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Thread: AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?
Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)
From: Marc Seguin
Date: Wed, Oct 27 2010 3:06PM
Subject: AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?
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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
From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Wed, Oct 27 2010 7:03PM
Subject: Re: AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?
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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 ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Marc Seguin" < = EMAIL ADDRESS 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
From: Karlen Communications
Date: Wed, Oct 27 2010 10:06PM
Subject: Re: AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?
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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 ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 9:02 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Marc Seguin" < = EMAIL ADDRESS 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
From: deborah.kaplan@suberic.net
Date: Wed, Oct 27 2010 10:36PM
Subject: Re: AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?
← Previous message | Next message →
Cliff Tyllick wrote:
> 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.
It's not just blind users! As a voice user, all of the combinations I knew to say "[menu] pause [command]" are lost now. I am utterly lost in Office 2007, and I was a power user in previous versions.
I know plenty of people who are able-bodied who've had the same experience, to be honest. Changing a UI for which many people are power users so drastically will be confusing. The menu-to-ribbon transition seems to have been a universal design failure in many ways, given how thoroughly it confused many users.
> 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.
This seems to confuse NaturallySpeaking in certain circumstance, sadly. D:
-Deborah
From: Michael.Moore@dars.state.tx.us
Date: Thu, Oct 28 2010 7:03AM
Subject: Re: AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?
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Hi Marc,
At our agency we have over 200 AT users (Dragon, ZoomText, JFW, Dux, and Kurzweil). We use the following process to evaluate new software and for compatibility in our environment. This process may be helpful to you depending upon what resources you have available to you.
Information resources installs and test the software for compatibility with the operating system, network and related security software and systems.
The accessibility team installs the software and tests core functionality, the features and functionality that our users must have to do their jobs with keyboard, JFW, ZoomText and Dragon. (Dux and Kurzweil are file conversion tools so we evaluate that software separately).
We recruit a group of volunteers who depend upon the AT to do their jobs for a user evaluation. We usually conduct a user evaluation for about a month letting them do their jobs with the new software and work with them to troubleshoot any problems or identify any compatibility problems.
The results of the tests are used as part of the IT governance process to determine if and when the new software will be deployed. Training for AT users that covers how to use the new software with specific AT is frequently part of the roll out plan. This was critical when we moved from office 2003 to 2007 and will probably be needed again when we move from WinXP to Win7.
Note, Duxbury still requires that MS Word files be saved in a .doc format for brailling.
Mike Moore
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Marc Seguin
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 4:05 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: [WebAIM] AT problems after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010?
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