Microsoft Word text editor: accessibility enhancement - user's manual

Author: paulber19

URL: paulber19@laposte.net

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Table of content

1. Introduction

1.1. Features

This add-on brings:

1.2. update

The update of the extension is, by default, automatically a short time after the start of NVDA (about 10 seconds) and a maximum of once per day. It is possible to disable this update by unchecking the option "automatically check for updates" in the extension settings. The version of the extension can be:

By default, the stable version is updated with a stable version more recent (higher version number). But it is possible to update the stable version running with a development version of the next stable version. Just check the option "Update also update the stable release to the versions of development" located in the settings of the extension.

A development version is updated with a development version more recent or stable version.

The button "Search for update" placed in the extension settings allows you to search immediately for an update.

1.3. Compatibility

Tis version of module has been tested with Word 2019, 2016 and 2013.

Warning: for the extension to work properly, the NVDA check box "Use UI Automation to access Microsoft Word document controls when available " should not be checked. It can be found in the "Advanced" category of NVDA settings.

2. Script of choice from the list of objects to display

This script is triggered by the keyboard command "windows+alt+F5".

In response to this command, a dialog box appears, showing:

It is possible to exit this dialog using the "Close" button or by pressing the key "Esc".

The list offers the following types of objects:

The keys "Arrow up" and "down Arrow" can move in the list. With the "Tab" key it comes up on the list, which shows the choice of the part of the document, which will be searched for objects of the type selected. The list offers the following choices:

A pre-selection is made depending on the type of object. If a portion of the document is selected prior to activation of the script, the choice of "selection" is pre-selected. Otherwise, this choice is not in the list of choices.

The choice is made, the "Enter" key in the list or pressing the button "Search and view" triggers the collection of information for the chosen object type and then display the dialog box with the list of the objects collected. The collection can last several seconds.

It is possible by using the button "Search and copy to clipboard" to launch the collection, and copy the list of objects collected with their information in the clipboard, possibly more detailed than the display.

The box which contains the list of the objects collected depends on the type of selected object and has the following general form:

The "Close" button or press "Esc" closes the dialog box.

In the list, and without the exit, it is possible :

The information common to all objects, are:

3. Script of announcement of the position

This script is triggered by the keyboard command "alt + numpad delete".

In response to this command, is announced following cases:

In all cases, the position relative to the left edge and the top edge of the page is announced. The line number is relative to the page and the column number relative to the beginning of the line.

A double pressure of the keyboard command displays this information on the screen.

4. Script to insert a comment

This script is triggered by the keyboard command "windows+alt+f2".

In response to this command, a dialog box appears requesting that you enter the comment text. The text can be on multiple lines. The "OK" button validates the input. The "Cancel" Button causes the abandonment of the insertion. If a selection is present, the text commented on is the text of this selection; otherwise it is the word under focus.

5. Script reading of the footnote or end note

This script is launched by using the keyboard command "windows+alt+n". It has for goal to read the footnote or end note to the position of the cursor. In the case where there is no of these two elements, a voice message announcement.

6. Script reading of the text edit

This script is launched by using the keyboard command "windows+alt+m". It is intended to announce the change of text at the cursor position. There may be several changes regarding this position. The type, the author, the text of the amendment shall be announced. A voice message indicates if there is no change to this position.

7. Skip empty paragraphs

In a Word document, NVDA provides the ability to move from paragraph to paragraph using the prompt, "Control + downArrow" or "Control + upArrow". But The focus is given to the (previous or next regardless of its content. This add-on offers the possibility to skip empty paragraphs and give the focus to the first (non-blank found.

The keyboard command windows + alt + f4 enables or disables this option, which is enabled by default in the installation of the add-on.

8. Scripts for table

8.1. Announcement of the elements of table

The extension installs some scripts with their input gesture , to announce the components of a table ( cell, row, column) without the need to move the cursor.

These are:

8.2. Announcement of all cells

It is possible to announce all the cells in that row or column during the use of input gestures to commands previous.

The script "enable or disable the announcement of all the cells" will be launched using the input gesture "windows+alt+space".

This script is listed in the "Microsoft Word text editor: accessibility enhancement" category of "Input gestures" dialog of NVDA.

Thus, if the announcement of all the cells is enabled, by typing:

To disable the announcement of all the cells, just type again the "windows+alt+space" input gesture.

8.3. Move in the array

The extension installs the following scripts for moving around in a table:

After the displacement:

The extension installs also, but with no input gesture the scripts following to move around in a table and to announce to the cells of the row or columns :

Using the dialog "Input gestures" of NVDA, it is possible to define their own input gesture.

These scripts are listed in the "Microsoft Word text editor: accessibility enhancement" category of "Input gestures" dialog of NVDA.

8.4. table layer mode

The extension allows you to modify the input gestures of previous scripts which requires the combination of several keys to use only the arrow keys for movement.

For this it is enough to type the "NVDA+e"gesture to activate the table layer mode .

And after you activate the table layer mode, the script gestures for moving in table, are replaced by:

These scripts are listed in the "Microsoft Word text editor: accessibility enhancement (table layer mode)" category of "Input gestures" dialog of NVDA.

To disable the Word layer mode, simply retype "NVDA+e", or simply taber "escape".

8.5. Announcement of the title of the row and column

The "windows+alt+h"gesture allows yout to know the title of the row and the column for the current cell.

8.6. Displacement by tabulation in the table

In a table, it is possible to move from cell to cell by tabulation but reached the end of the table, any new tabulation causes the creation of a new line. To prevent this, the add-on adds the announcement of the arrival in the first or the last cell of the table.

9. Commands for fast Navigation in the document

To move quickly through the document, NVDA offers a navigation mode that turns on and off using the keyboard command "NVDA + space". When this mode is enabled, it is no longer possible to type text in the document. Each element type is associated with a single key on the keyboard. By pressing this key the cursor is placed on the following element of the same type. Typing the same key with shift pressed down, the cursor is positioned on the previous item of the same type. These commands are common to other applications such as Internet browsers.

This add-on adds the following commands that are specific to Microsoft Word.

Pressing a key not assigned to a command is indicated by the voice message Not available in this document". Unable to move the cursor is indicated by a voice message indicating that there are more element corresponding to the command.

10. Moving sentence by sentence

The following commands allow you to move the system cursor sentence by sentence:

These scripts are listed in the "Microsoft Word text editor: accessibility enhancement" category of "Input gestures" dialog of NVDA.

11. Display information about the document

The gesture command "windows +Alt+f1" allows to display in a dialog box some information about the document:

Depending on the number of spelling mistakes or grammar, the display time of the dialog can be quite long.

The displayed information can be copied to the clipboard using the button "Copy to clipboard" in the dialog box.

12. Improvement of the accessibility of the spelling corrector

When the focus is positioned in the document, the key "f7" (Word shortcut) allows you to launch the spell checker, or return to it if it is already launched and the key "Échapp" lets go back in the document when the focus is in the spell checker.

The add-on gives the possibility to use also the key "F7" to perform the same action as the button "Échapp".

Contrary to what NVDA vocalise, the first launch of the corrector, the focus is positioned not where it should be i.e. on the inside of the pane, and on one of its buttons, or lists. This is why the add-on request to type on the "tab" key before doing anything else.

As neither the error nor the suggestion are not announced by NVDA to the arrival of the focus in the spelling corrector, the file add-on is supported.

A script that allows you to hear the information.

It is launched using the gesture command "NVDA+shift+f7".

13. Automatic reading of comments and footnotes

For versions of NVDA greater than or equal to 2019.3 the extension allows the automatic reading of comments and footnotes when moving line by line, in navigation mode or "say it all".

This is controlled by the "Automatic reading" option group in "Options" category of the extension configuration dialog.

In this group are:

To read the comments or endnote with a different voice, it is necessary to previously record the vocal parameters for the voice by using the "windows+alt+f12" gesture. This gesture corresspond to the "Record automatic reading voice's settings" script and can be changed using the "Input gestures"dialog of NVDA.

In order to easily find this voice and to possibly modify some of its settings, it is advisable to create a configuration profile that will be activated manually.

Under this profile, it is then possible to define the voice and the voice parameters using the "Speech" category of the NVDA's "Préférences" menu.

Once this is done (the configuration of NVDA should be recorded.

On Word and in order to save the voice parameters for the automatic reading, this profile must be activated manually. The strike of the "windows+alt+f12" gesture proceed to the record.

The record is done, the profile can then be manually turned off to return to the voice parameters of the configuration profile active before the profil's manual activation.

The "Automatic reading" option can be modified using the "Activate / desactivate automatic reading" script associated to the "windows+alt+F3" input gesture.

This input gesture can be modified using the "Input gestures" dialog of NVDA.

This script is in the "Microsoft Word text editor: accessibility enhancement" category of this dialog.

14. History

14.1. v2.1 (28/07/2020)

Compatibility with NVDA 2020.2

14.2. v2.0 (16/04/2020)

Changes for the user: the navigation mode command keys and some command gestures have been modified to be compatible with a Qwerty keyboard.

14.3. v1.0.1 (07/03/2020)

14.4. v1.0 (07/02/2020)

This add-on changes name to avoid confusion with other add-ons. His version starts with 1.0.

14.5. v3.1 (April 10, 2016)

14.6. v3.0 (10 March 2016)

14.7. v2.5 (22 June 2015) (not released)

14.8. v2.4 (11 June 2015)

14.9. v2.3 (14 December 2014)

14.10. v2.2 (1, November 15, 2014)

14.11. v2.1 (1 October 2014)

14.12. v2.0 (24 September 2014)

14.13. v1.0 (24 January 2014)