JAWS - Microsoft Office ribbon accelerator keys fail to work as expected

JAWS - Microsoft Office ribbon accelerator keys fail to work as expected

Problem

A JAWS or Fusion user may encounter a problem where the usual ribbon menu accelerator keystrokes to access Microsoft Office app functions do not work.

Applies to

  1. JAWS and Microsoft Office

Resolution

Some years ago Microsoft decided to re-organise their ribbon interface to make accessing features easier, however the reorganisation breaks the familiar accelerator key sequences some JAWS or Fusion users are used to using to access the functions they need.   Therefore it is necessary typically after installing Microsoft Office to switch from the Simplified Ribbon interface back to the Classic Ribbon after which the familiar key sequences shoudl work as norma..

Using the keyboard

  1. In any Microsoft Office application press ALT key to access the ribbon.
  2. Then press ENTER on the Home ribbon tab, JAWS will then speak the first button on the lower ribbon when it receives focus.
  3. Then press SHIFT+TAB to reach the Ribbon Display Options button, then press SPACEBAR.
  4. Then use UP/DOWN ARROW keys to select Classic Ribbon then press ENTER.  The old ribbon shortcuts should then work as normal.

 Using the mouse

For sighted colleagues assisting viruslly impaired users can use this method instead of hotkeys and without a screen reader.

  1. In any Microsoft Office app click the Home ribbon tab.
  2. Then click the chevron simple on the extreme right of the lower ribbon menu.
  3. Then click the option Classic Ribbon.

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