[blindLaw] Navigating non-uniform tables in Word with JAWS

Matney, Angela R. AMatney at reedsmith.com
Sat Sep 2 22:38:25 UTC 2023


Absolutely!

By the way, the Alt+Windows+Arrow commands speak for me, but in one document, I get the message from JAWS that “The table is nonuniform, so you cannot read the current column.” Oh well. I really didn’t want to hear the entire row/column at once anyway. I want to quickly move between entries in a particular row or column and know when I’m passing by one of these multi-cell entries. I may try viewing it as a webpage.

And yes, JAWS is great in general, but these hiccups can be frustrating.


Angela R. Matney, CIPP/US (Angie)
Counsel
D: +1 202-414-9343
Preferred pronouns: she/her
amatney at reedsmith.com<mailto:amatney at reedsmith.com>

Bio<https://www.reedsmith.com/en/professionals/m/matney-angela>|vCard<https://www.reedsmith.com/en/professionals/m/matney-angela?format=vcard>|E-Mail|<mailto:%20amatney at reedsmith.com>ReedSmith.com<http://www.reedsmith.com/>

1301 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

ReedSmith

From: graham.hardy at gmail.com <graham.hardy at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 5:16 PM
To: Matney, Angela R. <AMatney at reedsmith.com>; 'Blind Law Mailing List' <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Subject: RE: [blindLaw] Navigating non-uniform tables in Word with JAWS

EXTERNAL E-MAIL - From graham.hardy at gmail.com<mailto:graham.hardy at gmail.com>
I used to be at a firm with lots of customisations that caused crashes, too. I even remember using the prompt creator to try and re-label dialog controls only to discover that it acted like it was working but it never actually changed the labels in those add-ons. Let’s just say t ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


<https://us.report.cybergraph.mimecast.com/alert-details/?dep=XbU%2BehzWLpdLFUTlN%2F0ssg%3D%3Deffd9vL6R%2FYqDdn7WsBvuUxF6NBgOX9RfdmuMQNTl7svFS1JACJgH6YcLThXTC%2BcfGzTZdTcRwXCLIHt5uCfadt79aWmOn2ZPjYBBzeg1e6SnWy7UC5cwF2JlghcJb4rIwj8DEO8J163RpjIu6ELkYUl1aiDGw1re%2BG5bKF8ASP%2BHsB49yHJjydnp0fn8mwfJLN08hvXhg2qzRq7hvHxKB5t%2B9dxsASBib2uPMlDQzfFRJBEqZmlQjssY6J8OM1B%2BMDbm1qwL6Vvqu22jBIYN1xd3%2BB1Yg8gYsbtYc%2BK%2F4iSN8U%2Fh%2BPAgZ4vsyjFVaWobrao4m5QmkMktcCFkRRp1julmeotMnlTPHH3FobOTaiZbkGEdy0yRFwYDjO%2B2RQMlOosa1cz4GPJ5z0QvzQHMpSnudISVFcF5XjICLfzOoTGkwbbzLeyn59NMYoXZ5iMRZUBLBw2lSQDN8TaSCiopjNHRTFvplnb2gyo9rO%2BowDT%2BxjuPiw%2BZEUbsk2pGnJZBrvDGCzwZa7PwKF3ozQDgPQPW1u8nRLpqc506gC67uGln0jXiOo58rdAG6tdOACQdhpS7G%2BZA037AvF%2B2hvu57rCmlVufnTbirnyE79U3QPU1GNl8o3FON9LUVxXlrYS1c84xNMx04DFS%2FMgBCk1bIB7U7WuEW0NTsIJVBmPKsMgVuIwa%2FV1lyq94LND0AxRbsmN7Dfc7MIpQEjG%2FZ1%2B2A%3D%3D>

I used to be at a firm with lots of customisations that caused crashes, too. I even remember using the prompt creator to try and re-label dialog controls only to discover that it acted like it was working but it never actually changed the labels in those add-ons. Let’s just say there are countless edge cases in JAWS that aren’t well tested. JAWS is great, but it just wasn’t designed by lawyers, I think we can agree on that!





External Signed
From: Matney, Angela R. <AMatney at reedsmith.com<mailto:AMatney at reedsmith.com>>
Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 2:04 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindlaw at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: graham.hardy at gmail.com<mailto:graham.hardy at gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [blindLaw] Navigating non-uniform tables in Word with JAWS

Thanks, Graham, some good ideas here.

I find that sometimes using tab and shift+tab causes JAWS to crash. I think this has to do with some integrations that my firm has with Office. I generally have to restart JAWS manually when this occurs. But I do appreciate you sending this list of suggestions. I might be able to have a review copy open in one window and another editable copy open elsewhere.

Best,

Angie


Angela R. Matney, CIPP/US (Angie)
Counsel
D: +1 202-414-9343
Preferred pronouns: she/her
amatney at reedsmith.com<mailto:amatney at reedsmith.com>

Bio<https://www.reedsmith.com/en/professionals/m/matney-angela>|vCard<https://www.reedsmith.com/en/professionals/m/matney-angela?format=vcard>|E-Mail|<mailto:%20amatney at reedsmith.com>ReedSmith.com<http://www.reedsmith.com/>

1301 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

ReedSmith

From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Graham Hardy via BlindLaw
Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 4:51 PM
To: 'Blind Law Mailing List' <blindlaw at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindlaw at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: graham.hardy at gmail.com<mailto:graham.hardy at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Navigating non-uniform tables in Word with JAWS

EXTERNAL E-MAIL - From blindlaw at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
There are a couple of commands I use to navigate tables, some of which are more efficient than others. I've been known to copy a table from Word and paste it in Excel. When all else fails, I sometimes get a web page preview by invoking the WebPagePreview command from within the macro/command launcher invoked with Alt+F8. This brings up a page in your default web browser from which you can of course view, but not edit, the table, enough to get acquainted with it.

* Tab and Shift+Tab move from one cell to the next. This sometimes does better in non-uniform tables but is a bit slow. It also adds a row if you press it at the bottom, which can be undone if it's a mistake.

* Ctrl+Up and Ctrl+Down similarly move among cells and among paragraphs within each. Sometimes this is better. Other times it gets stuck in a non-uniform row.

* Alt+Windows+arrow keys are JAWS commands that are supposed to move to the next or previous row or column and read the entire row or column. This is supposed to allow you to get an entire row read at once with each press of Alt+Windows+Down. This used to be the best way for dealing with non-uniform rows but recently ithas stopped speaking. I've been meaning to call technical support but haven't gotten around to it.

Also, if headings are properly tagged, you can navigate to them with regular heading commands in the JAWSKey+Z layer.


External Signed
-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Matney, Angela R. via BlindLaw
Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 12:34 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindlaw at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Matney, Angela R. <AMatney at reedsmith.com<mailto:AMatney at reedsmith.com>>
Subject: [blindLaw] Navigating non-uniform tables in Word with JAWS

Hello everyone,

I need to edit and review Word documents that contain tables with non-uniform layouts. For example, most rows of a table in the document I’m currently working on contain three columns. But some rows are used as headings, and the heading spans all three columns, though it’s a single cell in the table. The problem is that if I use control-alt-down to navigate to the next row, JAWS will skip over these “heading” rows unless I am in the first column. This is somewhat annoying, as the first column basically contains nothing but numbers, and I would prefer to “skim” the table by staying on the second column, which contains the substantive entries. But I would like JAWS to announce the headings and not simply skip to the next row containing three columns.

I’ve also experienced this with tables where the columns do not have the same number of rows. (And, in one mind-altering instance, with a table that had both of these going on!)

I’ve searched (OK, maybe it was a fairly cursory search…) for JAWS settings that might impact this behavior, but I haven’t yet found anything. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Angie (AKA Vexed in Virginia)


Angela R. Matney, CIPP/US (Angie)
Counsel
D: +1 202-414-9343
Preferred pronouns: she/her
amatney at reedsmith.com<mailto:amatney at reedsmith.com<mailto:amatney at reedsmith.com%3cmailto:amatney at reedsmith.com>>

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1301 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

ReedSmith




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