[Trainer-Talk] Open office andJAWS

Sun Feb 18 05:39:26 UTC 2018

I had a brief opportunity to work with JAWS 2018 and LibreOffice Writer, which is the word processor that is installed with LibreOffice. I am sorry to report that JAWS accessibility has significantly worsened. I was able to use arrow keys to navigate documents and this means that I was able to complete basic editing tasks. However, all menus were completely inaccessible, even though LibreOffice's assistive technology support was enabled. This was extremely disappointing. Accessibility with NVDA appears to function as it has with previous versions.

I didn't try OpenOffice to see whether that suite is any better but I wanted to at least report my findings with JAWS 2018 and LibreOffice 6.0.

David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com<http://WWW.David-Goldfield.Com>
On 2/15/2018 7:36 PM, David Goldfield wrote:

This is regrettable. The last time I had used JAWS with LibreOffice was a couple of years ago. While the amount of accessibility wasn't equal to what we are accustomed to with Microsoft Office, you could at least use Writer to perform basic and perhaps intermediate editing tasks as well as using Calc to compose and edit spreadsheets. Version 6 of LibreOffice does seem to work well with NVDA, from the little I've worked with that combo. Your client could try OpenOffice. This suite is still in development, although it does not have the rapid release schedule of LibreOffice. However, it may be worth trying as this suite may work with JAWS 2018. Also, Office 365 does allow for monthly payment options if money is an issue for the consumer.

I would really like to see a more collaborative partnership between VFO and the Document Foundation. While there is no doubt that maintaining accessibility with Microsoft Office should be a top priority, more people might consider giving LibreOffice a try if they knew that it offered a similar level of screen reader accessibility. I think that users of JAWS should contact VFO to make this need known to them. Strength in numbers and all that.

David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com<http://WWW.David-Goldfield.Com>
On 2/15/2018 6:21 PM, Guerra Access Technology Training LLC via Trainer-Talk wrote:

Libraoffice 6.0 does not work with Jaws 18 or 2018

-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Brad Hodges via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2018 3:59 PM
To: Nancy Coffman via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org><mailto:trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Brad Hodges <Brad.hodges at outlook.com><mailto:Brad.hodges at outlook.com>
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Open office andJAWS

Nancy and all:

The current and most mature version of that project is now called Libre
Office, https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.libreoffice.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd39999a0a8c4c1256db08d574cb0da4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636543337804830805&sdata=GAgmKBoHCndRJ6%2FVSBiWucSOq8NfI4RODDr6%2Bh05ANY%3D&reserved=0.

Version 6 was just introduced earlier in the week. I do know that some
work has been taking place to make it work with NVDA. I don't know about
JAWS.

Jim Gamage in the UK has created many articles demonstrating using Libre
Office with NVDA. They can be found at talkingcomputers.org.uk.

I have a friend who is a publisher and it is his only office suite, and
he has absolutely no issues with MS Word compatibility.

Best,

Brad

On 2/15/2018 4:38 PM, Nancy Coffman via Trainer-Talk wrote:

Hello,

Does anyone have experience with newer versions of JAWS and open  Office?

I have a client who has been using it and is moving to nonvisual techniques.
Thanks.

Nancy Coffman
_______________________________________________
Trainer-Talk mailing list
Trainer-Talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:Trainer-Talk at nfbnet.org>
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftrainer-talk_nfbnet.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd39999a0a8c4c1256db08d574cb0da4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636543337804830805&sdata=wRtK1qCnJeX9IaUaRxPqBviMxJPRHep0nmbRzV98zao%3D&reserved=0
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for

Trainer-Talk:

https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Ftrainer-talk_nfbnet.org%2Fbrad.hodges%2540outl&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd39999a0a8c4c1256db08d574cb0da4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636543337804830805&sdata=LUWoXERCcqN4BkzkVmn%2FoazdxuF4D1inMvUkagzIUxQ%3D&reserved=0
ook.com

_______________________________________________
Trainer-Talk mailing list
Trainer-Talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:Trainer-Talk at nfbnet.org>
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftrainer-talk_nfbnet.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd39999a0a8c4c1256db08d574cb0da4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636543337804830805&sdata=wRtK1qCnJeX9IaUaRxPqBviMxJPRHep0nmbRzV98zao%3D&reserved=0
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Trainer-Talk:
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Ftrainer-talk_nfbnet.org%2Fgaccesstt%2540gmail&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd39999a0a8c4c1256db08d574cb0da4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636543337804830805&sdata=B0Zudw1DSqe2BNA1kGfCDlKcEQl1yyeTYsKwKDbkm8I%3D&reserved=0.
com

_______________________________________________
Trainer-Talk mailing list
Trainer-Talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:Trainer-Talk at nfbnet.org>
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftrainer-talk_nfbnet.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd39999a0a8c4c1256db08d574cb0da4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636543337804830805&sdata=wRtK1qCnJeX9IaUaRxPqBviMxJPRHep0nmbRzV98zao%3D&reserved=0
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Trainer-Talk:
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Ftrainer-talk_nfbnet.org%2Fdavid.goldfield%2540outlook.com&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd39999a0a8c4c1256db08d574cb0da4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636543337804830805&sdata=isYmdCn%2BcNqQMKm8D1qzJNj6FL6W64TDZSDZZAcggE8%3D&reserved=0