JAWS Scripts For Alexa
Doug Lee
Last Revised March, 2022

This document describes the JAWS scripts for Alexa and provides tips for using this application with JAWS. This document can be opened from within the application via a double press of JAWSKey+F1 (or Insert+F1) when the scripts are running.

Table of Contents

• System Requirements For JAWS Users
• Script Installation Instructions
• Key Sequences
• Script Commands and Features
• Tips For Using This Application With JAWS
• Known Issues
• Revision History

System Requirements For JAWS Users

In addition to any system requirements for the application, the following apply for JAWS users:

• The computer should be running Windows 10.
• JAWS 2018 or later should be used. The scripts will not work with or install into older JAWS versions.

Script Installation Instructions

To install these scripts on a new system:

1. Install JAWS if this has not already been done. This will require administrative privileges on the computer.
2. Run JAWS as the user for whom the scripts are to be installed. This and the following steps must be performed for each user of the computer who will be using JAWS with these scripts.
3. Download and run, or run directly, the installer for these scripts; and follow the on-screen directions. Be sure to install the scripts in the currently running JAWS version if a JAWS version list is presented.
4. To verify successful installation, type Insert+Q from within the application. Part of the JAWS spoken response should be a revision number. If you do not hear a revision number, the scripts are not correctly loaded. In some cases, restarting JAWS may fix this issue.

Key Sequences

These scripts incorporate commands that consist of sequences of keystrokes, all beginning with a common prefix, or "command keystroke." This approach allows many script commands without the risk of conflicting with application keystrokes. See the "Multi-Key Command Sequences" section of the "Common Script Elements" document for further details, including how to explore the available script commands (similar to exploring a menu system), and how to change the Command keystroke if necessary.

By default, the Command keystroke for these scripts is [. This document may refer to this keystroke as [ or Command; so, for example, [ Tab and Command Tab both refer to typing the prefix keystroke, then separately the Tab key. Some sequences may consist of more than two keystrokes, or "levels"; for example, [ d r would refer to typing [, then d, then finally r.

Script Commands and Features

These scripts provide the following commands beyond those provided by the application itself:

• JAWSKey+Q, along with announcing the active configuration name, will announce the revision number of these scripts.
• Insert+F1, typed twice in quick succession, opens this document in the default browser.

These scripts also provide the following features:

• Better naming of some controls.
• Pressing Enter on a contact name in the Communicate screen will bring up that contact's page.
• The SayWindowTitle JAWS command, Insert+T, includes extra information in some cases:
  • In the main screen, the name of the active page - e.g., Home, Communications, etc.
  • In an active call or drop-in screen, the name of the other party in the call.

Tips For Using This Application With JAWS

Note: These scripts evolve based on user input and author experience. At this writing, they likely do not cover all available features of the Alexa app. See the Known Issues section for details on what is known to remain unaddressed.

The initial screen is a carousel that changes automatically over time to display various tips about how to use the app. The standard JAWS "read box in tab order" command, JAWSKey+B, reads the currently displayed tip.

After a fairly short period of user inactivity in the app, the main Home screen will automatically replace whatever screen was in use. If there is a drop-in or call active, that screen is separate and will remain in Alt+Tab order until the connection ends.

To call or drop in on a contact:

1. Display the Communicate page by finding "Communicate" in the page list on the main screen and pressing Enter on it.
2. Tab to All Contacts and press Space.
3. Tab to the next edit box, which is a search box for the contact you want.
4. Type the name or partial name of the contact, but do not press Enter.
5. Tab to the contact you want and press Enter. This will display the contact's information page.
6. Tab to Call or Drop In and press first Space then Enter. The Space leaves JAWS' virtual cursor mode, and Enter activates the button.

Note that, according to this author's tests, drop-ins usually time out after an hour or so and must be established again. This is not true for other devices.

Known Issues

The following issues are known and may be encountered during use of the application with these JAWS scripts. These issues may be fixed in a future update to the scripts or to the application itself.

Date and time picker buttons under Reminders have not been tested.

Braille support is not well tested and is likely incomplete.

Revision History

This is the revision history of these scripts, most recent revision first:

Revision 17, released March 31, 2022, tested against application version 3.24.0.1129

• Initial script release.