JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion - Protected view disables document reading

JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion - Protected view disables document reading

Problem

A Freedom Scientific JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion user encounters a problem after loading a document where they are unable to read the document because no editing cursor is available.


Applies to

  1. JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion

Resolution

  1. Protected view in Microsoft Office is a security feature designed to mittigate problems with unsafe document formats by blocking macros and other potentially unsafe features.  This has the effect of disabling the editing cursor and blocks reading of the document.
  2. JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion users must interact with a pop-up message above the document to enable editing, when this is done the editing cursor is enabled and the document may be read.

Method 1 - Allow document editing per document

Please find below a keyboard friendly way to deal with protected mode:

  1. Open the document as usual. 
  2. If the document does not appear to read press F6 key to switc, to the protected mode banner.
  3. Then press RIGHT ARROW to the Enable Editing button and press SPACEBAR.  The document should then be rendered readable.

Method 2 - Disable Protected View globally

Warning
Warning!
Disabling protected is not recommended and carries with it inherent risks from potentially unsafe external documents.  Consider carefully before proceeding.
  1. Open File > Options > Trust Centre > Trust Centre Settings.
  2. Then choose Protected View in the category list.
  3. Then uncheck each of the options below to completely disable Protected View and click OK to save changes:
Enable protected view for files originating from the Internet.
Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations.
Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments.