JAWS - Use word or sound to indicate uppercase characters

JAWS - Use word or sound to indicate uppercase characters

Problem

A JAWS use would like to have the screen reader indicate uppercase using a word or sound instead of a pitch rise by the speech engine.


Applies to

  • JAWS
  • Fusion

Resolution

By default using the Eloquence speech engine JAWS will use a raised pitch that is audible to most users to indicate the presence of an uppercase character.  However, when using Vocalizer or other speech engines the indication may be very subtle or non-existent.   An alternative is to have JAWS speak a word in front of the uppercase character when it is encountered or play a sound immediately before speaking the character when it is encountered.  Please use the steps below to change the way JAWS indicates uppercase letters when they are encountered:  

  1. Press JAWSKey+F2 and select “Settings Centre” and press ENTER.
  2. Press CONTROL+SHIFT+D to open the default configuration to make this change global (all apps) unless it only desired in one single app in which case skip this step.
  3. Type “sound” without the quotes and press down arrow to reach “speech and sounds Scheme”
  4. Press F6 to switch window pane and press TAB key so you modify the current “Classic” scheme” and press SPACEBAR on the “modify” button.
  5. Then TAB to “Edit selected scheme” button and press SPACEBAR on nit.
  6. Press TAB to reach the “General” tab and press right arrow to reach the “misc” tab.
  7. Press TAB to enter the list view, then  and press down arrow to either of these items to change them individually:

    AllCaps
    Cap

  8. If you wish to have JAWS speak a word before the letter such as 'cap' press ALT+I and TAB to the edit box and enter the word to be spoken immediately before the letter is announced, eg. cap.
  9. If you wish to have JAWS play a sound immediately before the uppercase character press ALT+P to activate “play sound“ radio button press ALT+W to to open the list of sounds to play.
  10. Use the arrow keys to browse through the available sounds and use ALT+P to play the sound.

Hint
  1. When choosing a sound care should be taken to make it a short sound as it will play just before the announcement of the letter.
  2. When making this modification for the AllCaps attribute you may wish to use a different sound to 

  1. Once the desired sound is located press ENTER to select it.  
  2. Then TAB to the “OK” button and press ENTER. Then TAB to “Save selected scheme” and press SPACEBAR on it.
  3. Then TAB to “OK” button and press ENTER. Then press TAB to reach the “Apply” button and press SPACEBAR on it.
  4. Then press ENTER to dismiss the “Settings Centre” window.


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