WG0788: Customizing WFWG 3.11 for Individuals w/ Disabilities

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

This Application Note, "Customizing Windows for Workgroups for Individuals with Disabilities" (WG0788) provides information about products and services available for computer users with special needs:

You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:

• Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet
• The Internet (Microsoft anonymous ftp server)
• Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
• Microsoft FastTips Technical Library
• Microsoft Product Support Services

THE TEXT OF WG0788

  Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File)
    WG0788: CUSTOMIZING WINDOWS(TM) FOR WORKGROUPS FOR INDIVIDUALS
                           WITH DISABILITIES

                                                  Revision Date:  5/94
                                                      No Disk Included

| INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND ANY SOFTWARE THAT MAY     |
| ACCOMPANY THIS DOCUMENT (collectively referred to as an Application |
| Note) IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER      |
| EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED      |
| WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR       |
| PURPOSE. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and    |
| the use of this Application Note. This Application Note may be      |
| copied and distributed subject to the following conditions:  1) All |
| text must be copied without modification and all pages must be      |
| included;  2) If software is included, all files on the disk(s)     |
| must be copied without modification (the MS-DOS(R)  utility         |
| diskcopy is appropriate for this purpose);  3) All components of    |
| this Application Note must be distributed together;  and  4) This   |
| Application Note may not be distributed for profit.                 |
|                                                                     |
| Copyright (C) 1993-1994 Microsoft Corporation.  All Rights          |
| Reserved.                                                           |
| BallPoint, Microsoft, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and      |
| Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.                    |
| TrueType is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.          |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|


          CUSTOMIZING WINDOWS FOR WORKGROUPS FOR INDIVIDUALS
          ==================================================
                           WITH DISABILITIES
                           =================

• Support services for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
• Access Pack for Microsoft Windows, a product that makes Windows more accessible for people with movement or hearing disabilities
• Keyboard layouts designed for people who type with a single hand or wand
• Microsoft Mouse driver version 9.0
• Microsoft documentation on audio cassettes and floppy disks
• Products available for individuals who are blind or have low vision
• Help installing Windows for Workgroups
• Customizing Windows for Workgroups without additional hardware or software
• More information about products and services for people with disabilities

      NOTE: The information in this Application Note applies to Windows
      for Workgroups users in the United States only. If you are outside
      the United States, your Windows for Workgroups package contains a
      subsidiary information card listing product support telephone
      numbers and addresses. Contact your subsidiary to find out whether
      the types of products and services described in this Application
      Note are available in your area.
  

  MICROSOFT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING =====================================================================

For sales information and nontechnical customer service, you can contact Microsoft Consumer Sales on a text telephone at (800) 892-5234 between 6:30 A.M. and 5:30 P.M. Pacific time. For technical assistance, you can contact Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) on a text telephone at (425) 635-4948 between 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Pacific time. Microsoft support services are subject to Microsoft prices, terms, and conditions in place at the time the service is used.

                   ACCESS PACK FOR MICROSOFT WINDOWS
                   =================================

• Allow easier use of SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT key combinations for people who type with a single finger, a mouthstick, or a wand.
• Ignore accidental key presses.
• Adjust or disable the rate at which a character is repeated on the screen when you hold down a key.
• Prevent extra characters if you unintentionally press a key more than once.
• Allow you to use the keyboard to control the mouse cursor.

      NOTE: If you use this feature with Microsoft Paintbrush, your
      system stops responding (hangs). To work around this problem, use
      Paintbrush keyboard commands. For more information, run Paintbrush
      and press F1--each specific task help topic has information on the
      keyboard equivalent for the mouse action.
  

• Allow you to use an alternate input device to control the computer's keyboard and mouse.
• Provide a visual cue when a computer makes sounds.
• Enable you to turn off these services for people who do not need them.

If you have a modem, you can download Windows Driver Library components from network services, various user-group bulletin board services (BBSs) (including BBSs on the Association of PC User Groups [APCUG] network), and the Microsoft Download Service (MSDL). The MSDL is available seven days a week from 2:30 A.M. to 1:00 A.M. at (425) 936-MSDL (936-6735). The modem settings are:

   1200,n,8,1
   2400,n,8,1
   9600,n,8,1 (V.32, V.32bis, V.42, V.42bis)
   14,400,n,8,1 (V.32, V.32bis, V.42, V.42bis)

    NOTE: If you cannot connect at 14,400, lower the bits per second
    to 9600 and try again.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135314
   TITLE     : Windows 95 Driver Library

   ARTICLE-ID: Q82006
   TITLE     : Windows Driver Library Information

           KEYBOARD LAYOUTS FOR SINGLE-HANDED COMPUTER USERS
           =================================================

Windows for Workgroups has built-in support for the two-handed Dvorak keyboard layout, which may be useful for preventing or coping with some types of repetitive motion injuries associated with typing. To use this layout, choose the International icon in Control Panel. Two additional layouts are designed for people who type with the left hand only or with the right hand only. These layouts can also be useful for people who type with a single finger or a wand.

The single-handed layouts are included with the PSS Application Note GA0650, "Dvorak Keyboard Layouts." If you have a modem, you can download GA0650 from the network services listed in the previous section. The filename is GA0650.ZIP, except on MSDL, where this Application Note is available in the self-extracting file GA0650.EXE.

Customers who do not have a modem can obtain GA0650 by calling Microsoft Consumer Sales at (800) 426-9400 (voice telephone) or (800) 892-5234 (text telephone).

                  MICROSOFT MOUSE DRIVER VERSION 9.0
                  ==================================

• Larger pointer sizes--You can choose a small, medium, or large pointer size.
• Larger I-beam pointer--The I-beam pointer is larger than the regular I-beam.
• Pointer growth--You can make the pointer increase to the large pointer size when you begin to move the mouse.
• Cursor color choice--You can choose a white, black, or transparent mouse pointer.
• Snap-To--You can configure the mouse pointer to jump to the default button when a dialog box opens.
• Locate--You can make the mouse pointer jump to the middle of the screen when you press a specified control key and mouse button.
• Sensitivity--You can independently adjust the vertical and horizontal sensitivity. This can be useful for people whose control or range differs for vertical and horizontal movement.
• Orientation--You can customize the mouse orientation. This can be useful for people who need or want to hold the mouse at a particular angle.

      NOTE: Mouse driver version 9.0 and the optional utilities mentioned
      above are included with Microsoft Mouse version 2.0.
  

           DOCUMENTATION ON AUDIO CASSETTES AND FLOPPY DISKS
           =================================================

   Recording for the Blind, Inc.
   20 Roszel Road
   Princeton, NJ  08540

   (800) 221-4792     Voice telephone
   (609) 987-8116     Fax


       PRODUCTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION
       =========================================================

For more information on the products available, see the "Getting More Information" section of this Application Note. For more information about customizing Windows for Workgroups for individuals with low vision, see the "Customizing Windows for Workgroups Without Additional Hardware or Software" section below.

                HELP INSTALLING WINDOWS FOR WORKGROUPS
                ======================================

      a:\setup /h:c:\mysetup.shh

              CUSTOMIZING WINDOWS FOR WORKGROUPS WITHOUT
              ==========================================
                    ADDITIONAL HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE
                    ===============================

Modifying Initialization Files

Windows initialization files (.INIs) contain information about your system environment. For example, the WIN.INI file contains settings about your Windows environment, and the SYSTEM.INI file contains settings that tell Windows about your system's hardware needs. MSMAIL.INI and SCHEDPLUS.INI contain settings that control the appearance of text and screen colors within the Mail and Schedule+ applications.

You can configure Windows and Windows-based applications to meet your needs and preferences by modifying the information stored in these files. For more information about WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI, refer to the WININI.WRI and SYSINI.WRI files located in your Windows directory. You can print or view these files from Microsoft Windows Write.

   IMPORTANT: Errors made when editing initialization files can lead
   to undesirable results when you run Windows. Before changing any
   entry, make a backup copy of your original file. Also, some text
   editors can damage characters that have ANSI values greater than
   127. To avoid these problems, we recommend that you use Control
   Panel or Setup whenever possible to make changes. If you must edit
   the file, use a text editor such as Microsoft Windows Notepad,
   System Configuration Editor (SYSEDIT.EXE), or MS-DOS Editor.

1. Create a backup copy of the .INI file you want to edit. For example, run File Manager and copy WIN.INI to WIN.BAK.

2. Open the .INI file with a text editor, such as Notepad.

3. Edit the specific entries and save the file.

4. Restart Windows so that the changes take effect.

Changing Colors

• If you have trouble differentiating the system colors, or if they cause eyestrain, you can adjust them in the Colors dialog box of Control Panel.
• If you have trouble reading full-screen messages displayed by Windows in 386 enhanced mode, you can adjust the colors by using the MessageBackColor and MessageTextColor entries in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. For example, the following entries generate bright yellow text on a black background in message screens (such as the screen that appears when you press CTRL+ALT+DEL):

           MessageTextColor=E
           MessageBackColor=0
  
     The following table defines the color values you can use for the
     MessageBackColor and MessageTextColor entries:
  
     0 - Black  4 - Red            8 - Gray           C - Bright red
     1 - Blue   5 - Magenta        9 - Bright blue    D - Bright magenta
     2 - Green  6 - Yellow/brown   A - Bright green   E - Bright yellow
     3 - Cyan   7 - White          B - Bright cyan    F - Bright white
  
  

• If the desktop pattern or wallpaper causes eyestrain, you can adjust them in the Desktop dialog box of Control Panel.
• If you have trouble differentiating the colors used by Windows Help, you can adjust them by using the IFJumpColor, IFPopupColor, JumpColor, MacroColor, and PopupColor entries in the [Windows Help] section of the WIN.INI file. The syntax for these entries is

        <entry>=red <value> green <value> blue <value>
  

  where the <value> is a number from 000 to 999, with 999 giving the highest intensity. You must include three digits for each value, and you must include each color value. You can experiment with this setting to create a color that works best for you. The following table lists some colors you can work with:

     Setting          Resulting color
  

     000 000 999      Blue
     000 999 000      Green
     999 000 000      Red
     999 999 000      Yellow
     999 000 999      Magenta
  
     For more information on these entries, see the WININI.WRI file in
     your Windows directory.
  
  

Changing Fonts

• If you have trouble reading the Windows for Workgroups system fonts (which are used to display window titles, menus, and dialog boxes), you can increase the font size using the FIXEDFON.FON, FONTS.FON, and OEMFONTS.FON entries in the [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. However, you should replace the default fonts only with other system font files supplied with Windows for Workgroups. These fonts include 8514FIX.FON, 8514SYS.FON, and 8514OEM.FON.

  For example, if you are using a VGA video driver, your .FON files are probably set as follows:

        fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon
        fonts.fon=vgasys.fon
        oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon
  

  To increase the size of the system font, expand 8514FIX.FON, 8514SYS.FON, and 8514OEM.FON from the original Windows for Workgroups disks to your Windows program directory (usually C:\WINDOWS). For example, type the following command at the MS-DOS command prompt, and then press ENTER:

        expand a:\8514fix.fo_ c:\windows\system\8514fix.fon
  

  Then, edit the [boot] section of your SYSTEM.INI file to read:

        fixedfon.fon=8514FIX.FON
        fonts.fon=8514SYS.FON
        oemfonts.fon=8514OEM.FON
  

  WARNING: Do not use font files other than the system .FON fonts supplied with Windows for Workgroups. For example, you cannot use TrueType(R) (.TTF) fonts.

• If you have trouble reading the titles of icons, you can adjust the appearance of these titles with the IconTitleFaceName and IconTitleSize entries in the [desktop] section of the WIN.INI file. For example:

        [desktop]
        IconTitleFaceName=Arial
        IconTitleSize=12
  

• If you have trouble reading small fonts used by some applications and do not want to install a screen enlarger utility, you can restrict the fonts available to Windows-based applications by removing the fonts you do not want in the Fonts dialog box of Control Panel. You do not need to actually delete the font files. If you remove all the fonts, only the system fonts remain available to applications.

       NOTE: You may also need to adjust the icon spacing in the Desktop
       dialog box of Control Panel and choose Arrange Icons from the
       Window menu in Program Manager to make all your icon titles
       visible.
  

• If you have trouble reading the file and directory names in File Manager, you can adjust the font settings by choosing Font from the Options menu.
• If you have trouble locating the text-selection cursor (also known as the caret or insertion bar) in your applications, you can adjust the rate at which it flashes. To do this, choose the Desktop icon in Control Panel.

Changing Schedule+ and Mail Settings

• If you have trouble reading the text in Schedule+, you can adjust the fonts and colors by choosing Display from the Options menu.
• If you have trouble reading the text in Microsoft Mail, you can adjust the fonts using the FixedFont, NormalFont, and PrintFont entries in the [Microsoft Mail] section of the MSMAIL.INI file, which is located in your Windows for Workgroups directory. Each entry has four parts separated by commas: the font name, point size, a flag for bold, and a flag for italic. To switch between the normal font and the fixed font, choose Change Font from the View menu. Each entry is described separately in the following paragraphs.
• FixedFont=<facename>, <size>, 0|1, 0|1

        The above entry identifies a fixed-pitch font you can substitute
        for the one supplied with Microsoft Mail. This font serves as an
        alternative to the Microsoft Mail default (Helvetica 10 point).
        This entry affects only the message body text, not the message
        envelope text or folder lists. In Windows for Workgroups Mail,
        the default is Courier New, 9, 0, 0 (Courier New, 9-point, not
        bold, not italic).
  

• NormalFont=<facename>, <size>, 0|1, 0|1

        The above entry identifies the proportionally spaced default
        font used to display Mail messages. This entry affects only the
        message body text, not the message envelope text or folder
        lists. The default value is Helv, 10, 0, 0.
  

• PrintFont=<facename>, <size>, 0|1, 0|1

        The above entry identifies the default proportionally spaced
        font used to print Mail messages. The default value is Helv, 10,
        0, 0.
  

Changing Mouse Behavior

• If you have difficulty controlling the Microsoft Mouse, you can adjust its speed in the Mouse dialog box of Control Panel.
• If you have trouble seeing the mouse when you are moving it, you can try using the Mouse Trails feature in the Mouse dialog box of Control Panel. If your third-party video driver does not support the Mouse Trails option, contact your video card vendor for more information.
• If you have trouble double-clicking the mouse, you can adjust the sensitivity using the Double-Click Speed setting in the Mouse dialog box of Control Panel. You can further adjust the double- click functionality by adding the DoubleClickHeight and DoubleClickWidth entries to the [Windows] section of the WIN.INI file. For example, if you add the following entries to your WIN.INI file and restart your computer, you no longer have to hold the mouse in exactly the same location when you double-click:

        DoubleClickHeight=30
        DoubleClickWidth=30
  

• If you have trouble positioning the mouse on window frames so that you can adjust the size of the windows, you can increase the window border width setting in the Desktop dialog box of Control Panel.

Changing Keyboard Behavior

• If you have trouble using the keyboard because of the speed at which it repeats or the delay time before it begins repeating, you can adjust these settings in the Keyboard dialog box of Control Panel. (You can adjust keyboard settings even further using Access Pack for Microsoft Windows, which is described later on in this Application Note.)

  If you cannot use Control Panel to adjust the keyboard, you can adjust the corresponding KeyboardDelay and KeyboardSpeed entries in the [Windows] section of the WIN.INI file. KeyboardDelay establishes how much time elapses after you hold down a key before the key starts to repeat (the default is 2 milliseconds). KeyboardSpeed establishes how much time elapses between repetitions of a character on the display when you hold down a keyboard key (the default is 31 milliseconds).

• You can use Windows Recorder to automate common tasks. For more information about using Recorder, run Recorder and choose Contents from the Help menu to open Recorder Help.
• You can use two methods to reduce the number of keystrokes required to switch between applications. You can use Task List to display a list of all applications currently running, or you can assign a shortcut key to each application. Task List can be invoked by pressing CTRL+ESC, or by choosing Switch To from any application's Control menu. Application shortcut keys can be assigned by creating an icon for the application in Program Manager and using the Properties command on the File menu. For more information on Task List and shortcut keys, see the "Microsoft Windows for Workgroups User's Guide."

                         GETTING MORE INFORMATION
                         ========================
  
  
  

Information from Microsoft

For more information on Microsoft products and services for people with disabilities, contact Microsoft Consumer Sales at one of the following numbers:

   (800) 426-9400       Voice telephone
   (800) 892-5234       Text telephone

The Trace R&D Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison produces a book and a compact disc (CD) that describe products that help people with disabilities use computers. The book is titled "ResourceBook" and contains nearly 500 pages of descriptions and photographs of approximately 2,000 aids. The CD provides a database of more than 12,000 products and other information for people with disabilities. It is issued twice a year and is also available in many public libraries. You can contact the Trace R&D Center at the following address and phone and fax numbers:

   Trace R&D Center
   S-151 Waisman Center
   1500 Highland Avenue
   Madison, WI  53705-2280

   (608) 263-2309     Voice telephone
   (608) 263-5408     Text telephone
   (608) 262-8848     Fax

Assistive Technology Programs

For general information and recommendations about how computers can help specific individuals, customers should consult a trained evaluator who can best match the individual's needs with the available solutions. An assistive technology program in your area can provide referrals to programs and services available to you. To locate the assistive technology program nearest you, contact the Center for Developmental Disabilities at the following address and phone and fax numbers:

   National Information System
   Center for Developmental Disabilities
   University of South Carolina
   Benson Building
   Columbia, SC  29208

   (800) 922-9234,   Voice or text telephone, outside South Carolina
    extension 301
   (800) 922-1107    Voice or text telephone, in South Carolina
   (803) 777-6222    Voice or text telephone, outside the United States
   (803) 777-6058    Fax

TO OBTAIN THIS APPLICATION NOTE

You can find WG0788.EXE, a self-extracting file, on the following services:

• Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet

        On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon.
        Click Knowledge Base, and select the product.
        Enter kbfile WG0788.EXE, and click GO!
        Open the article, and click the button to download the file.
  

• Internet (anonymous FTP)

        ftp ftp.microsoft.com
        Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder.
        Get WG0788.EXE
  

• Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)

        Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
        Download WG0788.EXE
  

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
               Services