[gui-talk] Fwd: Jaws FAQ: Can I change the default JawsKey to something other than Insert?

[Steve Pattison]

 From:    Daniel Keogh DKeogh at quantumtechnology.com.au
 To:      vip-l at softspeak.com.au

Can I change the default Jaws Key?

Yes. By default Jaws uses the Insert key on the number pad for most of
it's commands. This is fine if you have a Desktop or laptop computer
with a separate number pad. It can even work if you have a laptop where
the insert key happens to be in an easy to get at place on the keyboard.
What if you want or need to change this key though? There are actually 2
ways of doing this depending on your circumstances.

Changing Keyboard Layout

 If you don't have a number pad at all then there are some commands
you're going to have problems with. For this reason Jaws has several
different command sets or keyboard layouts you can choose from. To
change layout:

1.	Press JawsKey J to bring up the Jaws window or Jaws context
menu.
2.	If you're on the context menu press O for options. If you end up
in the Jaws window press Alt O for options. Now press enter on Basics.
3.	Press tab until you hear Jaws say "Use Keyboard Layout". Jaws
will then tell you the one you are currently using. Use the arrow keys
to change this.
4.	Press Enter or tab to and press space on OK to accept the
change. This change is permanent and global.

Other Keyboard Options

In the Jaws configuration manager there are several keyboard options. To
change the default JawsKey do the following:

1.	Press Insert 6 to enter the Configuration Manager. This is the 6
on the number row above the letters.
2.	Press Control Shift D to load the default configuration.
3.	Press Insert S to go to the settings Menu, then K to open the
Keyboard Settings window.

You have 2 pages of controls here. The first page consists of
miscellaneous functions to do with the Keyboard and Jaws. Press Tab to
move between them.

Navigation Quick Keys

Default setting: On

This controls whether Quick Keys will be enabled when the virtual cursor
is active. Quick Keys allow you to move quickly through a document or
web page by heading, table, etc. Your choices are Off, On and On during
Say All.

Jaws Insert Key

The next 2 options control which insert key is used with Jaws. Even if
you have another key selected as your default JawsKey the Insert will
still work. These 2 check boxes control which, if any, of the insert
keys Jaws will use. The first choice, "use Numpad Insert" is self
explanatory. The second check box, Extended Insert, some of you may not
know about.

Most desktop style keyboards have 2 insert keys. One is the one we all
know on the number pad. The other is usually in the block of 5 or 6 keys
including the Page Up, Home, Delete etc. Not all keyboards have this one
but most do. If you're using a laptop chances are it only has the
Extended Insert. These are both check boxes so use the space bar to
toggle them on or off. Both of these are checked by default.

Jaws Key

Depending on which layout you have selected will depend on how this
option is voiced and set. You have 3 choices here: Insert, Caps Lock and
Scroll Lock. These are radio buttons so use your up and down arrow keys
to change the selection.

Initial State of Numlock Key

Default: Off

Most people won't need to touch this option. This controls whether the
Number Lock key on the number pad is on, off or  unchanged when Jaws
starts. This can be handy however for people who for some reason have a
computer where the Number Lock is on by default. If you use the desktop
keyboard layout most Jaws commands won't work with the Numlock turned
on.

Differentiate between Numpad Keys and Extended Keys

Default: Unchecked

This allows you to treat the number pad keys and the extended keys
separately rather than as duplicates of each other. The Extended keys
are the keys between the number pad and the main part of the keyboard.
They include the arrows and what is referred to as the "six pack". This
includes Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete and Insert. If this check
box is checked you can use the Keyboard Manager to assign different
commands to these keys. For example, Numpad Insert Up Arrow and Extended
Insert Up Arrow could be assigned to perform totally different
functions.

Differentiate Between Left and Right Paired Keys

Default: Unchecked

This is similar to the Insert key options above but works on paired keys
instead. Paired keys are the left and right Alt, left and right Control
and left and right Shift keys. By default Jaws does not treat these keys
differently. For example, if you press JawsKey Control S it doesn't
matter if you use the right control key or the left. Jaws will open the
Select Voice Profile dialog regardless. 

Checking this option will cause Jaws to treat the left and right keys
differently allowing for more key combinations.

Enable On Screen Keyboard

Default: Unchecked

Check this option if you're using an on screen keyboard and want to use
Jaws.

Key Labels

As I said earlier there are 2 pages of controls in this window. Press
control Tab to get to the second page: Key Labels. 

This page allows you to change the way Jaws speaks some keys such as
enter, escape, space etc. It consists of a list view, a "Toggle Mute"
button and a "Change Label" button. 

Tab to the list view and use your up and down arrows to find the key you
wish to change. Jaws will say 3 things on each key: the name of

1.	The name of the key
2.	What Jaws will say the key is
3.	Whether Jaws will speak or whether the key is muted.

To mute a key find it in the list, tab to the Toggle Mute button and
press the space bar. Do this again to tell Jaws to speak a previously
muted key. To change how the key is spoken by Jaws find it in the list,
Tab to "Change Label" and press Space. Enter the new label and press
Enter.

When you have finished tab to the OK button and press the space bar.
Press Control S to save your configuration. You can now exit the
Configuration Manager.

Notes

You can use the Laptop keyboard layout on a keyboard that has a number
pad. In this case both the Desktop and Laptop key commands are
available.
 
Regards,
Danny Keogh
Quantum Technology
Blindness Software/Hardware Sales and Support
Phone:  03 9545 4102
Mobile:  0439 022 146
Email  dkeogh at quantumtechnology.com.au
 
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