JAWS Keystrokes for Using Help

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group

Blinded Veterans Association

Computer Corner

This section contains information on navigating within various help files. There are two primary help formats in use for Windows based applications: WinHelp and Microsoft HTML Help. Different keystrokes are used to navigate through these different types of help files. WinHelp will generally have a Table of Contents window separate from the Contents Display window. Microsoft HTML Help will generally be similar to a framed Web page, with the Table of Contents pane on the left and the Contents (or Topic) pane on the right.

Moving Through a WinHelp Help System

Moving through a Microsoft HTML Help system

The Topic Pane

JAWS Keystrokes for Accessing Help

Moving Through a WinHelp Help System

Summary: WinHelp Commands

Description Command

Read Current Help Screen CTRL+INSERT+DOWN ARROW

Move Down One Screen and Read CTRL+PAGE DOWN

Move Up One Screen and Read CTRL+PAGE UP

Move to Prior Topic in Browse Sequence COMMA

Move to Next topic in Browse Sequence PERIOD

Move to Prior topic B

Move Focus Between Links TAB or SHIFT+TAB

Activate Selected Link ENTER

View Table of Contents T

View Options O or ALT+O

Note: Use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW to move up and down in the Table of Contents. Use the RIGHT ARROW to open a closed book, and press ENTER to open a topic.

Moving through a Microsoft HTML Help System

The Table of Contents Pane

Summary: HTML Help Commands for the Table of Contents

Description Command

Move Up through List UP ARROW

Move Down through List DOWN ARROW

Open Book RIGHT ARROW or ENTER

Up One Level or Close Book LEFT ARROW

Display Selected Topic ENTER

Move Between TOC and Topic Pane F6

The Topic Pane

Summary: HTML Help Commands for the Topic Pane

Description Command

Previous topic BACKSPACE or ALT+LEFT ARROW

Next Topic ALT+RIGHT ARROW

Note: ALT+RIGHT ARROW does not take you to the next topic unless you have previously gone back one topic or more.

You can access the Topic Pane with the Virtual PC Cursor providing the same functionality as in a web page. Standard JAWS keystrokes for reading text allow you to read the information in each topic. Press ENTER on any link to activate it.