JAWS - Using the the JAWS online help system
Problem
A JAWS customer wishes to use the online help system of JAWS to get the best out of their product.
Resolution
JAWS comes supplied with an online help facility that covers all major topics to do with the use of JAWS. A link to the Help system is in the Help menu which is contained within the JAWS window or context mennu.
Getting into the online help system:
- Press INSERT+J or CAPSLOCK+J to open the JAWS window. You can also press alt+tab to get into the JAWS window provided it is not running in the system tray only.
- Then press alt+H or if using JAWS system try menu press down arrow.
- When on “Help” menu press ENTER to open the menu.
- Press down arrow to reach “JAWS Help Topics“ and press ENTER.
- In the help window use the arrow keys to go up and down the tree view control.
- If you are interested in a topic and wish to view any sub topics press right arrow to open the branch and continue to the sub topics.
- When you have landed on a sub topic you wish to read about press ENTER followed by F6 to switch to the main text panel for the topic.
- From here you can use the up and down arrows to go through the text. You can also use the TAB or SHIFT+TAB key to go through any links contained in the topic. Many other hotkeys that are used for browsing internet will also work such as H for headings or links list if the article contains them.
- When you are reading to view another topic press F6 to swich back to the topic tree view.
- If you finished with the help window press alt+F4 to close it and you will normally be placed back where you got to the help system from (usually the JAWS window)
Online Help Window layout
The online help window consists of two main areas; on the left a list of topics or search results are displayed. On the right content for the currently selected topic are displayed.
When you first enter the online help window you are placed in the help contents section listing the book topics. You can use control+tab to select the following:
• Contents (alt+C) – displays contents book chapters
• Index (alt+N) – allows you to display or search for all words used within the help system.
• Search (alt+ S) – search for a word
• Favourite (ALT+I)– search/add a topic to a list of favourites
• Press alt+S to search for a specific word in the entire help system.
• Presa alt+C to go back to the contents to show the tree view chapters.
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