Disability Resource Center

Using Word

• Which versions of Microsoft word that JAWS support?
• How do I navigate the toolbars in WORD?
• What is docking a toolbar?
• How do I dock a toolbar?
• How do I list all the hyperlinks in a WORD document?
• How do I check my document for spelling errors?
• How do I check for grammatical errors?
• How do I use the spell check dialog box?
• How do I list all the tables in a WORD document?
• How do I navigate a table in a WORD document?

Which versions of Microsoft word that JAWS support?
JAWS is compatible with Microsoft Word® XP/2000/97/95.

Back to Top

How do I navigate the toolbars in WORD?
To navigate to the Word toolbars, first press the ALT key. This moves you to the menu bar. Press CTRL+TAB to move to the first toolbar. This is generally the Standard toolbar. Press TAB or SHIFT+TAB to move through the buttons. Press ENTER to activate a button. Press CTRL+TAB again to move to the next toolbar, which is usually the Format toolbar. Press CTRL+SHIFT+TAB to move to the previous toolbar.

Back to Top

What is docking a toolbar?
Many Word toolbars, such as the Forms toolbar and the Clipboard toolbar, are not "docked" the first time they are displayed. These toolbars float over a document, sometimes obscuring text in the document, resulting in JAWS not properly reading that text. When docked, a toolbar displays within several rows at the top of the document, preventing it from obscuring text.

Back to Top

How do I dock a toolbar?

• Press ALT, then press CTRL+TAB until you arrive at the toolbar you wish to dock. JAWS will announce the name of the first button on the toolbar, not the toolbar title.
• Press INSERT+NUM PAD MINUS to route the JAWS cursor to the PC cursor.
• Press UP ARROW to move up one line and press INSERT+RIGHT ARROW to move the JAWS cursor over the title bar of the toolbar. JAWS should announce the title, such as "Forms" or "Clipboard, 1 of..."
• Once the JAWS cursor is correctly positioned over the title bar of the toolbar, press NUM PAB SLASH twice quickly to simulate a double left mouse click.

Back to Top

How do I list all the hyperlinks in a WORD document?
To list all hyperlinks in the current document and navigate to the selected target document, press INSERT+F8.

Back to Top

How do I check my document for spelling errors?
To list all spelling errors, press ALT+SHIFT+L. Select an error in the list and press ENTER to move the insertion point to the selected error in your document.

Back to Top

How do I check for grammatical errors?
To list all grammatical errors, press CTRL+SHIFT+G. Select an error in the list and press ENTER to move the insertion point to the selected error in your document.

Back to Top

How do I use the spell check dialog box?
In Word's Spell Check dialog, to reread the mistake and suggestion, press INSERT+F7. To hear the misspelled word in context, press INSERT+C.

Back to Top

How do I list all the tables in a WORD document?
Press CTRL+INSERT+T.

Back to Top

How do I navigate a table in a WORD document?
In Word, once in a table, press TAB to move to the next cell, and press SHIFT+TAB to move to the prior cell. To read a table row, press CTRL+SHIFT+R. To read a table column, press CTRL+SHIFT+C.

Some of the other commands for table navigation are:

Say Current Cell	ALT+CTRL+NUM PAD 5
Cell to Right	ALT+CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Cell to Left	ALT+CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Cell Below	ALT+CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Cell Above	ALT+CTRL+UP ARROW
Say Current Cell	ALT+CTRL+NUM PAD 5
Read Current Row	INSERT+SHIFT+UP ARROW
Read from Start of Row	INSERT+SHIFT+HOME
Read to End of Row	INSERT+SHIFT+PAGE UP
Read Current Column	INSERT+SHIFT+NUM PAD 5
Read from Top of Column	INSERT+SHIFT+END
Read to Bottom of Column	INSERT+SHIFT+PAGE DOWN

Back to Top