Documentation
JAWS Screen Reader
Documentation table of contents.
Introduction
JAWS reads aloud screens in popular software programs, including Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office. JAWS is available on the Assistive Technology stations in Capen first floor Cybrary, Lockwood second floor Cybrary, Lockwood Library second floor, Health Sciences Library first floor in Abbott Hall, 128 Clement Residence Hall, 5 Clinton Residence Hall, Baldy 206, and Capen 201. Headphones are available for use.
Starting JAWS
JAWS can be started in three different ways: click start, select All Programs, JAWS60, then JAWS; click start, then select JAWS from the start menu; or select its icon on the Desktop. The Windows key, located two keys away from both the left and right side of the spacebar, can be used to activate the start menu.
Adjusting Reading Rates
You can increase or decrease the rate at which text is read. When not using Say All, you can increase the rate of reading speed by simultaneously pressing Alt Ctrl and Page Down. To decrease the rate, simultaneously press Alt Ctrl and Page Up.
If you are in Say All mode, press Page Down to increase the reading rate and Page Up to decrease the reading rate.
Cursor Modes
JAWS operates by default in PC cursor mode. The cursor remains in the application and hotkeys (key combinations JAWS recognizes) must be used to access other commands. To return to PC cursor mode, press + on the numeric keypad.
Users can switch to JAWS cursor mode by pressing - on the numeric keypad. In JAWS cursor mode, the cursor acts like a mouse pointer, and hotkeys are not needed.
The third mode in JAWS is Virtual PC cursor mode, and can be entered by pressing - on the numeric keypad twice in rapid succession. This mode operates like PC cursor mode, but text is read as a continuous stream. There is no visual indication on the screen as to the location of the Virtual PC cursor. In a web browser, you can toggle Virtual PC mode by pressing Insert z .
Keyboard Shortcuts
Pressing Insert and F2 simultaneously prompts JAWS to read the keyboard shortcuts for whichever application is active. Press the keyboard shortcut keys simultaneously to activate any command.
Navigating through and Reading Text
When reading text with JAWS, you can have JAWS clarify or repeat text. Some popular commands for navigation require the use of the Insert key, which is located in the lower left corner of the numeric keypad. You must make sure the Num Lock key is not active when using this key.
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Numeric keypad 5 | Say a single character |
| Insert and numeric keypad 5 | Say an entire word |
| Insert and numeric keypad 5 two times | Spell the word |
| Insert left arrow | Say the previous word |
| Insert right arrow | Say the next word |
| Insert up arrow | Say the entire line |
| Insert down arrow | Say All (everything after the cursor) |
| Up arrow | Return to the previous line and say it |
| Down arrow | Advance to the next line and say it |
| Ctrl | Stop speaking |
| Insert and numeric keypad 3 | Read status |
| Insert t | Read the title bar of the window that has the focus |
| Insert b | Reads the dialog box in Tab order |
| Insert e | Reads the default button in a dialog box |
Windows Management
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Alt Spacebar x | Maximize a window |
| Alt Spacebar n | Minimize a window |
| Alt Spacebar r | Restore a window |
| Alt Tab | Switch between open programs |
Navigating Dialog Boxes & Exiting
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Tab | Move forward in a dialog box |
| Shift Tab | Move backward in a dialog box |
| Ctrl s | Save |
| Alt F4 | Exit a program |
Skim Reading
JAWS 6 features a skim reading mode. You can skim the first line of each paragraph to see if its content is what you want to read. To enter skim mode, press Ctrl Insert and the down arrow keys simultaneously. To change the skim reading preferences, press Ctrl Shift Insert and the down arrow key simultaneously.
Web Browser Commands
When using a web browser, there are special key commands that make navigation easier.
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Alt d | Select the address field |
| Alt Right arrow | Forward to the next page |
| Alt Left arrow | Back to the previous page |
| Insert a | Read the URL in the address field |
| Insert F8 | List the toolbar buttons |
| Insert F7 | Provide a list of all links on a page to scroll through and select |
| Insert Enter | Move to non-link text |
Interrupting JAWS
To temporarily silence JAWS, press the Ctrl key. JAWS will reactivate when you next use the arrow keys or mouse. To silence it while working within an application for a period of time, press Ctrl Alt and F12 simultaneously. JAWS will continue to function in other applications.
Additional Help
To bring up the hotkey help feature in JAWS, press Insert j to activate the JAWS application window, then press the Alt and h keys simultaneously.
You can try closing JAWS and restarting it, logging off the computer and logging back in, or rebooting the computer if JAWS is not operating normally.