JAWS - Comments no longer read in Microsoft Word

JAWS - Comments no longer read in Microsoft Word

Problem

A JAWS user encounters problems with reading documents where comments have been added. 


Applies to

  1. JAWS/Fusion

Resolution

In some more recent versions of Microsoft Word 365 Microsoft have changed the way comments are rendered. A new feature is rolled out updater the name 'modern comments'.  It has been observed when this happens it may prevent the user being able to access comments in the usual fashion.  A workaround is to disable the 'Modern Comments' feature to allow reading of comments again. Below is a screen shot of where the setting is.

Using the mouse

  1. Click File > Options.
  2. Then click General category in the left hand list.
  3. Scroll down to User Interface options header and click to uncheck User Modern Comments checkbox.


Using the keyboard

  1. Press ALT+F to open file menu and navigate to “options” and press ENTER.
  2. In the dialogue make sure you have General highlighted in the category list and press TAB to reach option checkboxes in the dialogue.
  3. Then press TAB repeatedly until you reach the checkbox marked “Enable modern comments” and uncheck it.
  4. Press TAB to reach OK button and press ENTER on it.

This should allow comments to be spoken again in documents that contain them.


Reading comments

Use either method below:
  1. Press JAWSKey+Z to engage Quick NAV mode, then press letter N to navigate through comments.
  2. Press the hotkey to list comments CTRL+SHIFT+APOSTROPHE.