[nabs-l] microsoft access 2007 and jaws

[Steve Jacobson]

Here is another of my "muddy waters" notes.  It is hard to say flat out that Microsoft Access 2007 is not accessible.  There are several problems.  First, 
Microsoft Access is a very complicated program for everybody.  There is quite a learning curve.  Some things in Access are not obvious.  For example, 
pressing F11 turns on and off the "Shutter Bar" that makes it possible to do more navigation within a database.  It is also very possible that it won't work at 
all well unless you have a recent version of JFW.  I am a Window-Eyes user so I don't know how critical the version is.  However, I am able to add and 
edit records in a table with Window-Eyes using Access 2007.  Having said that, I cannot tell you that I can do everything because I don't use every part 
of Microsoft Access, nor am I saying that Window-Eyes is a perfect solution, either.

In addition, if you use Microsoft Access with earlier versions of an Access database, later versions of access will sometimes restrict what you can do with 
older databases unless you turn off certain security features.  This can cause some things that work in 2003 to not work in 2007.  If you are mostly using 
your own databases and tables, turning off security settings isn't risky.  

It is very hard to know to whom to complain to when some of the fault is with Microsoft and some of the fault is with screen reader support.  Screen 
readers tend to not support Access as much as they might because it is complicated and takes a good bit of work and it is one of the less used pieces of 
software so they don't increase sales all that much as a result of their efforts.

If you want to design something simple for yourself, don't overlook just putting data into an Excel spreadsheet.  Spreadsheets don't have to all contain 
numbers.  If you have to use Access, though, maybe something above might work.  It's worth trying with NVDA, too, as sometimes NVDA is better with 
newer versions of Microsoft products.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:44:27 -0500, Ashley Bramlett wrote:

>unfortunately access and jaws are not accessible; why doesn't nfb complain 
>to microsoft about it?
>Since 2007 version they changed the layout so we cannot use it; you have to 
>use access 2003 for it to be accessible.

>-----Original Message----- 
>From: Zachary N. Griego-Dreicer
>Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 3:06 PM
>To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Subject: [nabs-l] microsoft access 2007 and jaws

>Hi everyone,
>   I am running Windows XP, Jaws 12 latest, and microsoft access on my 
>school laptop. How does one go about manipulating data with that setup? I 
>have been able to find some data but have not been able to edit it.
>Sent from HP Laptop
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