a little time to perform the above exercise
and see if it gives you a better feel or indeed appreciation for the humble
jaws cursor.
Remember when you are finished with the jaws cursor, press the "plus key" on
the numpad" to return to the normal running of jaws on the screen.
Summary:
Good use of the jaws cursor can give you so much more in your skill to
manage those applications that present screens without the standard pc
cursor we are familiar with in programs such as Microsoft Word etc.
End of tutorial.
2.
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.3/1390 - Release Date: 21/04/2008
16:23
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