Window-Eyes 6.0 Revision History

Document Layout

This document is laid out as follows:

6.1

Released: 4/11/2007

Welcome to Window-Eyes 6.1

Congratulations!

You are about to experience the cutting edge leader in screen access technology: Window-Eyes 6.1.

GW Micro is proud to offer Window-Eyes 6.1, the most powerful screen reader to support Microsoft’s newest operating system: Windows Vista. Window-Eyes 6.1 provides the familiar and expected stability, performance, and reliability under Microsoft’s newest operating system, along with Windows 2000, XP, and 2003. Some exciting changes have happened in Window-Eyes 6.0 and Window-Eyes 6.1. Read on to learn more.

Installation

When installing Window-Eyes 6.1, you will be asked if you want to make a backup of your existing set files. If you choose yes, the Window-Eyes installation will default the Path edit box to a location of x:webackup (where x: is the drive letter where Window-Eyes is currently installed). You may, however, enter a path in the Path edit box manually, or select a different location using the Directories tree view provided. Note that you should not choose your Window-Eyes directory as a location for backing up your set files, as that directory will be removed if Window-Eyes is ever uninstalled. If you choose no to the backup prompt, no backup of your existing set files will be created.

New Features in Window-Eyes 6.1

The following section provides detailed information about the new features of Window-Eyes 6.1. Please read through this documentation carefully so that you can use the new features of Window-Eyes successfully.

Windows Vista

Window-Eyes 6.1 provides complete access to all versions of Microsoft’s newest operating system: Windows Vista. Windows Vista is similar to Windows XP in terms of layout: there’s a start menu, task bar, system tray, and desktop, all of which you can tab between. Windows Explorer still lets you browse your file system, the Internet and Email are still accessible through Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Mail (formerly known as Outlook Express), and all other third party applications will still sound and feel the same. Window-Eyes 6.1 provides additional access to some of Vista’s new features, including:

NOTE: There are several versions of Windows Vista. Some versions may not contain some features listed above (such as support for Remote Desktop). For more information on the differences between various versions of Windows Vista, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions.

Video Drivers

GW Micro has worked very closely with Microsoft to incorporate mirror driver technology in Window-Eyes, a significant enhancement over DCM used in previous versions of Windows. The Window-Eyes mirror driver technology makes working with video adapters (such as updating drivers, or installing new video cards) a seamless task.

Regardless of whether you’re using the latest high end video card with the latest Vista drivers, using a lower end card running only XP drivers, or a high end video card with XP drivers, Window-Eyes will function the same, ensuring full access regardless of video adapter.

Automatic Changes

Although customization is possible, it is not necessary for Window-Eyes to function under Windows Vista. In other words, you don’t have to change resolutions, schemes, or the like for Window-Eyes to read. Graphic labels do require the default theme, but there is no need to set Vista to use the “Classic” view, as was often suggested (although also not required) under Windows XP.

Microsoft mirror driver technology automatically disables many visual affects, thereby increasing performance and accuracy for adaptive technology using mirror drivers (such as Window-Eyes). Some of the changes made automatically include:

Locations of Files

Due to security restrictions, installing under the root of your default hard drive isn�t a simple task under Windows Vista. To conform to the Microsoft installation standards, the Window-Eyes program files will be installed (by default) to C:Program FilesGW MicroWindow-Eyes. Under previous operating systems, set files were stored in a usersdefault folder under the Window-Eyes program data folder. This is no longer possible under Windows Vista, so set files are stored (by default) in C:UsersAppDataRoamingGW MicroWindow-Eyesusersdefault (where is the name of the currently logged in user).

To maintain consistency, new installations of Window-Eyes, regardless of operating system, will conform to this new directory structure. If you upgrade a previous version of Window-Eyes (pre 6.1) under Windows 2000/XP/2003, however, your directory structure will be maintained, and will not be altered. The new directory structure is only used for new installations of Window-Eyes 6.1.

Ease of Access Center

Windows Vista contains a new control panel called Ease of Access Center, which contains all of the default accessibility tools that ship with the new operating system, including Narrator. Similar to Windows XP, the hot key WINDOWS-U will open the Ease of Access Center control panel. Unlike Windows XP, Narrator will not start speaking automatically. Once the Ease of Access Center control panel is open, press ALT-N to start Narrator.

Another caveat of the Ease of Access Center control panel is that it cannot be launched via the WINDOWS-U hot key while Window-Eyes is running. This is, according to Microsoft, by design. The Ease of Access control panel can still be accessed through the normal control panel window.

The Ease of Access Center control panel lets you choose which accessibility tools will launch automatically when Windows starts. Although Window-Eyes is listed in the Ease of Access Center control panel, its startup behavior should be controlled with the Startup Options in the Window-Eyes file menu.

Additional Features Between Window-Eyes 6.0 and Window-Eyes 6.1

Startup Options

The Window-Eyes startup options have been dramatically improved for all supported operating systems. The Startup Type option in the File menu has been renamed to Startup Options, and the startup dialog has been redesigned, and includes the following controls:

Administrative Options group box:

Note: The previous check boxes will not be disabled under user accounts that do not have administrative privileges so that they can still be read. Changing them when not administrator, however, will result in an error message stating that you don’t have permission to modify the settings in a non-administrator account.

After Login for Current User, Run Window-Eyes group box:

The Startup options in the Window-Eyes install have also changed to reflect these new settings. Both administrative check boxes (described above) are enabled for both the Quick Install and Custom Install

List View Grouping

Window-Eyes now fully supports listview grouping under both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Listview groups allow you to group folder items in related sets. Listview groups are separated visually with a horizontal group header that describes the items in the group. You can group listview items alphabetically, by date, or any other logical grouping. For example, a folder of files could be grouped by date, putting files into categories like Last Week, Last Month, Two Months Ago, Yesterday, Today, and so on. Under Windows Vista, the group headers are focusable making navigation between groups quick and easy. Groups under Vista can also be collapsed and expanded, much like a tree view.

User Profiles

Window-Eyes Multi-User information has been changed to User Profiles. Window-Eyes now controls speech environments for individual operating system users automatically. Multiple user profiles can be created to support various speech environments for the currently logged in user.

Talking About Security

Along with stability and performance, Window-Eyes leads the way in security by taking advantage of Windows Vista security enhancements, such as User Account Control. Not only does Window-Eyes provide access to UAC dialog, it takes advantage of them when modifying administrative options, such as the new Window-Eyes Startup Options. Instead of requiring security options to be disabled, Window-Eyes strives to ensure all security enhancements are supported and encouraged, making your computing experience a safe and reliable one.

Enhancements between Window-Eyes 6.0 and Window-Eyes 6.1

The following section provides detailed information about the enhancements between Window-Eyes 6.0 and Window-Eyes 6.1.

Microsoft Office

Browse Mode

Braille

Miscellaneous

Silent Install

The Window-Eyes 6.1 installation now provides a silent install method. In order to do the silent install you need to run the setup.exe located in the wineyes dir from the Window-Eyes install CD. The following command line options available:

Note the same checks are used with the /vn and /vc commands as would be done in the actual username/company dialog. Also note the name and company MUST be enclosed in quotes. If the name and/or company do not pass the same test used at the actual dialog, the install will run as if the silent parameter were not specified.

The silent install acts like the quick install except the startup options for at the logon screen and after logon are both disabled. The normal quick install has them both enabled. However you can use the following two parameters to force one or both startup options on:

Set File Enhancements:

The following set files have been added or updated:

You will need to use the Set File Manager to update any set file package for the applications that you use, including the Window-Eyes default sets. Once you have updated the Window-Eyes default set file package, you will need to restart Window-Eyes.

Performance and Stability Enhancements:

Thanks to the Window-Eyes error reporting utility, we have been able to track down and resolve over 20 elusive GPFs. Thank you to everyone who continues to report problems when they exist. Because of you, Window-Eyes continues to offer unprecedented stability.

6.0

Released: 12/4/2006

Cost: $150

Welcome to Window-Eyes 6.0

Congratulations!

You are about to experience the cutting edge leader in screen access technology: Window-Eyes 6.0.

With more people switching to Window-Eyes, it is important to recognize that we have a lot of beginner users. To show our commitment to new customers, we have engineered Window-Eyes to be easier to use for new users. Intermediate users will appreciate the flexibility they’re familiar with by using existing enhanced features. Advanced users will be able to harness the power of new application support. Window-Eyes covers all areas of computer expertise and experience levels.

Installation

When installing Window-Eyes 6.0 (as well as any future upgrade), you will be asked if you want to make a backup of your existing set files. If you choose yes, the Window-Eyes installation will default the Path edit box to a location of x:webackup (where x: is the drive letter where Window-Eyes is currently installed). You may, however, enter a path in the Path edit box manually, or select a different location using the Directories tree view provided. Note that you should not choose your Window-Eyes directory as a location for backing up your set files, as that directory will be removed if Window-Eyes is ever uninstalled. If you choose no to the backup prompt, no backup of your existing set files will be created.

New Features in Window-Eyes 6.0

The following section provides detailed information about the new features of Window-Eyes 6.0. Please read through this documentation carefully so that you can use the new features of Window-Eyes successfully.

PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation software package, which provides visual information through the use of slide shows to enhance oral presentations such as training sessions, classroom lectures, and business seminars. PowerPoint slides contain combinations of text, images, and multimedia effects, and are often displayed by connecting a computer to a projection system so the presentation can be visible to a large number of people. PowerPoint presentations can also be distributed electronically, and accessed much like other Microsoft Office documents. Window-Eyes supports PowerPoint 2000 and up.

The Microsoft PowerPoint DOM (Document Object Model)

Window-Eyes uses the Microsoft PowerPoint DOM (Document Object Model) to communicate directly with PowerPoint (much like the Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel DOM support in Window-Eyes), insuring a robust, 100%-text-accurate-100%-of-the-time environment when navigating through PowerPoint presentations.

PowerPoint Navigation

When you initially launch PowerPoint, you will commonly be presented with four different panes: the Slide pane, Task pane, Notes pane, and Thumbnails pane. The Slide pane is where you can edit the contents of a given slide. Pressing the TAB key will move you between the slide objects, and announce the object type (such as “title place holder”), the text content (if any content exists), and object details (such as size, placement, etc. � object details are controlled by verbosity options which are discussed below). You can press ENTER to edit the selected object. After you�re done editing an object, you can press ESCAPE to exit the edit mode, and re-select the object. The contents of the Task pane will differ depending on the situation, and may contain one of several topics, including Getting Started, Help, Search Results, Clip Art, Research, Clipboard, New Presentation, Template Help, Shared Workspace, Document Updates, Slide Layout, Slide Design, Slide Design-color schemes, Slide Design-Animation Schemes, Custom Animation, and Slide Transition. The Notes pane allows you to enter notes regarding the selected slide (notes are not visible to the audience during a slide show presentation). The Thumbnails pane can be used to navigate through the individual slides of a presentation. The F6 key is used to rotor between all open panes.

PowerPoint Presentation Playback/Slide Show

PowerPoint presentations are displayed using a feature called Slide Show, wherein the slides are displayed full screen with no other portion of the Windows desktop visible. In Slide Show mode, Window-Eyes will present each slide in the Browse Mode buffer. Basic navigation keys such as arrow keys, page up/down, home, etc, etc. can be used to navigate the information in the slide. You can also press the letter I to move to the next list item, and H to access any slide notes. Pressing the space bar will cause the presentation to move forward one slide. Pressing backspace will cause the presentation to move backward one slide. When a new slide is displayed, Window-Eyes will refresh the Browse mode buffer with the new slide information. Window-Eyes can also announce diagrams (and sub objects of diagrams) and animations within a slide. If a slide contains animated content, Window-Eyes will announce the number of effects when the slide loads, and additionally indicate the effect at the beginning of the line containing the animation by announcing, �E X on/off/other,� where E stands for Effect, X is the number of the effect on the slide, and on/off/other indicates the behavior of the animation (on means that the effect will add information to the slide, off means the effect will remove information from the slide, and other means the effect will animate without adding or removing information from the slide). Pressing the space bar will run the animations in the order they are listed on the slide without affecting Browse mode. Window-Eyes gives you the power to review slide animations before they happen, giving you total control over your presentation, and providing you with accurate information, especially in cases where animations do not run top to bottom.

PowerPoint Verbosity

Window-Eyes provides two categories of PowerPoint verbosity options: Playback (for controlling the verbosity of a Slide Show), and Slide Pane (for controlling the verbosity while editing slide contents).

PowerPoint Hot Keys

Page Navigation � The Page Navigation dialog (INS-TAB by default) provides the ability to quickly navigate through or review the components for the selected area. You can select hyperlinks, objects, comments, or slides for the entire presentation, or hyperlinks, objects, and comments for a selected slide. Selecting the Focus Item button will automatically focus a selected item (hyperlink, object, comment, or slide), making navigation through presentations quick and easy.

Tables � All of the table hot keys that exist for Microsoft Word function the same in Microsoft PowerPoint, including Cell Right, Cell Left, Cell Up, Cell Down, To First Cell of Row, To Last Cell of Row, To First Cell of Column, To Last Cell of Column, To Top Left Cell, To Bottom Right Cell, Row, From Row Start, Row To End, First Row Cell, Column, From Column Start, Column To End, First Column Cell, and current Cell. The table hot keys will only work while you are editing a cell�s contents in the slide pane within a true table.

Element Properties � If no object is selected in the Slide pane when you press INS-E, you will receive all information about the slide. When an object is selected, the information presented in the Element Properties dialog will be relative to the selected object.

Outlook Calendar

Window-Eyes boasts a revolutionary new way to access the Calendar feature of Microsoft Outlook. Rather than attempting to retrofit the existing, inaccessible Outlook Calendar interface, Window-Eyes provides all appointments and dates in a concise and simple to use Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog.

The Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar supports both local and remote calendars (such as those used with Exchange servers), and can be accessed from anywhere (assuming that Outlook is running), regardless of what application is active when the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar hot key (INS-C by default) is pressed. Note: In previous versions of Window-Eyes, INS-C was defined as the AutoDetect Cursor hot key. AutoDetect Cursor has been redefined as CTRL-INS-C. The Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar will stay open until you close it. This way, you can ALT-TAB between the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog and other open applications.

Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar supports Microsoft Outlook 2000 and greater. We recommend Outlook 2003 for the best in Outlook Calendar accessibility.

The Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog consists of the following controls:

The Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog works similar to the Window-Eyes Word Page Navigation dialog in terms of loading a large amount of data. If five seconds have passed after you open the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog, Window-Eyes will announce, �Building element list. Please wait.� At this point, you can either continue to wait for the data to populate the appointments list view, or you can press any key to abort the loading, and leave the appointments list view empty.

If you open a recurring appointment using the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog, you will be asked if you would like to open the entire series. If you say yes, you will be able to edit the properties to affect all associated appointments. If you say no, you will be able to edit the properties to affect only the selected appointment. If you delete a recurring appointment using the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog, you will be asked if you would like to delete the entire series. If you say yes, you will delete all appointments in the series. If you say no, you will delete only the selected appointment. This feature is only available in Outlook 2003 and up.

If you close Outlook with the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog open, the dialog will close automatically. When the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog closes, all settings used in the dialog will be retained and used the next time the dialog is opened, even if Window-Eyes has been shut down, and reopened.

The Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar supports multiple calendars. You can choose which calendars to use in the Calendar section of Microsoft Outlook. For example, to access the list of available calendars in Microsoft Outlook 2003, do the following:

  1. Press CTRL-2 to open the Microsoft Outlook calendar view.
  2. Press F6 to focus the list of available calendars.
  3. Press the Up or Down arrow to maneuver through the list of available calendars.
  4. Press the Space bar to check or uncheck the selected calendar.

When new calendars are selected, the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog will automatically refresh to include the new information.

Outlook/Outlook Express Email

Window-Eyes offers easy and intuitive access to Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express email information. Access to status information, From, Date, To, CC, BCC, Subject, and Attachment fields can be read and accessed using several new hot keys:

The first press of any of the previous keys will cause the information to be read. If the field does not exist, Window-Eyes will announce the field type followed by, �Not found.� You can press any of the previous keys a second time to move focus to the appropriate field so that you can interact with the control (assuming that control allows focus the Status bar, for example, does not).

For example, pressing ALT-7 will read the names of any attachments that exist in a message. Pressing ALT-7 a second time will focus the attachment control so that you can arrow through the list, able to interact with the attachment of your choice. Once you hear an attachment name, you can press SHIFT-F10 to bring up a context menu of options for the selected attachment (such as opening and saving depending on the attachment file type).

Both Outlook and Outlook Express will often reformat text in the To, From, CC, and BCC fields once focus has moved away from the control, or once auto-complete engages, making it difficult to review email addresses. In other words, while you can enter wesupport@aisquared.com in the to edit box, and arrow between each letter individually, once you tab away and then back, you are no longer able to get the cursor between the individual characters. Instead, the cursor will only be placed either at the beginning of the text object, or the end when pressing the left and right arrow keys. When using the arrow keys to move through text objects in these fields, Window-Eyes will automatically read all the text in the object next to the cursor. Window-Eyes also gives you the power to read these text objects by pressing the Word hot key (CTRL-NUMPAD-RIGHT ARROW). Pressing the Word hot key twice will spell the text. Pressing the Word hot key a third time will spell the text phonetically. You can use the Character hot key in the same manner as the Word hot key.

Accessing Attachments

Thanks to the Window-Eyes Attachment hot key, accessing the attachments list in Outlook and Outlook Express is quick and easy. Once you have focus in the attachment list (by pressing ALT-7 twice), you can select an attachment and press ENTER to open it, or you can press SHIFT-F10 to bring up a context menu of additional options (including opening, printing, and saving).

Internet Explorer 7

Internet Explorer 7 brings, among other things, the popular feature of tabbed browsing to Microsoft�s web browser. Tabbed browsing enables you to open multiple web pages in a single browser window rather than using multiple windows. Window-Eyes fully supports tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer 7 much like it does in Mozilla Firefox.

The following hot keys allow you to manipulate web page tabs in Internet Explorer 7:

You can also access the actual tab control by focusing the search edit box, and then pressing TAB until you read the web page tabs. Once the tabs are focused, you can use the left and right arrow keys to move between the available tabs.

Internet Explorer 7 has a new command bar that offers the most widely used features for more direct access. Buttons on the command bar have associated hot keys as follows:

Window-Eyes will automatically speak any security alerts that Internet Explorer 7 provides, such as phishing, IDN, and SSL alerts. You can use the Window-Eyes Speak Summary hot key (CTRL-SHIFT-S by default) or the Window-Eyes Status line hot key (CTRL-INS-S by default) to reread current security warnings.

Internet Explorer 7 also provides the ability to review RSS feeds for a given page. RSS feeds are a popular method for web sites to distribute news headings, articles, and/or multimedia content (such as podcasts). When RSS feeds are available, you can access the RSS feed menu with ALT-J. You can then select a feed, and press ENTER. A new page will load with the links to the various offerings available from the RSS feed.

Thanks to a close partnership between GW Micro and Microsoft, Browse Mode performance has been increased across the board in all supported versions of Internet Explorer. In addition, Microsoft has boosted Internet Explorer 7 performance substantially, and Window-Eyes happily takes advantage of this speed increase.

Microsoft Office 2007

Window-Eyes provides full support for Microsoft Office 2007. The power and stability that Window-Eyes introduced to previous versions of Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint can be found in the same Office 2007 applications.

Although much of the functionality of the Office applications has been retained between versions, Office 2007 introduces one major change, advertised by Microsoft as �the most significant update to the Microsoft Office user interface in more than a decade�: the Microsoft Office Ribbon. The following three sections include text taken from The Microsoft Office User Interface website describing the functionality of the Microsoft Office Ribbon.

The Ribbon

The traditional menus and toolbars have been replaced by the Ribbon, a new device that presents commands organized into a set of tabs. The tabs on the Ribbon display the commands that are most relevant for each of the task areas in Office Word 2007, Office PowerPoint 2007, or Office Excel 2007. For example, Office Word 2007 has tabs for writing, inserting, page layout, working with references, doing mailings, and reviewing documents. Office Excel 2007 has a similar set of tabs that make sense for spreadsheet work: creating worksheets, inserting objects like charts and graphics, page layout, working with formulas, managing data, and reviewing. These tabs simplify accessing application features because they organize the commands in a way that corresponds directly to the tasks people perform in these applications.

Contextual tabs

Certain sets of commands are only relevant when objects of a particular type are being edited. For example, the commands for editing a chart are not relevant until a chart appears in a spreadsheet and the user is focusing on modifying it. In current versions of Microsoft Office applications, these commands can be difficult to find. In Office Excel 2007, clicking on a chart causes a contextual tab to appear with commands used for chart editing. Contextual tabs only appear when they are needed and make it much easier to find and use the commands needed for the operation at hand.

Galleries

Galleries are at the heart of the redesigned applications. Galleries provide users with a set of clear results to choose from when working on their document, spreadsheet, or presentation. By presenting a simple set of potential results, rather than a complex dialog box with numerous options, Galleries simplify the process of producing professional looking work. The traditional dialog box interfaces are still available for those wishing a greater degree of control over the result of the operation.

Window-Eyes and the Microsoft Office 2007 Ribbon

Whether you’re moving through the Ribbon tabs, commands, command groups, or command options, Window-Eyes will consistently and reliably tell you where you are, and what short cut keys are available.

Take, for example, the Microsoft Word 2007 Ribbon. Pressing the ALT key causes the Ribbon tabs to gain focus. You can then arrow left and right through the tab options (such as Home, Insert, Page Layout, References, and so on). Once you have a tab selected, you can press TAB to access the commands for the selected tab. Once in the command list, you can TAB and SHIFT-TAB to move between the commands. Commands are contained in horizontal containers (called command groups) that span the width of the Ribbon, each group dealing with a specific function such as font, paragraph, styles, etc. When you move between command groups, either by tabbing from the last command in one group to the first command in the next group, or by using the SHIFT-LEFT and RIGHT ARROW keys to move between groups, Window-Eyes will indicate that you�ve moved into a new group.

For example, moving from the Proofing command group to the Comments command group under the Review tab would cause Window-Eyes to say, “Comments Group. New Comment. ALT, R, C. Button.” Window-Eyes tells you the command group you�re in (in this case the Comments group, which contains commands that deal specifically with comments), the name of the selected command (New comment, which, if selected, would create a new comment where the cursor is located in the document), the shortcut keys to access the command quickly (in this case, ALT, R, C, which, when pressed from the document, would insert a comment where the cursor is located), and the type of control (in this case a button).

Window-Eyes also supports Ribbon galleries. Galleries are complex controls similar to menu items, but which can contain multiple kinds of controls, like list boxes with multiple groups of items combined with menu items. Take, for example, the shapes command located in the Illustrations command group under the Insert tab. The shapes gallery includes a list box of several groups of shape items. Window-Eyes not only announces each group as they�re accessed, but also reads the index of the selected item in the selected group. The shapes gallery also contains a menu item located after the shape list box, which Window-Eyes reads easily after navigating from the shapes list box.

Window-Eyes Key Describer

For beginner users, knowing where keys are on the keyboard, and what keys perform what commands, is essential to successful computing. The Window-Eyes Key Describer offers beginner users the comfort of examining keyboard keys without worrying about performing erroneous commands, or typing unwanted characters.

The Window-Eyes Key Describer hot key is INS-1 by default, and when pressed the first time will say, �Key describer on.� From this point on until the Key Describer is disengaged, Window-Eyes will speak the keys that are pressed.

For example, if you press the letter A, Window-Eyes will say, “A.” If a hot key is pressed, Window-Eyes will speak the function of that hot key. For example, if you press CTRL-BACKSLASH, Window-Eyes will say, �Menu. Activates the window-eyes voice control panel.� If a key label has been assigned to a key stroke, Window-Eyes will read the key label as well. For example, if you engaged the Key Describer in Microsoft Word, and then press CTRL-HOME, Window-Eyes would say, �Top of document.� In Internet Explorer or Firefox, Window-Eyes would say, �Top� while in the Key Describer. You can change a key label to speak whatever you want, and the Window-Eyes Key Describer will reflect that change. For example, you could change the key label for the hot key CTRL-HOME in Microsoft Word to be �My favorite key label.� When that key is pressed with the Key Describer engaged in Microsoft Word, Window-Eyes would say, �My favorite key label.�

If a Braille key is pressed, the Braille key name will be spoken, and its function (if one exists). The text will also be displayed in quick message mode for Braille users. If you press the Window-Eyes Key Describer hot key again, Window-Eyes will say, �Key describer off,� and normal keyboard functionality will resume.

The Key Describer will automatically disengage if focus changes (such as when you press ALT-TAB to focus another window, or press the Windows key to focus the start menu). Window-Eyes gives beginners and advanced users alike the power to learn available keystrokes in different applications with the Window-Eyes Key Describer.

Tip of the Day

Window-Eyes is packed with features, and learning the ins and outs of all of them can take quite a bit of time. The Window-Eyes Tip of the Day feature alleviates the overwhelming fear of having to memorize the entire manual by providing small snippets of information about various Window-Eyes features every time Window-Eyes is launched.

The Tip of the Day dialog contains a read only edit box of tip information, a Previous button to move to the previous tip, a Next button to move to the next tip, a check box labeled Show Tips at Startup (used to control the showing of the Tip of the Day when Window-Eyes launches), and a Close button. Several tips also provide a View Help Topic button, which when selected, will open the Window-Eyes manual directly to the section that corresponds with the tip information. If a tip has a web site associated with it, a View Web Site button will be available. When the View Web Site button is selected, the associated page will load in your default web browser.

If you elect to hide the Tip of the Day dialog when Window-Eyes launches, you can always choose to view the Tip of the Day dialog using the Tip of the Day menu item in the Window-Eyes Help menu.

Each time the Tip of the Day dialog is displayed, a new tip will appear, much like using the Next button moves to the next tip. Window-Eyes will remember the last tip displayed so that you don�t always start on the same tip every time Window-Eyes launches.

Application Help

The Window-Eyes Application Help feature introduces the idea of creating personal notes for specific controls, dialogs, and applications and combines it with factory written, generic control information, helping to create a comprehensive environment for keeping track of, and learning how to use an application.

The Window-Eyes Application Help hot key (CTRL-SHIFT-QUESTION by default) opens a dialog containing the following controls:

Information: Edit Box. The title of this edit box, as well as the contents, will change depending on the radio buttons discussed below. The information presented in this edit box is completely user editable, and can contain notes on how to use specific features of an application.

Generic Control Information: Read-only Edit Box. This edit box contains information describing the control that was focused when the Application Help hot key was pressed. Generic control information includes detailed control descriptions, as well as Window-Eyes specific information on reading and interacting with controls.

Save: Button. This button, when selected, will save any information entered into the Information edit box.

Close: Button. This button, when selected, will close the Application Help dialog.

Take, for example, everyone’s favorite text editor: Notepad. If you bring up the Application Help dialog in Notepad, and select the Application radio button, you can enter details to the Application Information edit box that deal with using Notepad as a text editor. You might choose to keep track on hot keys used often in the editor, such as ALT-O, W to toggle Word Wrap, or CTRL-H for find and replace. These notes apply to the application as a whole, and would therefore be stored with the Application radio button selected. If you opened the Print dialog in Notepad, you might choose to make notes regarding what kind of paper setup you prefer for printing text document, or how to collate more than one copy. These notes apply to the print dialog alone, and would therefore be stored with the Dialog radio button selected. Once in the list of printers in the print dialog, you might then want to make notes regarding which printers are connected to your machine locally, and which are remote, or which are inkjet, and which are laser printers. These notes apply to the list view of printers located specifically in the print dialog of Notepad, and would therefore be stored with the Control radio button selected.

Once you’ve entered custom information regarding the control, dialog, or application, you can select the Save button to save all the information you entered.

If control information exists for the focused control when you open the Application Help dialog, the control radio button will be selected automatically. If no control information exists, but dialog information does exist for the dialog that is active when you open the Application Help dialog, then the dialog radio button will be selected automatically. If no control information or dialog information exists, but application information does exist for the window that is active when you open the Application help dialog, the application radio button will be selected automatically. If no information exists for any of the three categories, the application radio button will be selected by default. You can easily review information contained in all three categories by selecting the appropriate radio button.

Window-Eyes Set File Manager

The Window-Eyes Set File manager offers a comprehensive method of installing, uninstalling, and keeping track of Window-Eyes Set files.

Selecting the Set File Manager option from the File menu in the Window-Eyes voice control panel will cause a dialog to open, containing the following controls:

Applications List View: The applications list view will present all available set files, along with their installed status, as well as version information. The list view contains four columns used to represent this information – Name, Status, Factory Version, and Installed Version. The Name column lists the names of the Set File packages that are available for use. Status will be one of the following:

  1. Not Installed: Indicates that the selected set files have not been installed.
  2. Installed: Indicates that the selected set files have been installed.
  3. Modified: Indicates that the selected set files have been installed, and have been modified from the original, factory version.
  4. Out Dated: Indicates that the selected set files have been installed, but are older than the available, factory version.
  5. Newer: Indicates that the selected set files have been installed, and are newer than the available, factory version.

The Factory Version column indicates version numbers for the set file packages that are included with Window-Eyes.

The Installed Version column indicates version numbers for the set file packages that are currently installed for the active Window-Eyes user. If the Installed Version column contains “n/a”, then Window-Eyes is unable to determine the version number for the installed set files. This can happen when upgrading from an older version of Window-Eyes. A new install of Window-Eyes, however, will always have correct version numbers listed. Also, if you choose to reload any factory set file packages, the version number will show up after the set file package installation.

The Applications list view allows you to select multiple set file packages for batch installing or uninstalling. In other words, rather than selecting and installing several set file packages individually, you can choose to install multiple set file packages at one time.

Information Read-only Edit Box: The Information read-only edit box contains the readme included for the selected factory set file. Set file readmes include information on using the set files successfully with the associated application. The title of this read-only edit box will change when a new set file package is selected to reflect the name of the associated application. For example, if the Adobe Reader set file package is selected in the Applications list view, the title of the Information edit box will change to say, �Information for Adobe Reader.� If more than one set file is selected, the Information read-only edit box will be disabled.

Set Files Read-only Edit Box: The Set Files read-only edit box lists all files contained in the set file package selected in the Applications list view, along with each individual file�s installed status. If a set file or dictionary file has been installed, the word Installed will appear after the file name. If a set file or dictionary file does not exist, the word Missing will appear after the file name. If the set file or dictionary file differs from the factory version, the word Modified will appear after the file name. The title of this read-only edit box will change when a new set file package is selected to reflect the name of the associated application. For example, if the Adobe Reader set file package is selected in the Applications list view, the title of the Information edit box will change to say, �Set Files for Adobe Reader.� If more than one set file is selected, the Set Files read-only edit box will be disabled.

Install Button: When selected, this button will cause Window-Eyes to install the set file package (or packages) selected in the Applications list view.

If you are installing set files that already exist, you will be prompted to confirm set file replacement. When a dictionary file already exists, you will be prompted with an additional choice to replace your existing dictionary, to leave your existing dictionary, or to merge the contents of your existing dictionary with the contents of the factory dictionary. In other words, if you have modified your exceptions dictionary, for example, and you choose to install newer Window-Eyes default set files, you have the option of retaining your existing exception dictionary entries, while still installing the latest exception dictionary file. The dialog that prompts to you Replace, Leave, or Merge contains three checkboxes:

These Replace, Leave, or Merge check box options can come in handy when installing multiple set file packages at one time.

Uninstall Button: When selected, this button will cause Window-Eyes to uninstall the set file package (or packages) selected in the Applications list view.

Update Outdated Button: When selected, this button will cause Window-Eyes to determine which installed set files are out of date, and automatically update them to the latest factory version.

Keyboard Features

Window-Eyes includes several new keyboard features, including five new hot keys:

  1. Toggle All Voices (global): Undefined by default: This hot key will toggle all Window-Eyes speech off globally, regardless of the active application when the key is pressed. Speech will stay off until the hot key is pressed again, or when Window-Eyes is re-launched. This feature allows Braille users to disable speech with a single Braille hot key.
  2. Shutdown Window-Eyes: CTRL-INS-F4 by default: This hot key will prompt you to close Window-Eyes, just like pressing CTRL-BACKSLASH/ALT-F4, but with a single key stroke.
  3. Battery Level: INS-Q by default: This hot key will query the status of the current battery level on computers using battery power. The information read is dependent on what information the battery hardware provides, and may be different from machine to machine. If no battery information is available, Window-Eyes will say, �No battery.�
  4. Key Describer: INS-1 by default: This hot key will engage the Window-Eyes Key Describer.
  5. Outlook Calendar: INS-C: This hot key will open the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog assuming that Microsoft Outlook is running. If Microsoft Outlook is not running when the Outlook Calendar hot key is pressed, Window-Eyes will say, �Microsoft outlook must be running to use the Outlook calendar.� To free up the INS-C hot key for the Window-Eyes Outlook Calendar dialog, the Autodetect Cursor hot key has been redefined to CTRL-INS-C.

Additionally, two popular Window-Eyes keys have been redefined:

Window-Eyes supports the ability to define number pad hot keys based on the status of the numlock setting. For example, with the numlock on, the star key would be captured as NumOn-Star. With the numlock off, the star key would be captured as NumOff-Star. The same goes for slash, star, dash, plus, and ENTER. With numlock on, you can use the keys in conjunction with all the other numpad number keys, which can be useful for use applications such as the Windows calculator. If you want to define one of these keys to function the same, regardless of the numlock settings, define the key using the current numlock status, and then toggle the numlock status, and define the key again. Using this feature with the star example above, the key would then be called Numpad-star, indicating the key would function the same regardless of whether the numlock is on or off.

The Word Mode option has been removed from the Keyboard menu, and integrated into the Keyboard Voice menu item. Previously, the Keyboard Voice option could be either on or off. Now, the Keyboard Voice option can be one of the following options: Off, On with Characters, On with Words, On with Words and Numbers, On with Characters and Words, or On with Characters, Words, and Numbers.

One advantage to integrating the word mode option into the Keyboard Voice menu item is that now the word mode settings are automatically set globally when the Keyboard Voice option is set globally.

The Word Mode Rotor hotkey has also been changed to Keyboard Voice Rotor in the Miscellaneous hot key dialog. Also, if you have any of the Keyboard Voice options containing word mode enabled, we automatically silence the space.

The Mouse Pointer Identification option has been removed from the Mouse menu, and integrated into the Mouse Voice menu item. Previously, the Mouse Voice option could be either on or off. Now, the Mouse Voice option can be one of the following options: Off, On with Pointer Identification Off, On with Pointer Identification Delayed, On with Pointer Identification Delayed (Dictionary Only), On with Pointer Identification Immediate, or On with Pointer Identification Immediate (Dictionary Only).

One advantage to integrating the pointer identification option into the Mouse Voice menu item is that now the pointer identification settings are automatically set globally when the Mouse Voice option is set globally.

The Keyboard Layout option in the Keyboard menu of the Window-Eyes Voice Control panel (available when the Menu Level option is set to something other than Beginner) will indicate the last layout selected. In other words, if you choose the Default layout, and accept the “Continue to update your keyboard layout?” prompt, the Default layout menu item will become checked. If you then switch to the Laptop layout, the Laptop layout menu item will become checked. The storage mechanism for all keyboard layout options has been updated, meaning that additional keyboard layouts may be available in the future (most likely from the GW Micro web site) without requiring a new version of Window-Eyes. If you are upgrading, this option will not be set until you select a keyboard layout (although selecting a layout is not required if all your keys are functioning as you like).

Included in the Keyboard Layout menu is the JAWS keyboard layout. The primary purpose of having a JAWS keyboard layout for Window-Eyes is to offer individuals who use JAWS, an easy way to use Window-Eyes without having to learn all new hot keys. In addition, trainers that are already familiar with JFW will have an easier time teaching others to use Window-Eyes. They will be able to concentrate on the computer, Windows and applications and spend less time on the screen reader. The JAWS keyboard layout does not change the functionality of Window-Eyes, but rather allows JAWS users to experience the power and stability that Window-Eyes offers using familiar keystrokes.

Miscellaneous Features

Braille Features

Window-Eyes Braille support continues to mature thanks to constant feedback and testing by dedicated Braille users, and raises the bar for Braille display support by providing several new Braille features.

Enhancements between Window-Eyes 5.5 and Window-Eyes 6.0

The following section provides detailed information about the enhancements between Window-Eyes 5.5 and Window-Eyes 6.0.

Set File Enhancements:

To take advantage of any new set file feature listed below, you must install the factory default sets using the Set File Manager dialog in the File menu of the Window-Eyes control panel. You should reload all factory set files for any application that you use, regardless of whether or not they are listed below.

Braille Enhancements:

Browse Mode enhancements:

Office Enhancements:

Miscellaneous Enhancements:

Performance and Stability Enhancements:

Keep reading!