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
Windows save dialog

    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)


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

MS Windows File Explorer

    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)

 

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.