OPENING SAVING AND READING A FILE FROM A PROGRAM
There are various ways to read a text file:
Read by character `Left arrow` and `Right
arrow`
Read by word `Control` plus `Left` arrow
and `Control` plus `Right` arrow
Read by line `Up` arrow and `Down` arrow
SayAll `Caps Lock` plus `Down` arrow
EXERCISE
As a first step it can be wise to pick a simple program so we suggest
beginning with a Notepad text file.
Start NVDA, navigate to a file you have prepared, open it and
demonstrate reading the different ways of reading
it. Next get your participants then get
them to try this.
WRITING SAVING AND EDITING A FILE
WRITE A NEW FILE
For starting out writing and reading files it is a good idea to use
Notepad as it is a basic text editor.
Start NVDA, press the `Windows` key to open the start menu in the
search box, search for Notepad, once it is found arrow to it and press
`Enter` to open the program.
When you start Notepad it will create a new blank file that you can
start to type into. NVDA will speak each character as you type (if this
feature has been turned off press the `Caps Lock` and `2` keys together
to turn it on). Beginners and participants with poor keyboard skills
will find this feature helpful, press the `Caps Lock` and `2` keys
together again to turn it off. `Caps Lock` and `3` keys turn 'speak
each word as you type' on and off.
If you type something and the press the `Back space` key NVDA will
announce what you are removing letter by letter.
BASICS OF THE SAVE FILE SCREEN
The save file screen can be started from any program by pressing the
`Control` and letter `S` keys at the same time if it is a new file,
`Control` and `S` will save any changes to a file that already exists
without asking for name and location. The appearance of the save file
screen can change a lot depending on what options are selected. It will
be simplest to only cover the commonest layout while warning
participants that this could change.
Save file screen
1. Announced by NVDA as file
name
2. Announced by NVDA as save
as type
3. Announced by NVDA as hide
folders button
4. Announced by NVDA as save
button
5. Announced by NVDA as cancel
button
6. Announced by NVDA as address
7. Announced by NVDA as search
8. Announced by NVDA as
command module tool bar `Right` and `Left` arrow keys will move between
tool bar items
9. Announced by NVDA as
namespace tree
10. Announced by NVDA as items view list
Using keyboard commands the save file screen works in a similar way to
the 'File Explorer' using `Tab` or `Shift` and `Tab` to move through
the controls.
When you start the save file screen you begin in the file name box (1).
Here you type the name that you want to give the file, if MS Windows
has already put the unhelpful file name of 'Document' in this box it
will disappear when you start typing your chosen file name.
Now choose where you want the file to be saved by
Finally press the `Enter` key to save te file.
When NVDA speaks things in the left panel (9. name space tree) or the
right panel (10. items list) it announces the name, if a folder is
expanded or not and how many items there are in the list, for example
in the namespace tree: NVDA might announce 'tree list view, namespace
tree, level 2, my folder, collapsed, one of one' and after the `Tab`
key is pressed 'items view list, one of one, my file'.
The move back and move forward commands will take a user through the
history of folders that have been shown in the left panel (1. the item
view list)
- Back is `Alt` and `Left` arrow
- Forward is `Alt` and `Right` arrow
EXERCISE
After demonstrating the basics of the save file screen to your
participants get them to save the file that they created in the writing
and reading file in the Documents folder with the name MY FILE. Then
get them to close the Notepad program by pressing `Alt` and `F4`.
OPENING A FILE
You can open a file by navigating to it with the Windows File Explorer
and pressing `Enter` or opening the program that the file was created
with and pressing `Control` and `O` to reach the open file screen.
BASICS OF THE OPEN FILE SCREEN
The open file screen can be started from any program by pressing the
`Control` and letter `o` keys at the same time (if it is a new file).
The appearance of the save file screen can change a lot depending on
what options are selected. It will be simplest to only cover the
commonest layout while warning participants that this could change.
USING A PROGRAM
Open file screen
1. Announced by NVDA as file name
2. Announced by NVDA as files of type
3. Announced by NVDA as open button
4. Announced by NVDA as cancel button
5. Announced by NVDA as address
6. Announced by NVDA as search box
7. Announced by NVDA as command module
tool bar, `Right` and `Left` arrow keys will move between tool bar items
8. Announced by NVDA as items view list,
`Right` and `Left` arrow keys will move between the lists
Using keyboard commands it works in a similar way to the 'File
Explorer' using `Tab` or `Shift` and `Tab` to move through the controls.
When NVDA speaks things in the left panel (7. name space tree) or the
right panel (8. items list) it announces the name, if a folder is
expanded or not and how many items there are in the list, for example
in the namespace tree: NVDA might announce 'tree list view, namespace
tree, level 2, my folder, collapsed, one of one' and after the `Tab`
key is pressed 'items view list, one of one, my file'.
The move back and move forward commands will take a user through the
history of folders that have been shown in the left panel (1. the item
view list)
- Back is `Alt` and `Left` arrow
- Forward is `Alt` and `Right` arrow
EXERCISE
Demonstrate opening MY FILE in the Documents folder that you
created earlier with Windows File Explorer and using the Open file
screen from Notepad. Next get your participants to do this themselves.