3.2 Processing Keystrokes

Each time you press a keystroke, JAWS goes through a series of steps to determine what action to perform. Even though your scripts may have different names, it is the keystroke binding that determines what script is performed. JAWS must first determine where the keystroke is assigned.

Application Key Map

JAWS first looks for the keystroke assignment within the application-specific keymap file. If JAWS finds the keystroke assignment in this file, then the name of the script associated with the keystroke is remembered.

Application Script File

JAWS then looks for the name of the script in the Application-specific Script file. If JAWS finds the script, then JAWS performs the script and no further processing is done.

Default Key Map

If JAWS does not find the keystroke assignment in the application-specific key map file, then the default key map file is searched. If JAWS finds the keystroke assignment in this file, JAWS notes the name of the script activated by the keystroke.

Before JAWS executes the script, JAWS must determine if the script is contained in the application-specific script file. If JAWS does not find the keystroke in the application or default key map files, then the keystroke is passed through to the application just as if JAWS were not running.

Application-specific Script File

JAWS searches the application-specific script file for the script name found in the default key map file. If JAWS finds the script, then JAWS performs the script and no further processing is necessary.

If JAWS does not find the script within the application-specific script file then JAWS searches the default file. If JAWS finds the script in the default file, then JAWS performs the script and no further processing is required.

Unknown Script Call

When JAWS does not find the name of the script attached to the keystroke in either the application-specific or default script files, then an unknown script call error message occurs. JAWS speaks “unknown script call to” followed by the name of the script. An unknown script call can occur when either the script has been deleted from the application-specific or default script file or when the name of the script is misspelled in the key map or script file.

To keep these types of errors from occurring, you should use the Script Manager to remove a script and its associated key map and documentation entries.

Pass to Application

If JAWS does not find the script in either file, then JAWS passes the keystroke through to the application. The application performs the keystroke just as if JAWS were not running. JAWS always performs a script in the application script file rather than a script found in the default script file even when you make the key assignment in the default key map file.

Assigning Keystrokes

You can assign a keystroke to a customized script in an application-specific script file even though it is assigned in the default key map file. In doing so, you will not encounter any adverse consequences. When you use a keystroke that is already defined in the default key map file, the default functionality is lost for only that application. For example, when you assign CTRL+INSERT+V to a script contained in the Notepad script file, the default script, SayAppVersion, is no longer performed. JAWS recognizes the fact that you have used the default keystroke for an application-specific script. So, JAWS does not perform the SayAppVersion script when you are using Notepad.

If you give the script in the application-specific file the same name as the script in the default script file, you do not need to assign a keystroke to the application-specific script. JAWS performs the script in the application-specific script file instead of the script found in the default file if they are both bound to the same keystroke. For example, you can find the AdjustJAWSOptions script in both the default script file and the Internet Explorer script file. The keystroke is assigned only in the default key map file. When you press INSERT+V while you are in Internet Explorer, JAWS finds and performs the application-specific version of AdjustJAWSOptions. However, when you are using Notepad and press INSERT+V, JAWS performs the AdjustJAWSOptions script from the default script file.

Note: If you attempt to assign a script to a keystroke which is already in use by the default file, then JAWS displays a warning dialog. This warning dialog gives you the opportunity to continue with the assignment or change it to another key. This is to prevent you from accidentally disabling a script in the default file without realizing you are doing so.

 

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