NVDA Class One
by
CathyAnne Murtha
cathy@blindtraining.com
www.blind.training
© Copyright 2024 CathyAnne Murtha. All Rights Reserved.
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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
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 has default Modifier Keys.
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD
INSERT
- Laptop Layout: CAPS LOCK
Change the NVDA key in NVDA keyboard settings.
increase or decrease NVDA speech rate with keyboard accelerators.
Adjust NVDA voice, rate, pitch, or volume with NVDA keyboard commands.
Adjust the speech rate:
- Increase the speech rate:
CTRL-NVDA-UP ARROW
- Decrease the speech rate:
CTRL-NVDA-DOWN ARROW
Adjust speech parameters:
- Desktop layout users: Press
NVDA-CTRL and don’t release the keys.
- Laptop layout users: Press
NVDA-SHIFT-CTRL and don’t release the keys
- While holding the keys,
press RIGHT ARROW to choose a speech parameter:
- Voice - Select a voice.
- Rate - Adjust the speech
rate.
- Pitch - Adjust the voice
pitch.
- Volume - Adjust speech
volume.
- Press UP and DOWN ARROW to
configure a parameter value
Repeat these steps to configure each parameter and release all keys.
NVDA has several cursors. The cursors are
referenced as "Review Modes.
NVDA Review modes are:
- System Carat or Edit Cursor
- This is the default cursor. The System Carat accesses text documents,
ribbons, menus, and other Windows display elements.
- Object Cursor - This cursor
navigates and reviews objects. Objects are Windows controls: edit boxes,
buttons, combo boxes, radio buttons, etc.
- Review Cursor - The Review
cursor navigates any part of the display.
- This cursor reviews text
and objects on the screen that aren’t accessible
to the System Carat.
- By default, the Review
Cursor follows the System Carat.
- Browse Cursor - This cursor
is enabled when accessing web pages or HTML formatted email.
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.
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:
- Read the current line.
- Desktop Layout: NVDA-UP
ARROW.
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-L.
- Read Selected Text.
- Desktop Layout:
NVDA-SHIFT-UP ARROW.
- Laptop Layout:
NVDA-SHIFT-S.
- Read Clipboard Text: NVDA-C.
NVDA has a "Say All" command. "Say All" Reads from
the System Carat location to the end of a document.
- Desktop Layout: NVDA-DOWN
ARROW.
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-A.
- Press SHIFT to stop and
start speech.
- Press CTRL to silence
speech.
- The System Carat stops at
the last echoed text.
To read display elements:
- Read the Title Bar: NVDA-T.
- Read the focused control:
NVDA-TAB.
- Read the Status Bar.
- Desktop Layout: NVDA-END.
- Laptop Layout:
NVDA-SHIFT-END.
- Read the focused Window:
NVDA-B.
- Read the time and date:
NVDA-F12.
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:
- Read the focused character
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD 2.
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-PERIOD.
- Read the focused word.
- Desktop Layout: Numpad 5.
- Laptop Layout: NUMPAD
CTRL-PERIOD.
- Read the focused Line:
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD 8.
- Laptop Layout:
NUMPAD-SHIFT-PERIOD.
"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:
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD PLUS.
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-SHIFT-A.
- Stop and Start speech:
SHIFT.
- Silence speech: CTRL.
- The Review Cursor stops at
the last echoed text.
- If the System Carat moves,
the Review Cursor moves to that location.
Navigate text with Review Cursor commands:
- Move to the previous
character
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD 1
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-LEFT
ARROW
- Move to the next character:
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD 3
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-RIGHT
ARROW
- Move to the previous word
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD 4
- Laptop Layout:
NVDA-CTRL-LEFT ARROW
- Move to the next word
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD 6
- Laptop Layout:
NUMPAD-CTRL-RIGHT ARROW
- Move to the top line
- Desktop Layout:
SHIFT-NUMPAD 7
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-CTRL-HOME
- Move to the previous line
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD 7
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-UP
ARROW
- Move to the next line
- Desktop Layout: NUMPAD-9
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-DOWN
ARROW
- Move to the start of a line
- Desktop Layout:
SHIFT-NUMPAD 1
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-HOME
- Move to the end of a line
- Desktop Layout:
SHIFT-NUMPAD 3
- Laptop Layout: NVDA-END
- Move to the previous page
- Desktop Layout: NVDA-PAGE
UP
- Laptop Layout:
NVDA-SHIFT-PAGE UP
- Move to the next page
- Desktop Layout: NVDA-PAGE
DOWN
- Laptop Layout:
NVDA-SHIFT-PAGE DOWN
Read the focused character font attributes with NVDA-SHIFT-F.
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 has three speech modes. Rotor through speech modes with the NVDA
Speech mode keyboard accelerator: NVDA-S.
NVDA has three speech modes:
- Talk - The default speech
echo. NVDA functions as expected
- Beeps - NVDA has no speech.
NVDA beeps when it encounters a new line, word, paragraph, etc.
- Off - Speech is disabled
This is an easy keyboard command to accidentally press.
Experiment with this feature, so you aren’t
lost if you accidentally press this command.
Use NVDA Input help to identify keyboard commands.
To use Input Help:
- Execute Input Help:
CTRL-NUMBER ROW 1.
- Press a keystroke.
- NVDA reports the command
action.
Press NVDA-NUMBER ROW 1 to toggle Input Help off.
All NVDA configurations and tools are in the NVDA Menu.
Open the NVDA Menu with NVDA-N.
Let’s explore some NVDA settings.
Open NVDA Speech Settings in the NVDA Menu or with an NVDA keyboard
accelerator.
In the NVDA menu:
- Open the NVDA Menu: NVDA-N
- Activate the Preferences
submenu.
- Activate “Settings."
The NVDA Settings dialog opens:
- A list of property sheets is
on the left side of the dialog.
- Selected property sheet
controls are on the right.
- Select the “Speech” property
sheet.
Directly open the Speech Settings property sheet from anywhere in
Windows with an NVDA keyboard accelerator: CTRL-NVDA-V.
Configure the following:
- Synthesizer - a read-only
edit box shows the current synthesizer.
- Change - This button opens a
dialog through which a synthesizer is selected.
- Voice - Select a voice in
this combo box.
- Rate - Select a speech rate
with this slider bar.
- Rate Boost - Check this
checkbox to significantly increase the speech rate.
- This option is dependent on
synthesizer support.
- Pitch - Select a pitch with
this slider bar.
- Volume - Set NVDA volume
with this slider bar.
- Automatic Language Switching
- When this checkbox is checked, NVDA acknowledges languages.
- For example, NVDA switches
between English and Spanish according to document markup.
- This option is dependent on
synthesizer support.
- Punctuation/Symbol Level -
Select a punctuation level in this combo box.
- Trust voice's
language when processing characters and symbols - This checkbox uses the synthesizers character
and symbol pronunciation.
- Uncheck this
checkbox and NVDA switches to the global language setting.
- This option
is available if a synthesizer mispronounces characters or symbols.
- Include
Unicode Consortium data (including emoji) when processing characters and
symbols - When this checkbox is checked, NVDA incorporates additional
character pronunciation dictionaries.
- Delay
descriptions for characters on cursor movement - Check this checkbox to
add a delay to character echo when the cursor moves.
- Capital
pitch change - Select a percentage by which the pitch changes when NVDA
echoes a capital letter.
- Say
"Cap" before capitals - NVDA says "Cap" before echoing
a capital letter while navigating characters.
- Beep
for capitals - NVDA beeps before echoing a capital letter while navigating
characters.
Activate the OK button to save the changes and exit the
dialog.
Activate the Cancel button to cancel the changes and exit
the dialog.
Open the "Select Synthesizer" dialog to select a synthesizer.
- Open the NVDA Menu.
- Activate the Preferences
submenu.
- Activate “Settings."
The NVDA Settings dialog opens:
- A list of property sheets is
on the left side of the dialog.
- Selected property sheet
controls are on the right.
- Select the “Speech” property
sheet.
- Select and activate the
"Change button.
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.
Open NVDA General Settings in the NVDA Menu or with an NVDA keyboard
accelerator.
In the NVDA menu:
- Open the NVDA Menu.
- Activate the Preferences
submenu.
- And activate
“Settings."
The NVDA Settings dialog opens:
- A list of property sheets is
on the left side of the dialog.
- Selected property sheet
controls are on the right.
- Select the “General”
property sheet.
Directly open the General Settings property sheet from anywhere in
Windows with an NVDA keyboard accelerator: CTRL-NVDA-G.
Configure the following:
- Language - Select a
synthesizer language In this combo box.
- Save Configuration on Exit -
When this checkbox is checked, configuration changes are saved when NVDA
exits.
- Show exit options when
exiting NVDA - When this checkbox is checked, NVDA shows a shutdown
dialog. The dialog has a combo box with exit options.
- Play sounds when starting or
exiting NVDA - When this checkbox is checked, NVDA plays sounds when NVDA
starts and exits.
- Logging level - Use this
combo box to set the level at which NVDA logs performance information
- This is an advanced
developer feature.
- Combo box options are:
- Info
- Debug
warning
- Input/output
- Debug
- Start NVDA after I sign in -
When this checkbox is checked, NVDA automatically starts after login.
- Use NVDA during sign-in
(requires administrative privileges) - When this checkbox is checked, NVDA
starts at the sign-in page.
- Use currently saved settings
during sign-in and on secure screens (requires administrative privileges)
- Current saved settings are used at the sign-in screen.
- This button opens a
confirmation dialog.
- After accepting the change,
accept the administrative alert.
- Automatically check for
updates to NVDA - When this checkbox is checked, NVDA checks for updates
on launch and alerts if one is available.
- Notify for pending update on
startup - When this checkbox is checked, NVDA opens a reminder screen of
pending updates on launch.
- Allow NV Access to gather
NVDA usage statistics - When this checkbox is checked, NV Access gathers
anonymous data about NVDA.
Activate the OK button to save the changes and exit the dialog.
Activate the Cancel button to cancel the changes and exit the dialog.
Open NVDA Keyboard Settings in the NVDA Menu or with an NVDA keyboard
accelerator.
In the NVDA menu:
- Open the NVDA Menu.
- Activate the Preferences
submenu.
- Activate “Settings."
The NVDA Settings dialog opens:
- A list of property sheets is
on the left side of the dialog.
- Selected property sheet
controls are on the right.
- Select the “Keyboard”
property sheet.
Directly open the General Settings property sheet from anywhere in
Windows with an NVDA keyboard accelerator: CTRL-NVDA-K
Configure the following:
- Keyboard layout - Select an
NVDA keyboard layout in this combo box:
- Select an NVDA Modifier
Keys:
- This is a set of
checkboxes.
- Check one or more modifier
key:
- Caps
Lock
- Numpad
Insert
- Insert
(The extended or six-pack insert)
The remaining controls are checkboxes:
- Speak Typed Characters - As
you type, each character is echoed.
- Speak Typed Words - As you
type, each word is echoed.
- Speech interrupt for typed
characters - Speech is interrupted when you strike a key.
- Speech interrupt for ENTER -
Speech is interrupted when you strike ENTER
- Allow Skim Reading in Say
All - Text navigation commands don't interrupt
Say All. The commands skip forward and backward in the text allowing skim
reading.
- Beep if typing lower case
letters when Caps Lock is on - When Caps Lock is enabled, NVDA alerts when
a lower-case character is typed
- Speak Command Keys - CTRL,
ALT and other command keys echo when pressed.
- Play sound for spelling
errors while typing - NVDA alerts to spelling errors
- Handle
keys from other applications - Keyboard commands from on-screen keyboards
and other software are processed by NVDA.
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 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 with a keyboard command: NVDA-Q.
A dialog opens. Select a combo box option:
- Exit
- Restart
- Restart with add-ons
disabled
- Restart with debug logging
disabled
Activate the OK button to take the selected action.
Configure NVDA to directly shut down in NVDA General settings.
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.
--END—