NVDA Class One
by
CathyAnne Murtha

cathy@blindtraining.com

www.blind.training

 

 

© Copyright 2024 CathyAnne Murtha. All Rights Reserved.

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www.blind.training


 

Introduction

NVDA is a free, open source, Windows screen reader from NV Access.

 

In this lesson, we'll discuss NVDA basics including adjusting speech parameters, NVDA cursors, reading commands, and more.


 

Contents

Introduction. 2

Launch NVDA. 4

NVDA Modifier Key. 4

Adjust Speech Rate and Parameters. 4

NVDA Cursors. 5

The System Carat 5

The Review Cursor 6

NVDA Sleep Mode. 8

NVDA Speech Mode. 8

NVDA Input Help. 9

The NVDA Menu. 9

NVDA Speech Settings. 9

Select a Synthesizer 11

NVDA General Settings. 11

NVDA Keyboard Settings. 13

NVDA Keyboard Echo Commands. 14

Exit NVDA.. 14

Exercises. 15

 


 

Launch NVDA 

When NVDA is installed, it offers the option to create a Desktop shortcut and shortcut key.

 

If the Desktop shortcut is installed, launch NVDA with the keyboard accelerator CTRL-ALT-N.

 

If the Desktop shortcut wasn't created, open NVDA in the Windows Start Menu.

NVDA Modifier Key

NVDA has default Modifier Keys.

 

Change the NVDA key in NVDA keyboard settings.

Adjust Speech Rate and Parameters

increase or decrease NVDA speech rate with keyboard accelerators.

 

Adjust NVDA voice, rate, pitch, or volume with NVDA keyboard commands.

 

Adjust the speech rate:

 

Adjust speech parameters:

 

Repeat these steps to configure each parameter and release all keys.

 

NVDA Cursors

NVDA has several cursors. The cursors are referenced as "Review Modes.

 

NVDA Review modes are:

 

We'll discuss these cursors or "Modes" later.

 

The Review Cursor follows the System Carat. The Review Cursor has most NVDA reading commands.

 

Let's discuss the System Carat and Review Cursor.

 

The System Carat

Windows text navigation commands read next and previous text passages.

 

Use NVDA to read current information.

 

The System Carat is the default Windows cursor.

 

System Carat Desktop reading commands include:

 

NVDA has a "Say All" command. "Say All" Reads from the System Carat location to the end of a document.

 

To read display elements:

 

The Review Cursor

The Review Cursor can move anywhere on the display. By default, it follows the System Carat.

 

The Review Cursor moves independent of the System Carat but, when the System Carat moves, the Review Cursor returns to, and moves with, the System Carat.

 

This feature can be toggled off. I leave it enabled as the Review Cursor has excellent reading commands.

 

Read text and navigate the display with the Review Cursor near, or independent of, the System Carat:

 

"Say All" Reads from the Review Cursor location to the end of a document or screen.

 

This Say All command is nice when text isn't accessible to the System Carat.

 

Say All commands include:

 

Navigate text with Review Cursor commands:

 

Read the focused character font attributes with NVDA-SHIFT-F.

NVDA Sleep Mode

NVDA can sleep in self-voicing applications or to temporarily disable speech output.

 

Toggle NVDA Sleep mode on and off with NVDA-SHIFT-S.

NVDA Speech Mode

NVDA has three speech modes. Rotor through speech modes with the NVDA Speech mode keyboard accelerator: NVDA-S.

 

NVDA has three speech modes:

 

This is an easy keyboard command to accidentally press.

 

Experiment with this feature, so you aren’t lost if you accidentally press this command.

 

 

NVDA Input Help

 

Use NVDA Input help to identify keyboard commands.

 

To use Input Help:

 

Press NVDA-NUMBER ROW 1 to toggle Input Help off.

The NVDA Menu

All NVDA configurations and tools are in the NVDA Menu.

 

Open the NVDA Menu with NVDA-N.

 

Let’s explore some NVDA settings.

 

NVDA Speech Settings

Open NVDA Speech Settings in the NVDA Menu or with an NVDA keyboard accelerator.

 

In the NVDA menu:

 

The NVDA Settings dialog opens:

 

Directly open the Speech Settings property sheet from anywhere in Windows with an NVDA keyboard accelerator: CTRL-NVDA-V.

 

Configure the following:

 

Activate the OK button to save the changes and exit the dialog.

 

Activate the Cancel button to cancel the changes and exit the dialog.

 

Select a Synthesizer

Open the "Select Synthesizer" dialog to select a synthesizer.

 

The NVDA Settings dialog opens:

 

The Select Synthesizer dialog opens.

 

NVDA keyboard accelerator: CTRL-NVDA-S.

 

Select a synthesizer in the combo box.

 

Activate the OK button to save the changes and exit the dialog.

 

Activate the Cancel button to cancel the changes and exit the dialog.

 

NVDA General Settings

Open NVDA General Settings in the NVDA Menu or with an NVDA keyboard accelerator.

 

In the NVDA menu:

 

The NVDA Settings dialog opens:

 

Directly open the General Settings property sheet from anywhere in Windows with an NVDA keyboard accelerator: CTRL-NVDA-G.

 

 

Configure the following:

 

Activate the OK button to save the changes and exit the dialog.

 

Activate the Cancel button to cancel the changes and exit the dialog.

 

NVDA Keyboard Settings

Open NVDA Keyboard Settings in the NVDA Menu or with an NVDA keyboard accelerator.

 

In the NVDA menu:

 

The NVDA Settings dialog opens:

 

Directly open the General Settings property sheet from anywhere in Windows with an NVDA keyboard accelerator: CTRL-NVDA-K

 

Configure the following:

 

The remaining controls are checkboxes:

 

Activate the OK button to save the changes and exit the dialog.

 

Activate the Cancel button to cancel the changes and exit the dialog.

 

NVDA Keyboard Echo Commands

Select a Keyboard Echo with NVDA Keyboard accelerators.

 

·        Speak typed characters: NVDA-NUMPAD 2

·        Speak typed words: NVDA-NUMPAD 3

·        Speak Command keys: NVDA-NUMPAD 4

·        Enable mouse tracking: NVDA-M

o   NVDA echoes text under the physical mouse

Exit NVDA

Exit NVDA with a keyboard command: NVDA-Q.

 

A dialog opens. Select a combo box option:

 

Activate the OK button to take the selected action.

 

Configure NVDA to directly shut down in NVDA General settings.

Exercises

1.   Launch and Exit NVDA.

2.   Adjust the speech rate.

3.   Adjust speech parameters.

4.   Navigate text with Windows text navigation commands.

5.   Read the current line with the System Carat.

6.   Read a document with the System Carat "Say All" command.

7.   Read the current letter, word, and line with the Review Cursor.

8.   Read a document or information dialog with the Review Cursor "Say All."

9.   Rotor through the Speech Modes.

10.                Navigate and review the Speech, General, and Keyboard property sheets.

 

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