GWKB1089 : FAQs for Using Window-Eyes and ZoomText simultaneously
Product: Window-EyesAuthor: Jeremy Curry
Date Added: 07/10/2008
Last Modified: 12/08/2014
This guide will help answer some of the most frequently asked questions
for users who want to use both ZoomText and Window-Eyes simultaneously.
Q: Can ZoomText and Window-Eyes be installed
and used on the same computer?
A: Yes.
The current versions of ZoomText (10.1) and Window-Eyes (9) can be
installed and used on the same computer, but with some limitations. There are
no known problems installing both products on the same computer or using each
product by itself on the same computer. However, there are some known
limitations and usage requirements when using the two products together. These limitations and usage requirements are
as follows:
• Windows “Aero Themes” cannot be used while running Window-Eyes.
• ZoomText speech and echo features (i.e. program, typing, mouse) must be disabled while running ZoomText and Window-Eyes together.
• ZoomText will not track what Window-Eyes is speaking while using a web
browser or during a read to end of text.
ZoomText will follow the cursor, which may not sync with the speech that
Window-Eyes is speaking.
Q: Does Ai Squared plan to make ZoomText
and Window-Eyes work better together?
A: Yes.
Ai Squared is already working on changes to ZoomText and Window-Eyes
that will deliver a greatly improved user experience and greater productivity
when using the two products together. More
details will be forthcoming. Stay tuned for the latest news at www.aisquared.com.
Q: When using
Window-Eyes and ZoomText at the same time, are there any hot key conflicts?
A: Yes, some hot key conflicts exist between the two programs. Follow the directions below to eliminate hot
key conflicts.
There are several different ways to approach hot key conflicts. Hot keys can be
redefined in both ZoomText and Window-Eyes. Or, hot keys can be disabled in
either ZoomText or Window-Eyes. It is assumed that users who are using a
full-fledged screen reader will want to use the hot keys that Window-Eyes
provides rather than those provided by ZoomText. Using that assumption, a
ZoomText configuration file has been created that disables all currently known hot
key conflicts with Window-Eyes. Note that it is also assumed that users are
using the default keyboard layout for Window-Eyes. It was also found that
several ZoomText hot keys conflicted with the way typical Window-Eyes customers
use programs. For example, Alt-Left Arrow is defined in ZoomText by default to
move the Zoom Window to the left. However, many users use Window-Eyes and
ZoomText together while browsing the web. In a web browser such as Internet
Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, Alt-Left Arrow moves to the previous page. Thus, some
ZoomText keystrokes have also been disabled that would likely affect a majority
of customers. Another assumption was made that since a user of
Window-Eyes/ZoomText combination is probably very low vision, the default
magnification rate was increased from 2x to 4x. Additionally, ZoomText speech
was also disabled. The following changes
to the factory defaults are included in the configuration file:
Magnification:
Changed from 2x to 4x
Speech:
Disabled
Hot keys:
The following hot keys
have been disabled in ZoomText due to conflicts with Window-Eyes:
Adjust Window Tool: Control-Shift-A
AppReader: Alt-Shift-A
BGR Next Sentence: Caps Lock-Right
BGR Next Word: Control-Caps Lock-Right
BGR Previous Sentence: Caps Lock-Left
BGR Previous Word: Control-Caps Lock-Left
BGR Read Clipboard Text: Caps Lock-C
BGR Read Selected Text: Caps Lock-S
BGR Show Toolbar: Caps Lock-T
Cursor Enhancements On/Off: Control-Shift-R
Decrease Speech Rate: Control-Numpad-Minus
Desktop Finder: Control-Shift-D
Font Enhancements Type: Control-Shift-F
Increase Speech Rate: Control-Numpad-Plus
Jump Center: Alt-Numpad 5 (Numlock off)
Load Configuration 1: Alt-Shift-1
Load Configuration 10: Alt-Shift-0
Load Configuration 2: Alt-Shift-2
Load Configuration 3: Alt-Shift-3
Load Configuration 4: Alt-Shift-4
Load Configuration 5: Alt-Shift-5
Load Configuration 6: Alt-Shift-6
Load Configuration 7: Alt-Shift-7
Load Configuration 8: Alt-Shift-8
Load Configuration 9: Alt-Shift-9
Manage Application Settings: Control-Shift-M
Mouse Echo Mode: Alt-Shift-M
Move Mouse to View: Control-Shift-B
Navigate Reading Zones: Control-Alt-V
Record Clipboard Text: Control-Caps Lock-C
Record Selected Text: Control-Caps Lock-S
Save Application Settings: Control-Shift-S
Say Clipboard: Alt-Shift-C
Say Current Character: Numpad 5 (Numlock off)
Say Current Word: Control-Numpad 5 (Numlock off)
Say Next Sentence: Control-Alt-Right Arrow
Say Previous Sentence: Control-Alt-Left Arrow
Say Window Title: Control-Alt-W
Smooth Panning On/Off: Alt-Shift-P
Typing Echo Mode: Alt-Shift-T
Web Finder: Control-Shift-W
The following hot keys have been disabled
in ZoomText due to conflicts with Windows or other programs:
Jump Left: Alt-Home
Scroll Down: Alt-Down Arrow
Scroll Left: Alt-Left Arrow
Scroll Right: Alt-Right Arrow
To install the ZoomText configuration
file that we have created, perform the following steps:
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the following configuration is saved as the default setting,
the current ZoomText settings will be overwritten. Also note that this keyboard
layout has been designed using Window-Eyes 9.0 and ZoomText 10.1.
1. Download the ZoomText
configuration file to a known location. The default name of the file is zten-WE-US.zxc.
2. Open ZoomText by pressing Control-Shift-U or click on the ZoomText User
Interface.
3. Once ZoomText is open, press Alt-F to open the File menu.
4. Press Enter on Open Configuration.
5. Navigate to the zten-WE-US.zxc file, and open the configuration.
6. You can make this your default configuration. NOTE THAT THIS WILL OVERWRITE THE
DEFAULT SETTINGS. To make this your default, open the File menu in ZoomText by
pressing Alt-F.
7. Down Arrow to Save As Default.
8. Press Enter.
9. A dialog will appear and ask the user to verify if they want to save the
current ZoomText settings as the default. Press Tab to navigate to the Yes
button.
10. Press Enter.
All known hot key conflicts will then be disabled in ZoomText. To re-enable
those hot keys, or to change the hot keys to a different hot key that does not
conflict, you will need to access the Hot keys dialog in the Settings menu in
ZoomText.
Q: Is it possible to access the web when using ZoomText and Window-Eyes simultaneously?
A: Yes, it is possible to access the web when using ZoomText and Window-Eyes simultaneously. Continue reading for details
Screen readers use a different method to access the Internet than screen magnifiers.
Since web browsers provide little or no access via the keyboard, Window-Eyes
provides special access to webpages via Browse Mode. However, using this mode
means that the screen will most likely not track visually with ZoomText. So, as
a low vision user, you must make a choice when browsing the web with
Window-Eyes and ZoomText: You will need to choose to use Browse Mode in
Window-Eyes to access webpages, and listen to the webpage or you will need to
turn off Browse Mode to access the Internet. To learn more about how to use
Browse Mode, you should access the Window-Eyes manual located in the
Window-Eyes Help menu.
To turn off Browse Mode to access the
Internet, do one of the following:
1. Temporarily turn off Browse Mode by pressing Ctrl-Shift-A. Note that Browse
Mode will turn back on every time a new web page opens.
2. Click the physical mouse inside of an edit box. Browse mode will
automatically turn off, which will allow typing in the edit box.
3. Turn off Browse Mode permanently.
To turn off Browse Mode permanently, perform the following steps:
1. Open the web browser.
2. Press Ins-V.
3. Down Arrow to navigate to AutoLoad.
4. Tab until Window-Eyes speaks, “Should Browse Mode be on by default?”
5. Press Down Arrow to select the No radio button.
6. Press Enter.
7. Open the Window-Eyes Control Panel with Ctrl-Backslash.
8. Press Ctrl-S to save settings
9. Restart the web browser.
When the web browser opens again, Browse Mode will no longer load
automatically. You will be able to hear any text that you type into edit boxes.
However, without Browse Mode, you will not be able to perform a read to end or
use Window-Eyes Quick Navigation hot keys. This function can only be used when
Browse Mode is active.
