Getting Started with Window-Eyes for Office

Getting Started with Window-Eyes for Office

Hello this is Marc Solomon with GW Micro and this How Do I Do That? tutorial will demonstrate how to download, install and get started with Window-Eyes for Office.

Window-Eyes for Office is a powerful screen reader developed by GW Micro and can be downloaded free of charge and used by anyone who has Microsoft Office 2010 or later installed on their Windows PC. Window-Eyes enables people who are blind and visually impaired to use a computer independently by translating the visual information displayed on the screen into accessible speech and braille output.

For this tutorial, I am using a Windows 7 64-bit computer running Window-Eyes 8.4 and Internet Explorer 11. Even though I will be using Window-Eyes, the instructions provided in this tutorial should work even if you are using a different screen reader. Whenever I use a command that is specific to Window-Eyes, I will make a note of it so you will know to use the corresponding command available in your screen reader.

Here are the 6 important getting started tasks that will be covered in this tutorial:

1. Verify Window-Eyes for Office eligibility and computer requirements

2. Download Window-Eyes for Office

3. Install Window-Eyes for Office

4. Restart the computer

5. Complete the Window-Eyes Quick Start Wizard

6. Register Window-Eyes

Verify Eligibility and Computer Requirements

Before attempting to download or install Window-Eyes for Office, you should first determine if you are eligible to use Window-Eyes for Office. While anyone can download Window-Eyes for Office, the software will run in 30 minute demonstration until it detects a valid installation of Microsoft Office 2010 or later on your computer. So, it is strongly recommended that you install Office before installing Window-Eyes for Office.

Please note that Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition is not supported and Window-Eyes for Office will operate in demonstration mode if Starter Edition is the only version of Office installed on the computer.

Window-Eyes for Office is currently compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1. Window-Eyes for Office is also compatible with Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2008 R2 and 2012. You will need to have one of these supported operating systems installed on your computer to use Window-Eyes for Office.

The minimum hardware requirements for using Window-Eyes for Office are the same as the requirements for running the operating system. A sound card with speakers or headphones connected will be required for audio output. For best performance, it is recommended that you have a minimum of 2 GB of RAM and a multi-core processor. As a general rule about computer performance, the more RAM you have and the faster your processor is, the better!

Download Window-Eyes for Office

Window-Eyes for Office can be downloaded from www.WindowEyesForOffice.com. I will type this address into the Run dialog (Windows-R) and press Enter to open the web page in my default web browser, Internet Explorer. Now that the web page has loaded, I will navigate to the Select Language combo box so I can choose the English version of Window-Eyes for Office. Press the Window-Eyes Browse Mode navigation key C as in Charlie to navigate to the Select Language combo box. Press Enter to turn Browse Mode off. Press E as in Echo to select English. Press Tab to navigate to the Download Now button and press Enter to activate the button.

On the next web page, I will find and activate the “Download Window-Eyes” link using the Window-Eyes Page Navigation dialog. Press Insert-Tab to open Page Navigation. I will press D to quickly jump to the “Download Window-Eyes” link in the list of links and press Enter to activate the link. Internet Explorer displays the Notification Bar and asks me if I want to run or save WindowEyesForOfficeEnglish8400.exe from windoweyesforoffice.com.

I will activate the Save button in the Notification Bar by pressing Alt-S to save the Window-Eyes installer to my Downloads folder. The download time will vary depending on your Internet connection speed. While the file is being downloaded, the Notification Bar will present the time remaining as well as the percentage complete. If you want to check the current status of the download, press the Window-Eyes hotkey Insert-N and Window-Eyes will read the information presented in the Notification Bar.

When the download is complete, the Notification Bar will present a message stating that The WindowEyesForOffice8400.exe download has completed.

Install Window-Eyes for Office

If you already have Window-Eyes installed on your computer, it will need to be uninstalled before you can install Window-Eyes for Office. Window-Eyes can be uninstalled using the Add/Remove Programs (XP) or Programs and Features (Vista and newer) Control Panel applet. I have already uninstalled Window-Eyes from my computer and will use Narrator to locate and run the Window-Eyes for Office installation program located in my Downloads folder. Narrator is the basic screen reader built into Windows.

Under Windows 7, you can launch Narrator by opening the Start menu (Windows key), typing Narrator into the Search edit box and pressing Enter. Narrator can also be launched by pressing Windows-U, followed by Alt-N. Under Windows 8.1, you can press Windows-Enter to launch Narrator.

Once Narrator is initialized, open the Start Menu using the Windows key. Type Downloads in the search edit box and press Enter to open the Downloads folder in Windows Explorer. Press W as in Whiskey until WindowEyesForOfficeEnglish.exe is selected in the list of files and then press Enter to run the Window-Eyes for Office installation program.

If you are presented with a User Account Control prompt, press Alt-Y to allow the program to run. You will then need to wait several minutes while the installation program extracts files and prepares the setup process. Once the setup files are extracted, a temporary copy of Window-Eyes for Office is launched making the remainder of the installation process fully accessible. I will now exit Narrator so I don’t have two speech programs running at the same time.

Press Alt-Tab until you find the Microsoft Narrator window. Press Alt-X to activate the Exit button. Press Enter to activate the Yes button and confirm that you want to exit Narrator. If focus does not automatically return to the Window-Eyes Setup program, press Alt-Tab until the Window-Eyes Setup window is announced.

The first dialog presented in the Window-Eyes setup program asks me if I want to use the quick install. If I answer yes, very few questions will be asked and the installation will be extremely simple. However, if I wanted to install Window-Eyes using options different than the defaults, I would choose no. I want to use the quick install so I will now press Enter to activate the Yes button.

Note: If you are unable to activate the Yes button, the Quick Install dialog may not be in focus. Use these steps to bring the dialog back into focus. Press Control-Shift-F to activate the Window-Eyes Find dialog. Type Quick Install into the Find edit box and press Enter. The mouse pointer will be routed over the Quick Install text displayed on the title bar of the Quick Install dialog. Make sure Num Lock is turned off and press Num Pad Slash to left click and return focus to the dialog.

Next, the User Information dialog prompts you for your name and company. I will type my name in the Name edit box, press Tab and then type my company in the Company edit box. After typing in my user information, I will press Enter to activate the Next button.

In the Window-Eyes end user license agreement dialog, press Alt-A to check the I accept the terms of the license agreement radio button and then press Enter to activate the Next button.

After accepting the license agreement, the setup program will copy and install all of the required files to your hard drive. This may take a few minutes and during this time a progress bar will be displayed. After all of the files are copied and installed, the Quick Setup Complete dialog will be displayed.

Restart the Computer

Press Enter to activate the Restart Computer Now button. After the computer restarts, Window-Eyes for Office will start automatically. If Windows requires you to sign in, Window-Eyes will be available at the sign in screen. After logging in to Windows, Window-Eyes will announce: “installing default apps, please wait” and a series of tones will be played and then Window-Eyes will say: “app installation complete.” After the default apps are installed, Window-Eyes will launch the Quick Start Wizard.

Complete the Quick Start Wizard

The Window-Eyes Quick Start Wizard is an app which asks you a series of questions that allows you to quickly setup your speech, braille and keyboard preferences without having to do so manually through the Window-Eyes user interface. I will now demonstrate how to complete the Quick Start Wizard.

Press Enter to activate the Next button and begin the Quick Start Wizard. I am presented with a list containing my speech voice options. If you wanted to use a different speech voice instead of the default voice, you could Tab to the list and use your Arrow keys to select your preferred voice option. Please note that Microsoft Speech Platform and eSpeak are the two speech synthesizers that are included with Window-Eyes for Office. If you would like to use DECtalk Access32, Eloquence, Vocalizer or Vocalizer Expressive, you would need to order these voices from GW Micro. I will press Enter to keep the default option (Microsoft Speech Platform, Zira).

I am now presented with an up/down edit box for customizing my voice rate. I will Tab to the Voice Rate up/down edit box, type in 40 and then press Enter to go to the next step.

The next step of the Quick Start Wizard allows you to customize what punctuation symbols will be spoken when reading text. There are three unchecked check boxes: math symbols, textual symbols and miscellaneous symbols. Most screen reader users prefer not to have punctuation spoken by default, so I will leave the check boxes unchecked and press Enter to go to the next step. If you wanted one or more of these types of punctuation symbols spoken, Tab to the corresponding checkbox and press Spacebar to check the checkbox.

I am now given the opportunity to select the Braille display that I want to use with Window-Eyes. If you have a Braille display connected to your computer, select it from the list of options using first letter navigation or your Up and Down arrow keys. Since I do not have a Braille display connected, I will leave None selected in the list of options and press Enter to go to the next step.

Now, I can choose my typing echo setting. In other words, what do I want to hear when I press keys on my keyboard. The default setting is speak every key stroke as I type and this option is recommended for those who are new to using a screen reader. If you are more experienced, you may choose to use a less verbose option such as speak only words when I press the space bar. I will demonstrate how to select this option. Press Tab until you reach the group of radio buttons and hear, "Don’t change my current settings radio button checked, five of five." Press Up Arrow until the Speak only words when I press the space bar radio button is checked and then press Enter to go to the next step.

This step of the Quick Start Wizard allows me to choose whether or not I want Window-Eyes to be in the Alt-Tab program list. The default option is show the Window-Eyes icon in the notification area (system tray), out of the Alt-Tab list. This is the best option if you are an experienced user and don’t want your screen reader showing up when you are switching between running programs. I prefer to be able to Alt-Tab to Window-Eyes so I will select this option now. Press Tab until you reach the group of radio buttons and hear Show the Window-Eyes icon in the notification area, out of the Alt-Tab list radio button checked, one of two. Press Down arrow to check the Show Window-Eyes in the taskbar and the Alt-Tab list radio button and press Enter to go to the next step.

The final step is to select your keyboard layout. You can choose between the Insert Key layout, the Default layout and the Laptop layout. The Insert Key layout is helpful for those familiar with the keyboard commands used in JAWS. The Default layout is ideal for those using a full size keyboard. The Laptop layout is a good option for those using a compact keyboard without a full number pad like the ones you find on many portable computers. If you want to use the Insert Key or Laptop layout, Tab to the group of radio buttons and use your Arrow keys to check the appropriate radio button. I will press Enter to stick with the Default keyboard layout.

If you would like to register your Window-Eyes software, Tab to the Register button and press Enter. You will be taken to the Window-Eyes registration webpage on GW Micro’s website. If you would like to exit the Quick Start Wizard without registering, press Enter to activate the Close button. I will now quickly run through the registration process.

Register Window-Eyes

On the registration web page, your name and company information will already be listed in the appropriate form fields assuming you provided this information during installation. Press the Window-Eyes Browse Mode navigation key E, as in Echo, until you navigate to the Address edit box and press Enter to turn Browse Mode off. Next, I will type in my address and then press Tab to navigate to the next field. After I complete all of the fields, I can choose to opt in to the GW-News email list by checking the check box with the Spacebar. The checkbox will only be available if you provided your email address in the email edit box found in the registration form. Finally, I will Tab to the Submit button and press Enter to submit the form and send in my registration request.

Closing

This concludes the demonstration of getting started with Window-Eyes for Office. Thanks for checking out this How Do I Do That? tutorial from GW Micro. For more information about Window-Eyes for Office, please visit www.WindowEyesForOffice.com.