Using the Accessibility Features

Once configured, the accessibility features can be turned on and off at any time using hot keys. Users can also save their accessibility settings as part of their user profiles in Windows 98 so that multiple users can comfortably share the same machine.

Using Accessibility Hot Keys

The accessibility hot keys provide an immediate method of activating accessibility features for people who could not use the computer without first having accessibility features in effect. Also known as shortcuts, hot keys allow the user to temporarily turn on a specific feature. Then, after the feature has been turned on, the user can navigate to Control Panel and adjust the feature to the user’s own preferences or turn the feature on permanently. The same hot key temporarily turns off the feature if it gets in the way or if another person wants to use the computer without this feature. These keys are shown in the following table.

Hot keys are designed to be unique key combinations that should not conflict with keys used by applications. If such a conflict does arise, the hot keys can be disabled, and the user can still use the feature or not, as needed.

As a precaution against accidental use, pressing an accessibility hot key causes special tones to sound (a rising siren tone for on and a falling siren tone for off) and causes a confirmation dialog box to appear, briefly explaining the feature and how it was activated. If the user pressed the hot key unintentionally, the user can cancel the feature’s activation at this time. The confirming dialog box also provides a quick path to more detailed help and to the Control Panel settings for the hot key feature, in case the user wants to disable the hot key permanently.

Accessibility Status Indicator

While an accessibility feature is in use, Windows 98 can display an optional visual indicator icon that tells the user which accessibility features are turned on. The icon also provides feedback on the keys and mouse buttons currently being "held down" by the StickyKeys and MouseKeys features. The status indicator icons can appear on the system taskbar or as a free-floating window; users can choose from a range of different sizes.

In the preceding illustration, the three rectangles represent the left SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT keys. As each modifier key is held down by the StickyKeys feature, the corresponding rectangle appears filled.

The mouse in the Accessibility status indicator window may show either the left or the right button shaded, depending on which is selected. Pressing 5, PLUS SIGN (+), or INSERT is equivalent to using that button. If you have selected working with both buttons (equivalent to using the middle button on a three-button mouse), both buttons are shaded. If you lock down one or more mouse buttons using INSERT, the status indicator shows those buttons as being filled, rather than shaded. (To release them, press DEL.)

The stopwatch indicates that the keyboard response is being affected by SlowKeys, BounceKeys, or RepeatKeys features.

Settings for Multiple Users

To enable multiple users to personalize settings

1. Select Start.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel.
4. Select Passwords.

   The Passwords Properties tabbed pages appear.

   

5. Select the User Profiles tab.
6. Select the Users can customize their preferences and desktop settings radio button.

   Your settings, including all accessibility settings, will be saved for the next time you log on.

7. Select OK.

The next person who logs on to Windows can change settings without changing your preferred settings. The next time you log on, your settings will be restored.

Accessibility Time-out

The time-out feature of the Accessibility properties dialog box turns off accessibility functionality after the computer has been idle for a certain period of time. It returns the operating system to its default configuration. This feature is useful on computers shared by multiple users.

Using Magnifier

Magnifier enlarges a portion of the display of Windows 98 to make the screen easier to read for people with slight visual impairments or whenever magnifying screen elements may be useful, such as during graphic editing. Magnifier is intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with moderate visual impairments. Many users with visual impairments will need a magnification utility program with higher functionality for daily use. For a list of Windows-based magnification utilities, see http://www.microsoft.com/enable/.

Using Magnifier, you can:

• Magnify an area of the screen up to nine times the standard display size.
• Follow the mouse cursor, the keyboard focus, the text editing focus, or any combination of these three.
• Invert colors for contrast.
• Toggle High Contrast display for the entire screen.
• Resize and relocate the display area.

When Magnifier is on, the magnified area is merely a display and not itself an active area. The active focus for cursor, keyboard, and other input devices is always in the unmagnified area.

To start Magnifier

1. Select Start.
2. Select Programs.
3. Select Accessories.
4. Select Accessibility.
5. Select Magnifier.

   If Magnifier does not appear on the Programs menu or one of its submenus, see the procedure "To install Accessibility Options" earlier in this appendix.

You can customize your Start bar or create a shortcut to make starting Magnifier easier or to use settings for multiple users.

To set the magnification level

1. Start Magnifier.
2. In the Microsoft Magnifier dialog box, select an arrow or enter a number in the Magnification level box to increase or decrease magnification.

   

If Magnifier is already running, select its program button on the taskbar to open the dialog box.

You can also change the magnification level from the keyboard by holding down the Windows logo key and pressing the arrow keys. Press the UP ARROW key to increase magnification and the DOWN ARROW key to decrease magnification.

To set tracking options

1. Start Magnifier.
2. In the Microsoft Magnifier dialog box, select any of the tracking options you want from the following three choices:
   • Follow Mouse cursor
   • Follow keyboard focus
   • Follow text editing

If Magnifier is already running, select its program button on the taskbar to open the dialog box.

You can turn mouse tracking on and off from the keyboard by pressing the Windows logo key + PAGE DOWN.

To change the size of the magnification window

1. Move the mouse pointer over the edge of the magnification window. The cursor becomes a double-pointed arrow.
2. Drag the magnification window border to resize the window.

   Keyboard users can use Mousekeys to change the size and position of the Magnifier window.

To change the position of the magnification window

1. Place the mouse pointer inside the magnification window.
2. Drag the window to the desired area on your desktop.

   You can dock the magnification window to the top, bottom, or side of your display, or you can position the window anywhere within the desktop area.

To invert the colors of the magnification window

1. Start Microsoft Magnifier.
2. In the Microsoft Magnifier dialog box, select the Invert Colors check box.

   If Microsoft Magnifier is already running, select its program button on the taskbar to open the dialog box.

   You can turn color inversion on and off from the keyboard by pressing the Windows logo key + PAGE UP.

To copy the contents of the magnifier to the clipboard

1. Right-click on the area displayed in the magnifier.

   The copy to clipboard button appears.

2. Press ENTER.

To display the screen in High Contrast

1. Start Magnifier.
2. In the Microsoft Magnifier dialog box, select the Use High Contrast scheme check box.
3. Select OK.

   It can take a few seconds for High Contrast Mode to take effect.

To exit Magnifier

1. Select the Microsoft Magnifier button on the toolbar.

   The Microsoft Magnifier dialog box appears.

2. Select the Exit button.

Using Keyboard Navigation

Both on the Active Desktop and in Help, you can use the TAB key to rotate through controls such as icons, buttons, list boxes, panes, and links generally in left-to-right and top-to-bottom order. Use SHIFT+TAB to rotate through in reverse order. You can use ENTER to choose icons, choose commands, choose buttons, and activate links.

Many Microsoft products have specific shortcut keys to make keyboard access convenient. Look for the phrases "keyboard shortcuts" or "keystroke shortcuts" in the Help index. Shortcut keys for Windows 98 are listed in Appendix G, "Shortcuts for Windows 98."

Overview of Active Desktop

New features in the Windows 98 Active Desktop include:

• The Start menu and menus displayed by Windows Explorer are now custom scrolling menus. This allows you to have more menu commands than fit on the screen at one time, a helpful feature for people who enlarge the menu fonts or customize their menu to have many commands.
• You have several new desktop toolbars to choose from. These include:
  • The Address bar, which functions like the Run command on the Start menu.
  • The Links bar, which shows Web sites of general interest.
  • The Desktop bar, which shows the objects on your desktop.
  • The Quick Launch bar, which shows links to commonly used commands.
• You can create your own desktop toolbars with commands you use frequently. See the following procedures.
• You can choose to make your desktop and folder look and act like Web pages, including the ability to activate objects with a single select and to select them simply by hovering the mouse over them. Adjust these and other options by opening any folder and choosing Folder Options from the View menu.
• You can view any folder as a Web page. Open any folder and choose as Web Page from the View menu. If you do not like this view, you can switch back to any of the views provided by Windows, including Large Icons, Small Icons, and List views.

For more information on Active Desktop, see Help in Windows 98 and Chapter 6, "Configuring the Active Desktop and Active Channels."

Using Keyboard Navigation in Active Desktop

Press TAB and SHIFT+TAB to move forward and backward between the Start button, desktop icons, the QuickLaunch bar, the Taskbar, and the Channel bar. A one-pixel-wide border appears around items so you can see what is selected.

The selection rotates forward through the Active Desktop items in the following order:

1. The Start button on the Taskbar
2. The Quick Launch toolbar
   • One of the Quick Launch icons appears selected.
   • You can use the arrow keys to move among the program icons. Once the focus is on an icon, press ENTER to launch the applications, or press SHIFT+F10 to display the shortcut menu for the toolbar. (All the toolbars on the desktop share the same shortcut menu.)
   • The arrow keys wrap; that is, continuing to use the right arrow on the rightmost icon moves you to the leftmost (first) icon.
3. The Taskbar
   • A selection does not appear on the Taskbar, but the focus is in fact there. Press SHIFT+F10 at this point to display the shortcut menu for the toolbar. (All the toolbars on the desktop share the same shortcut menu.)
   • Press the RIGHT ARROW key to select an application. You can press ENTER to display the selected application, or press SHIFT+F10 to display the shortcut menu for that application.
   • Use arrow keys to move among the application buttons.
   • The arrow keys wrap; that is, continuing to use the right arrow on the rightmost icon moves to the leftmost (first) icon.
4. The Desktop icons
   • An icon on the desktop appears selected.
   • Use arrow keys to move between the icons on the desktop. Press ENTER to open the application or document, or press SHIFT+F10 to display the shortcut menu for that icon.
   • Press CTRL+SPACEBAR to select or deselect the current icon; when no icon is selected, you can press SHIFT+F10 to display the shortcut menu for the entire desktop.
   • The arrow keys do not wrap; that is, continuing to use the left arrow on the leftmost selection does not move the focus and does not play an error sound.
5. The Channel bar
   • The topmost button on the Channel bar appears selected.
   • Use arrow keys to move between the icons on the Channel bar. Press ENTER to display a channel using Windows 98.
   • The arrow keys do wrap; that is, continuing to use the down arrow on the last selection moves to the top button.
   • Note that you can only reach the Channel bar by pressing TAB. The Channel bar is skipped when you navigate in reverse order using SHIFT+TAB.
6. The Start button again

If you add other bars, such as the Address bar, Quicklinks bar, Desktop bar, or a New Toolbar, you can also use TAB and SHIFT+TAB to navigate to these bars.

Customizing Desktop Toolbars

You can create your own desktop toolbars with commands you use frequently. This is most useful for people who prefer to use the mouse rather than the keyboard; users who prefer the keyboard usually want to add commands to their Start menu instead.

To create a custom desktop toolbar

1. Create a folder with the appropriate documents, shortcuts, or programs.
2. Display the shortcut menu for the taskbar by right-selecting on the taskbar, or by pressing CTRL+ESC, ESC, and TAB, then pressing SHIFT+F10.
3. Select the Toolbar command, then the New Toolbar command.
4. Enter the path to the appropriate folder, or select the folder from the displayed list. You can press the RIGHT ARROW key to display all the folders in a branch.
5. Select OK.

   The new toolbar appears on your taskbar.

Overview of Windows 98 Help

Windows 98 includes a new Help facility called HTML Help. Because Help is now displayed as Web pages, most of the accessibility features in the Internet Explorer browsing software are now also available when viewing Help topics. You can override formatting options in Help, display text instead of images, disable animation, and even apply your own style sheet in order to have greater control over how Help is presented. When you adjust these and similar options in the Internet Explorer browsing software and then restart Help, your settings will automatically apply to all help topics you view. For more information on how to customize the display of Web pages and Help through the Internet Explorer browsing software, see that software’s Help. Detailed information is also available online at http://www.microsoft.com/enable/.

Using Keyboard Navigation in Windows 98 Help

As in previous versions of Help, you can use TAB and SHIFT+TAB to navigate between buttons, links, or panes of Windows 98 Help. Use ENTER to activate links.

When you display a topic in the right-hand pane, it continues to be displayed until replaced with another selection. This can be confusing in navigation, because the topic name currently selected in the left pane may not match the topic shown on the right.

The Hide button on the Help toolbar can hide the leftmost pane, which is used for Content, Index, and Search. When this has been done, there is no way to navigate Help or display the leftmost pane with the keyboard.

Using the Keyboard to Display Help Items

You can use keys to display and search for Help topics.

To display the topics in the Contents page

1. Press ALT+C to move the focus to the Contents page.

   The highlight indicates the topic in the list being focused on.

2. Use the up and down arrow keys to move the selection in the Contents page.
   • As you select parent topics, they automatically open, as indicated by the open book icon and the expanded list of subtopics.
   • As you leave the last subtopic of an opened topic for the next topic, the opened topic closes, collapsing the list and displaying a closed book icon.
   • Pressing ENTER also opens and closes topics indicated by book icons.
3. When you have made your selection of an available topic (indicated by a page icon), press ENTER to display the information in the right-hand pane.
   • Your topic is displayed in the pane on the right, and the keyboard focus moves to the Help topic. The text you searched for is highlighted wherever it appears in the topic.
   • Use the arrow keys to scroll the screen up and down or left and right.
   • Press HOME or END to scroll the screen to the beginning or end of the topic.
   • Use CRTL+F10 to display the shortcut menu for the topic.
4. To return to the Contents page, press ALT+C.
5. Press ALT+F4 to quit Help.

To display a topic using the Index list

1. Press ALT+I to display the Index page.

   The Index page consists of a text field, where you can enter a term, and a list box showing all available index entries.

   The keyboard focus is in the text box. The first time you use this page, the text box is empty.

2. Use the arrow keys to scroll up and down the list of all topics. The selected topics appear in the text box as you scroll.

   – Or –

   Type the topic in the text box. The display scrolls to display matching topics as you type.

3. Press ENTER or ALT+D to display the selected topic.

   Your topic is displayed in the pane on the right, and the keyboard focus moves to the help topic. The text you searched for is highlighted wherever it appears in the topic.

   • Use the arrow keys to scroll the screen up and down or left and right.
   • Press HOME or END to scroll the screen to the beginning or end of the topic.
   • Use CTRL+F10 to display the shortcut menu for the topic.
4. Use ALT+I to choose other topics, or ALT+F4 to close Help.

To search for a topic by keyword in Windows 98 Help

1. Press ALT+S.

   The Search tabbed page comes to the foreground, and the highlight indicates that the keyboard focus is in the Keyword text box.

2. Enter the keyword you want.
3. Press ENTER or ALT+L.

   A list of topics pertaining to your keyword appears in the Topic list box.

4. Press ALT+P; and then the DOWN ARROW key to move the keyboard focus to the first item in the Topic list box.

   The keyboard focus does not appear in the list box immediately after pressing ALT+P; it appears after using the DOWN ARROW key.

5. Use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to select a topic.
6. Press ENTER or ALT+D to display the selected topic.

   Your topic is displayed in the pane on the right, and the keyboard focus moves to the help topic. The text you searched for is highlighted wherever it appears in the topic.

   • Use the arrow keys to scroll the screen up and down or left and right.
   • Press HOME or END to scroll the screen to the beginning or end of the topic.
   • Use CTRL+F10 to display the shortcut menu for the topic.
7. Use SHIFT+TAB to return to the Topic list box to choose another topic, or ALT+K to begin another search.
8. Use ALT+F4 to quit Help.