After you activate a cursor you should save its location. This ensures that the cursor is restored to the correct position on the screen after your script is performed. For example, when you are using the JAWS cursor to access a specific button within an application, you want it to stay there because you need to perform a left mouse click. If you write a script that moves the JAWS cursor without saving it first, then you must move the JAWS cursor back to the button after your script is finished. The end result is that you are left with the wrong cursor activated and in the wrong place.
You also need to route the cursor to the active application window. This action ensures the cursor you are using to read specific information is in the correct window. This is important as the JAWS and invisible cursors can be anywhere on your screen. So it is always a good idea to move these cursors to the active application. Otherwise, moving the cursor may yield unexpected results.
You can use the SaveCursor built-in function to save the cursor and its location. The SaveCursor function notes the active cursor and its present location. You can call this function after activating any of the cursors such as the JAWS cursor. The following block of code illustrates the use of the SaveCursor function:
JAWSCursor (); activate the JAWS cursor
SaveCursor (); save the JAWS cursor and its location
You can call the SaveCursor function multiple times in a script, after each cursor you activate. This is called "stacking saved cursors." The following code example illustrates the use of multiple SaveCursor function calls:
JAWSCursor () ; activate the JAWS cursor
SaveCursor () ; save the JAWS cursor and its location
InvisibleCursor () ; activate the invisible cursor
SaveCursor () ; save the invisible cursor and its location
After you perform your script and JAWS finds one or more saved cursors, JAWS restores them automatically. When you save multiple cursors, JAWS restores the cursors in reverse order.
You can also use the RestoreCursor built-in function when you need to restore a specific cursor before your script finishes. This function is useful when you need to save a cursor first, perform an action with that cursor, and restore it before the script finishes.
PCCursor () ; activate the PC cursor
SaveCursor () ; save the pc cursor
JAWSCursor () ; activate the JAWS cursor
SaveCursor () ; save the JAWS cursor
; reading statements go here
RestoreCursor (); restore the JAWS cursor
In the above example, the RestoreCursor function restores the last saved cursor. In this case, the RestoreCursor function restores the JAWS cursor since it was the last cursor saved.
The PC cursor is generally the active cursor in most applications. When you need to access information outside of the boundaries of the PC cursor, you need to route either the JAWS or Invisible cursor to the location of the PC cursor. When you route either cursor, you have a starting point that you know exists within the active application.
You can use the built-in function, RouteJAWSToPC to move the JAWS cursor to the location of the PC cursor. This function repositions the JAWS cursor to the exact position of the PC cursor. This function also moves the mouse pointer to the location of the insertion point or selection highlight.
However, this function does not activate the JAWS cursor. Any cursor movement functions used in your script will move the active cursor instead of the JAWS cursor. If you want the JAWS cursor to move you must activate it first.
JAWSCursor (); activate the JAWS cursor
SaveCursor (); save the JAWS cursor and its location
RouteJAWSToPC (); move the JAWS cursor to the location of the PC cursor
In the above example, the JAWS cursor is first activated and then saved. The RouteJAWSToPC function moves the JAWS cursor from its current location to the location of the PC cursor. At this point, you can use some of the cursor movement functions to move the JAWS cursor. See 6.6 Moving the Cursor for more information on cursor movement functions.
You can use the built-in function, RouteInvisibleToPC, to move the invisible cursor to the location of the PC cursor. This function repositions the Invisible cursor to the exact position of the PC cursor. Unlike the JAWS cursor, the Invisible cursor is not connected to the mouse pointer, so the function does not move the mouse pointer.
If you want to move the Invisible cursor you must also activate it first.
InvisibleCursor (); activate the Invisible cursor
SaveCursor (); save the location of the invisible cursor
RouteInvisibleToPC (); move the Invisible cursor to the PC cursor
In the above example, the Invisible cursor is activated then saved. The RouteInvisibleToPC function then moves the Invisible cursor to the exact location of the PC cursor. Now that the Invisible cursor is in the active window, you can use cursor movement commands to read information contained within the window.