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Re: AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?

for

From: Karlen Communications
Date: Oct 27, 2010 10:06PM

I have an Excel workbook on my web site that has all of the Ribbon commands
which will work in Office 2007 and 2010. I haven't updated it for the
File/Backstage area of 2010 yet but the other Ribbon commands will work.

I also have a document on some of the settings those of us who use adaptive
technology might want to change to work more effectively and among the
suggestions is putting the Apply Styles Pane in the Quick Access Toolbar for
similar access to it that we had for Word 2003.

Office 2010 page:
http://www.karlencommunications.com/MicrosoftOfficeAccessibility2010.html
Office 2007 page:
http://www.karlencommunications.com/MicrosoftOfficeAccessibility.html

I also have a blog with specific information on changes for Office 2010,
accessible document design, tips for JAWS users and tips for working with
keyboard commands:
http://www.karlencommunications.com/Blog/

If there is anything specific you want me to write about, let me know.

Cheers, Karen
Microsoft MVP/Most Valued Professional Award for 2009 and 2010 for Word



-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 9:02 PM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?

Marc, at Accessibility Camp DC, I discussed just this problem with a number
of users of screen readers. I did not hear of any problems along the lines
of the AT being incompatible. The major problem for them with the transition
from Word 2003 to Word 2007 and 2010 has to do with, believe it or not, the
shift from the menu-based system to the ribbon. Every one of them complained
about the Office keystroke combinations no longer working.

Now, I have always been mouse-oriented, so I don't know from personal
experience how alike or different the keystroke combinations might be.
Microsoft says they are they same. But the problem is that we sighted folks
assumed that people who can't see have all of those combinations memorized
-- but they don't. What they had memorized, by and large, was the
combination that exposed the Styles menu, the combination that exposed the
File menu, and so forth. From the open menu, they were able to detect the
keystroke combination they needed for any command on that menu. So by
changing to the ribbon, Microsoft removed their way of looking up keystroke
combinations. Who would have thought that removing a visual interface would
affect people who can't see?

So whatever else you learn about the compatibility of AT and Office 2010, my
advice is to create some electronic cheat sheets that help people look up
keystroke combinations.

One nice thing about Office 2007 and 2010 is that when you press the "Alt"
key, the key that exposes a tab is displayed in a little white box over the
respective tab. Hit that key and Word exposes the tab and the key for each
command on that tab. Hit "Alt" again to end this behavior. So you can
probably figure out the combinations your folks will need most and be sure
that at least those are available to them in some way.

Cliff


Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512/239-4516
<EMAIL REMOVED>
>>> "Marc Seguin" < <EMAIL REMOVED> > 10/27/10 4:05 PM >>>
Hello All,

The government agency that I work with is now able to upgrade to and begin
using Microsoft Office 2010 Professional. This is a big jump since they
have been using Office 2003 and will continue using Windows XP. I read, I
believe in, the JAWS-users-list that Outlook 2010 may not work well with
certain versions of JAWS. This made me want to learn about any potential
problems with using the 2010 version of programs such as Word, Excel,
Outlook, PowerPoint and the already installed AT before my users take the
plunge. Has anyone upgraded to Office 2010 and experienced any issues or
incompatibility with the AT software that they have been using? I would be
interested to learn about any AT problems with Office 2010, but the AT
software that I am primarily concerned with is:

Dragon Naturallyspeaking Professional 10+ Duxbury Braille Translator 10.4+
Zoomtext 9+ JAWS 10 and 11 Windows Eyes 7+ Open Book 8 and 9

My users' situation may be a bit unique because this will be Office 2010
Professional rather than Home and Student or Home and Business versions.
These are also government computers so some of the normal software
functionality is blocked for security reasons and the users usually don't
have admin rights to make system adjustments, etc. But, I would appreciate
feedback that any type of user experienced with Office 2010 and AT software.

Thanks,

Marc