JAWS – Using Windows File Explorer

JAWS – Using Windows File Explorer

Problem

A JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion user who uses the keyboard wishes to know how to become more efficient using File Explorer.

Applies to

  1. JAWS and File Explorer

Resolution

The information below may help users to navigate more quickly by using certain keyboard shortcuts and tips to speed up navigation.

Overview

File Explorer is an important application within Windows that allows the user to view and manage files and folders on their system.  Some familiarity with a computer keyboard may be necessary to carry out tasks.  In particular one should know the position of the Windows Start menu key (WINDOWS key), CONTROL and ALT keys.

Basics

File Explorer may be launched using the hotkey WINDOWS key+E, this typically opens up the user’s Home folder within which a number of user data folders are provided. When browsing within any of the user folders one can carry out basic operations:

Press UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT arrow keys to navigate the file system.  
Press HOME key to navigate to the beginning of the list.
Press END key to navigate to the end of the list.
Press ENTER open a file or document into its associated application.
Press ENTER on a folder to view and navigate that folder’s contents.
Press BACKSPACE to move up to the previous folder level.
Press F2 to rename a file.
Press Delete to erase a file.
Press CONTROL+C for copy or CONTROL+X to cut a file/folder to another location.
Press CONTROL+V to paste a file or folder into another location.


Notes
Note
If you know the first letter of the filename or folder name, press the first letter of the name to navigate to the closest matches that start with the same letter.

Basic file operations

Below are some detailed steps to carrying out common file operations.

Copy/move to new location

  1. In File Explorer press UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT arrow keys to highlight a file or folder object for copying/moving.
  2. Press CONTROL+C for copy or CONTROL+X for moving a file object.
  3. Then select a destination in another folder, then press ENTER.
  4. Then press CONTROL+V to drop the file in the new location.

Renaming file/folder

  1. In File Explorer use the UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT keys to focus on a file or folder.
  2. Then press F2 key for Rename.
  3. Then immediately start typing or editing the filename and press ENTER when done.

Create a folder

  1. In File Explorer navigate to the folder you wish to create a new sub folder.
  2. Then press CONTROL+SHIFT+N.
  3. At the prompt enter a name for the folder, then press ENTER.

Using the Address Bar

With the above keystrokes it is possible to navigate the Windows file system, but it can take time to get to where you need to be.  To improve speed one can use some additional shortcuts.  Just as any browser has an address bar to tell it where to visit, File Explorer has its address bar to help you navigate to any of your user folders by pressing CONTROL+L then searching for any of the below folders, then pressing ENTER to navigate to that destination.  The folders are:

  1. Desktop
  2. Documents
  3. Downloads
  4. Music 
  5. Pictures
  6. Videos

Using any of the above shortcuts allows you access into those data folders to browse their contents.  Another useful shortcut is Home which will put you at the level of the user’s Home folder from which you can enter the destinations above.  To get an even higher level view use the shortcut ‘This PC’ without the quotes to view the available attached storage drives on the system.

Log onto attached storage drives

For even quicker access one may enter a drive letter followed immediately by the colon symbol into the address bar, for example C: or E: then press ENTER thus accomplishing in one step access to that drive provided you know its drive letter and it is connected.


Control list view display

Navigation within the list view may be enhanced by adjusting the list view to the needs of the user which can make navigation more efficient or user friendly.  Typically for a For a JAWS user selecting Details list view is usually the best option as it sorts files into a list you can navigate solely using UP/DOWN ARROW keys.  Other options may be beneficial to those with vision or who find display icons are more helpful to them.  The below hotkeys can be used to switch the files list view to the best option for you:

CONTROL+ALT+1 = Extra large icon size
CONTROL+ALT+2 = Large icon size
CONTROL+ALT+3 = Medium icon size
CONTROL+ALT+4 = Small icons size
CONTROL+ALT+5 = List icon size
CONTROL+ALT+6 = Details icon size


Notes
Note
Always use the number row keys for the above keystroke.

Some advanced tips

If you find using the address bar helps you navigate more quickly and precisely around the file system you can make it work a little harder for you still by using relative folder paths.  This may be become useful when you need to access some folders inside your main folders on a regular basis.  Suppose you have created a folder inside Documents that is called Projects; you an jump straight into that folder in one step by press CONTROL+L and enter the path below then pressing ENTER:

Downloads\Projects

This works because Documents is inside your Home folder and Projects is contained within the Documents folder.  Norice the use of the backslash in the command being used as a delimiter between the main folder and sub folder.

File Explorer Find

You can ask File Explorer to find a document or other file for you, if you can provide all or part of the filename.  
Within File Explorer press CONTROL+F to navigate to Find edit box.
Then enter all or part of a file you wish to seek, then press ENTER.
Press TAB to reach file list multi-select list box.
Then use ARROW keys to locate the item of interest and press ENTER to open the file or folder.

Using folder tree view

Within the File Explorer there is also a folder tree view area which is a vertical hierarchical list of objects some of which may be reported as closed denoting they contain objects.  The user may carry out the following actions:

  1. Press UP/DOWN arrow keys to traverse the list vertically within the same level.
  2. Press RIGHT ARROW to open any closed item to reveal objects in the level down.
  3. Press LEFT ARROW anywhere within the nested item will close it so that the next down arrow moves to the next object on the same level. 
  4. Press ENTER to select an object within the tree view to show its file contents in the files list view.

    • Related Articles

    • Freedom Scientific – Remote Access (JAWS/Fusion)

      About Freedom Scientific offer the a Remote Access feature on their JAWS and Fusion license products. This add-on license option provides the capability to access and control a another computer from their own workstation over common remote access ...

    • Freedom Scientific – Manual Uninstall of JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion product

      Problem You need to uninstall a Freedom Scientific product JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion in connection with a technical support problem. Applies to JAWS/ZooomText/Fusion Resolution Please complete the steps below to completely remove a Freedom Scientific ...

    • Microsoft – Introduction to using keyboard shortcuts for Windows

      Problem A JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion using is in need of essential hotkeys to use in Window due to their vision loss. Applies to Windows 10/11 Resolution A frequent problem for those individuals who experience sudden vision loss is no longer being able to ...

    • JAWS – Using convenient OCR within File Explorer

      Problem A JAWS user wishes to access a PDF or image file for text using Convenient OCR context menu. Applies to JAWS Resolution In File Explorer focus the selection on the PDF document file to be scanned, then press SHIFT+F10. Then press UP ARROW to ...

    • JAWS – Perform non-contiguous file selection in Windows Explorer

      Problem A customer may have a collection of files in a particular folder from which on only a few needed that are not all next to one another. Resolution Use the steps to carry out non-contiguous file selection. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to ...