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Re: Clarification on forms mode of screen readers

for

From: Léonie Watson
Date: Jul 8, 2016 3:12PM

On 08/07/2016 19:32, Vemaarapu Venkatesh wrote:
> Thank you to Jason and Watson for the exciting stuff.

My first name is Léonie, but you are most welcome :)

> you are right... I am doing it manually using JAWS key+Z.

This is not the way Jaws users usually do things. Jaws will
automatically switch into forms mode when it is needed - you do not need
to use Jaws key + z to do it manually.

Jaws key + z turns the virtual cursor on/off, but that is not quite the
same as turning forms mode on/off.

>
> At the end of the day what I want to know is,
> As I am encountered with these type of issues (especially IE/JAWS) across
> many apps, how I should proceed with my testing. Whether I have to carry
> testing in both normal and forms mode or we should consider only default
> i.e. normal mode.

You should test using both modes, but you should not treat them as
completely separate things.

When you test most content, Jaws will be in virtual mode. This means you
can use the arrow keys or the letter shortcut keys (like h for headings)
to navigate through the content.

When you test a form, Jaws will switch between virtual and forms mode
automatically. If you use the arrow keys or the tab key to move focus to
a form field, you will hear a sound that indicates Jaws has switched
into forms mode.

If you move focus off the field using the arrow keys, Jaws will
automatically switch back to virtual mode and you will hear the same
sound again. If you use the tab key to move focus away from the field,
Jaws will stay in forms mode if focus moves directly to another form
field. If focus moves to something that isn't a form field, Jaws will
switch back to virtual mode (and you will hear the same sound again).

> And the other one is "When we should use the forms mode and what is
the use
> of it".

Forms mode is used when you need to use the letter and punctuation keys
for typing content. When you are in virtual mode, the letter and
punctuation keys are used for navigating through the content instead.
You should let Jaws decide when these modes are needed though.


Léonie.

--
@LeonieWatson tink.uk Carpe diem.