Jeff at the moment I don't have time to do a detailed comparison of the scripting related tools I am afraid. J-Tools has nothing to do with scripting at all. It is designed to provide users of Word, Outlook and Internet Explorer with a suite of utilities to optimise their productivity when working with these applications. To give two examples: 1. First, a basic example. Pressing a keystroke will read the page number. Believe it or not jaws doesn't have the ability to read the page number in Microsoft Word. It might seem small, but it's important. 2. A more complex example. J-Tools allows you to set what we call Bookmarks within Internet Explorer. The bookmarking utility, much like Placemarkers, allows you to set a place for later recapture on a web page by line and cursor position and/or (perhaps more importantly) the text that is on the line. This text capture is better because web pages change in content frequently. You can control what happens when the bookmark is located, either to read something such as the current line, or to automatically activate a link or form field. The behaviour for bookmarks is controlled using the Bookmark Manager, a list of options similar to the Adjust JAWS Options dialog with text in the help window. Best of all, all this functionality is available within Microsoft Word as well. Tomorrow evening US time, at www.accessibleworld.org we have a presentation about J-Tools. I think the other important thing about scripts is the documentation and sometimes I feel documentation is almost as important as the scripts themselves. This is why without exception all of our products have thorough documentation. The J-Tools user guide is for example 45 pages in length and in fact that is the shortest User Guide in Microsoft Word format correctly structured with headings. We literally spend days just getting our documentation right. In terms of your Track Changes query, jaws already works well with track changes but if there are refinements to it we will consider this for inclusion within J-Tools. Basically Jeff, the concept of J-Tools will only ever work if people let us know what kind of tools will increase productivity, and of course if they buy the product so we can input the development time. We've only just started this product, but I see J-Tools significantly improving during 2009. J-Tools was also featured within Freedom Scientific's FSCast Podcast. I hope that helps. -----Original Message----- From: jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Geoff Chapman Sent: 07 December 2008 16:02 To: jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [jawsscripts] alternate investigative jaws toolboxes/utilities, was Track Changes in msWord support, Ok Brian, I have forwarded your reply on to him. I am just reeeally surprised though, that like fs haven't got this working inHouse! I would've thought it would be a pretty well desired feature among any lawyers across the world! and thus a priority and basic thing for them to have worked with microsoft on getting this working well. Obviously not though. Brian since you mention your JTools product below, would you please care to comment upon this new sweet, in regards to the other post I sent couple days back? as per your views and experience across the range of already built investigative jaws utilities/tools, jls utilities which I noted you liked, the BX toolBox, Homer Scripts, jfwTechnical, and now your own Offering? and how yours might differ from any of these exactly, in functionality/design/purported ease of use, etc? Could you Tell us what JTools does, that Bx ToolBox for example, does not? and since you've obviously had exposure to at least some of these tools, elaborate on what you find JLS utilities helpful for, that perhaps the other available tools don't do so well, or so readily? I haven't as yet begun seeking to pick up/learn any of these investigative tools, and I'd kinda like to get an overview upon them all before I choose which one and dive in. that would be very groovy if you would do that. . thanks. geoff c. From: "Brian Hartgen" <jaws@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 1:59 AM Subject: [jawsscripts] Re: Track Changes in msWord support, was jaws and windoweyes scripting abilities, leading edge? > Jeff, please get your friend to write to me. We would love to get anything > like this working in our J-Tools product, which is a suite of jaws utilities > for working with different applications, including an extension to the > Internet placemarker utility in jaws. > > -----Original Message----- > From: jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Geoff Chapman > Sent: 07 December 2008 14:45 > To: jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [jawsscripts] Track Changes in msWord support, was jaws and > windoweyes scripting abilities, leading edge? > > ok. Right! well, my sincere thanks Brian for this lucid and thorough > disortation on the sitch from your viewpoint. > and to everet as well for his valuable input. > I didn't know windoweyes didn't support QuickKeys in msWord. that surprises > me, since they do on the internet do not they? > and I actually thought GW were the ones who came out with it first, since > my memory suggests that they adopted the whole virtual world MSAA Browse > thing, before jaws took it up? but this is vague in my head now, and could > well be wrong. > > Whilst on MsWord and it's advantages with jaws, I have a lawyer friend who > would find it incredibly incredibly useful, like huuuuge time, if an msWord > feature called "track changes," could really be scripted to work properly, > and non-buggily. > He'll probably write to you brian about it, and he's not the only blind > lawyer in town whose mentioned this desire. > We mentioned this to Erric when he was last out here in aus, > but, does anyone up here have any idea as to why seemingly such an important > feature, for those using MsWord professionally in their workplace, > isn't yet supported well under jaws? he asked me to find out whehter it was > under windoweyes per chance, as he told me he'd switch products in a > twinkling of an eye if he could have one that really maturely and reliably > supported this feature. > anyone got anything to say upon this? > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian Hartgen" <jaws@xxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 6:16 PM > Subject: [jawsscripts] Re: jaws and windoweyes scripting abilities, leading > edge? > > > > Hi Jeff > > > > I think the point is this. > > > > JAWS has had a scripting ability for many years and now all of a sudden > the > > other manufacturers actually realise it is a great idea to have scripting, > > which it is. > > > > About 7 or 8 years ago, you are right, I was creating a lot of Window-Eyes > > set files for applications and was trying to be as creative as I could be > > with extremely limited tools available to me. I became very frustrated at > > this and so I turned to JAWS scripting. > > > > I only recount this because it illustrates many of us have had years to > get > > used to the scripting language of JAWS which has not been there in other > > products. Consequently, when we have been asked to script an application > in > > the workplace, or we have been requested to create a product like J-Tunes > > which links JAWS and iTunes together, obviously JAWS has been what we and > > professionals have chosen because it has had a unique place in the market. > > People are not I feel going to switch screenreaders just because allegedly > > it has a higher quality scripting language than JAWS does, which is > > debatable. Often, it's not about the tools you have but how creative you > > are with them in applying them to the situation you need to work with. > > While JAWS continues to be capable of being able to be scripted for > > applications in the workplace, there is no need for anyone to switch. > > > > The other thing you have to look at is the base product itself. I know > this > > is definitely a matter of personal preference, but if you have a > > screen-reader which still in my view has more functionality for people in > > commonly used applications then clearly that too is going to sell the > > product and so the quality of the scripting language becomes irrelevant. > > Take two examples. First, quick navigation keys within Microsoft Word. > For > > people who have to deal with long and complex documents, structuring the > > document well with headings etc and then using quick navigation keys off > the > > back of it makes a blind person very productive. Only JAWS has that > > feature. Second, context sensitive help. This help system not only > provides > > useful environmental information but it also describes details of, for > > example, fine attributes concerning a Word document, such as its margin > > settings or table information. Using a competitive product, if you enter > an > > application and try and get help for that program you won't get the > quality > > of context sensitive help you will receive in JAWS. Then, if you add > > scripting to the mix, you have an amazing and very useful product. > > > > I am sure I could easily learn scripting for Window-Eyes, and in fact I > have > > been on the scripting course for the Dolphin products. But at the moment > my > > work hasn't required me to learn the language because JAWS still leads in > > terms of popularity and sales, particularly here in the UK, and basically > > that's what it all boils down to. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > [mailto:jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Geoff Chapman > > Sent: 05 December 2008 14:45 > > To: jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Subject: [jawsscripts] jaws and windoweyes scripting abilities, leading > > edge? > > > > Hey Brian/listers. > > > > hey what you've said below brian, re your view that jaws is still the > > "leading edge" screenReader, with particular reference to it's ability to > > provide enhanced flexability re your business of writing scripts for > > increased usibility of applications etc, > > really kinda intrigued me. Everet will indicate if he thinks this not on > > topic, but, given that WE now does have support for scripting, and given > > that you were once a window eyes man if I remember rightly back in the > olden > > days, > > I'm curious to have you share your particular reasons for thinking Jaws > > *is*, still the "leading edge screenReader?" particularly I guess for > > ontopicness of this list, presumably in your view, in it's still ahead > > ability to meet the needs of high accessibility demands, even though WE > now > > also has scripting capabilities? > > > > What I'm trying to ask is, have you yourself, personally, really put the > new > > windoweyes scripting through it's paces? to, for example, try and mock up > > in windowEyes script land, what you've been able to achieve in jaws script > > land? and if so, have you found definite areas that windoweyes scripting > > support still lags behind in, compared with that of jaws builtins? > > > > Or do you feel it's just not economically worth your while now investing > > resources in learning Windoweyes scripting approach, in order to perform > > such tests with any degree of equal fairness to both sides, as per > perceived > > strengths and weaknesses? > > > > I'm just really curious to hear you share your views/thoughts, as to > > specific reasons for below? > > I'm such an hsc man now that I can't see myself leaving the jaws world any > > time soon, given how much energy I've invested in it, but, I'm still > curious > > to hear other's views on this. > > > > Would you care to elaborate? > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Brian Hartgen" <jaws@xxxxxxxxxxx> > > To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 4:24 AM > > Subject: [jawsscripts] Re: Announcement, JAWS for Windows training courses > > > > > > > Hi > > > > > > Actually the message went to this list in error as it should have gone > to > > > another jaws list. Sorry about that. However: > > > 1. I did preceed it with the word "announcement" so in fact you could > have > > > hit delete if you had wanted to. > > > 2. We have had two responses to it already who would not have otherwise > > > known. > > > 3. I think more importantly we are really trying very hard to promote > jaws > > > as a screen-reading product. These services and the third party scripts > > we > > > produce are just not being done in the UK at all. With the advent of > > > scripting abilities and enhanced features in other screen-readers, I > think > > > it is very important that we let people know about what jaws related > > > services are available to keep it the leading edge product that it truly > > is. > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > [mailto:jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Matthew2007 > > > Sent: 04 December 2008 16:10 > > > To: jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > Subject: [jawsscripts] Re: Announcement, JAWS for Windows training > courses > > > > > > This is advertising on the list isn't it? > > > > > > Matthew > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Brian Hartgen" <brian@xxxxxxxxxxx> > > > To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > Cc: <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 5:42 AM > > > Subject: [jawsscripts] Announcement, JAWS for Windows training courses > > > > > > > > > > Hi > > > > During 2009, our company are delivering some training courses in the > use > > > > of the JAWS for Windows screen-reader. If you would like to know more > > > > about the courses so you can learn more about JAWS, please visit our > > > > Training Courses page at > > > > http://www.tandt-consultancy.com/courses.html > > > > > > > > > > > > Brian Hartgen > > > > > > > > __________ > > > > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository > > http://jawsscripts.com > > > > > > > > View the list's information and change your settings at > > > > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________ > > > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository > http://jawsscripts.com > > > > > > View the list's information and change your settings at > > > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts > > > > > > __________ > > > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository > http://jawsscripts.com > > > > > > View the list's information and change your settings at > > > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts > > > > > > > __________ > > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com > > > > View the list's information and change your settings at > > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts > > > > __________ > > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com > > > > View the list's information and change your settings at > > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts > > > > __________ > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com > > View the list's information and change your settings at > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts > > __________ > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com > > View the list's information and change your settings at > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts > __________ Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com View the list's information and change your settings at http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts __________ Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com View the list's information and change your settings at http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts