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RE: Javascript alerts versus popup windows

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From: Hoffman, David
Date: Apr 1, 2003 1:36PM


Hi Rachel,

I am not aware of any issues that relate to which type of pop-up you use.
However, I have discovered a serious JAWS issue with both alert and
showModalDialog pop-ups. (I have not experimented with opening new windows,
but showModalDialog may be a better solution anyway.) The issue is that JAWS
fails to read some alert windows and fails to enter Forms Mode in some
showModalDialog boxes.

The JavaScript code causes problems for JAWS when "window." is explicitly
included, as follows:

window.showModalDialog("The html page to open". . .)

or

window.alert("The alert to open". . .)

However, if the code omits the "window.", as follows, JAWS functions
properly:

showModalDialog("The html page to open", . . . )

or

alert("The alert to open"...)

Does anyone know if any other screen readers experience this issue?

Take care,
David