This page describes the keyboard command assignments for JAWS 11 and earlier and the Focus braille display. Once you understand this methodology, there is no need to memorize a long list of commands. The commands are separated into Convenience commands, JAWS commands, Windows commands, and Braille commands. There is only one assignment pattern for each. Focus commands are consistently based on JAWS and Windows commands. If you are familiar with JAWS and Windows keyboard commands, Focus commands are very easy to learn. If you become familiar with Focus commands, JAWS and Windows keyboard commands are also easy to learn.
Note: Some of these commands duplicate functions of the panning buttons, rocker bars, and selector buttons.
The computer braille number and function key relationship does not apply to the List System Tray Icons command, INSERT+F11 on the keyboard. RIGHT SHIFT+K (RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-3) has been assigned to this command. The command to open the Window List dialog, INSERT+F10, is RIGHT SHIFT+0 (RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 3-5-6). Commands that have been assigned using the Convenience Commands convention are not duplicated using the JAWS/Windows assignment convention.
If you need to select an item from the desktop, press D (DOTS 1-4-5) to go to the desktop, press LEFT SHIFT+SPACEBAR+RIGHT SHIFT to enable Typing mode, then type the first letter of the desktop item you want. For example, I for Internet Explorer.
There are other exceptions based on the availability of keys, however we have attempted to maintain consistency with the JAWS or Windows commands wherever possible.
These commands are the most common functions and are performed directly from the braille display. All convenience commands use only braille keys. These commands do not use the SHIFT keys or SPACEBAR and are only available when Typing mode (LEFT SHIFT+SPACEBAR+RIGHT SHIFT) is disabled.
Note: For ease of use, we have provided both the braille signs for each command and the dot pattern equivalents. If there is no braille sign corresponding to the dot patterns, the dot patterns are listed in both columns.
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Start Menu | ST Sign | DOTS 3-4 |
| Menu Bar | 9 | DOTS 3-5 |
| Minimize All Apps | D | DOTS 1-4-5 |
| Keyboard Help | TH Sign (Computer Braille Question Mark) | DOTS 1-4-5-6 |
| ENTER | DOT 8 | DOT 8 |
| BACKSPACE | DOT 7 | DOT 7 |
| ESC | Z | DOTS 1-3-5-6 |
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Positions |
|---|---|---|
| TAB | DOTS 4-5M | DOTS 4-5 |
| B | DOTS 1-2 | |
| PAGE UP | K | DOTS 1-3 |
| PAGE DOWN | DOTS 4-6 | DOTS 4-6 |
| HOME | Comma | DOT 2 |
| END | DOT 5 | DOT 5 |
| Top Of File | L | DOTS 1-2-3 |
| Bottom of File | DOTS 4-5-6 | DOTS 4-5-6 |
| Next Document Window (CTRL+TAB) | W | DOTS 2-4-5-6 |
| Next Line | DOT 4 | DOT 4 |
| Prior Line | A | DOT 1 |
| Move Left on Current Line | DOT 3 | DOT 3 |
| Move Right on Current Line | Capital Sign | DOT 6 |
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Positions |
|---|---|---|
| PC Cursor | P | DOTS 1-2-3-4 |
| JAWS Cursor | J | DOTS 2-4-5 |
| Route Braille to Active Cursor | R | DOTS 1-2-3-5 |
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle ActiveCursor Follows Braille Cursor | T | DOTS 2-3-4-5 |
| Braille Toggle Mode (Line, Structured, Speech History, Attributes) | M | DOTS 1-3-4 |
These commands primarily change settings for your Focus display. They are key combinations with the SPACEBAR, referred to as chord commands. Use the SPACEBAR like other modifiers (SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, etc.). Press SPACEBAR first, hold it down, and then press the other key or keys that are part of the command. These commands all change the settings used to format, translate, or present information on your display.
Note: For your convenience, we have provided both the braille signs for each command and the dot pattern equivalents. If there is no braille sign corresponding to the dot patterns, the dot patterns are listed in both columns. Use computer braille for numbers noted in the Braille Sign column.
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Top of Window | L CHORD | DOTS 1-2-3 CHORD |
| Bottom of Window | DOTS 4-5-6 CHORD | DOTS 4-5-6 CHORD |
| Adjust Braille Verbosity | B CHORD | DOTS 1-2 CHORD |
| Grade 2 Expand Current Word | T CHORD | DOTS 2-3-4-5 CHORD |
| Grade 2 Translation | G CHORD | DOTS 1-2-4-5 CHORD |
| Toggle Characters and Attributes | CH Sign CHORD | DOTS 1-6 CHORD |
| Toggle Marking | M CHORD | DOTS 1-3-4 CHORD |
| Toggle 8 Pixels per Space | P CHORD | DOTS 1-2-3-4 CHORD |
| Toggle 8/6 Dot Braille | 8 CHORD | DOTS 2-3-6 CHORD |
| Color Marking Assign | C CHORD | DOTS 1-4 CHORD |
| Change Cursor Shape | SH Sign CHORD | DOTS 1-4-6 CHORD |
| Restrict Braille Cursor | R CHORD | DOTS 1-2-3-5 CHORD |
Windows commands follow a similar convention. Many Windows commands use CTRL, ALT, or SHIFT as part of the command. On the Focus, the LEFT SHIFT key is used in these commands. The Windows keyboard command to copy selected text to the clipboard is CTRL+C, so the Focus command is LEFT SHIFT+C (LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-4).
The same letter assignments that are used with Windows commands are used for the equivalent Focus commands to make it as easy as possible to learn to use the Focus display or to learn Windows.
All Windows commands use the LEFT SHIFT key as part of the command.
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Patterns |
| ALT+TAB | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 4-5 | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 4-5 |
| Paste from Clipboard | LEFT SHIFT+V | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-3-6 |
| Copy to Clipboard | LEFT SHIFT+C | |
| Cut to Clipboard | LEFT SHIFT+X | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-3-4-6 |
| Undo | LEFT SHIFT+Z | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-3-5-6 |
| Delete | LEFT SHIFT+D | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-4-5 |
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Patterns |
|---|---|---|
| Select Next Character | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 6 | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 6 |
| Select Prior Character | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 3 | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 3 |
| Select Next Line | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 4 | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 4 |
| Select Prior Line | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 1 | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 1 |
| Select to End of Line | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 5 | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 5 |
| Select from Start of Line | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 2 | LEFT SHIFT+DOT 2 |
| Select from Top | LEFT SHIFT+L | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-3 |
| Select to Bottom | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 4-5-6 | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 4-5-6 |
| Select Next Screen | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 4-6 | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 4-6 |
| Select Prior Screen | LEFT SHIFT+K | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-3 |
| Select All | LEFT SHIFT+FOR Sign | LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| Select a Frame | RIGHT SHIFT+9 | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 3-5 |
| Select a Heading | RIGHT SHIFT+6 | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-3-5 |
| Select a Link | RIGHT SHIFT+7RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-3-5-6 |
To select with the cursor routing buttons, press and hold down the LEFT SHIFT, then press the cursor routing button above the text where you want to begin the selection. Release both keys. Move to where you want to end the selection, and press the LEFT SHIFT plus the cursor routing button at that location. Use any navigation commands to move from the beginning point to the end point of the text you are selecting, even the WHIZWHEELS, but if the window containing the text scrolls, this affects the information that is selected.
These commands are easy to learn if you are familiar with JAWS. If you are just beginning to learn your Focus display and JAWS, these commands should help you learn JAWS keyboard commands, as well.
The RIGHT SHIFT key on your Focus display corresponds to the INSERT key on the computer keyboard. The JAWS keyboard command to make the JAWS window active is INSERT+J, so the corresponding Focus command is RIGHT SHIFT+J (RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-4-5).
Many JAWS keyboard commands use INSERT together with the function keys, F1 through F12. For keyboard commands that use INSERT+F1 through F9, press and hold down the RIGHT SHIFT on the Focus and press the computer braille number of the function key. For example, the JAWS keyboard command for screen sensitive help is INSERT+F1, so the Focus command is RIGHT SHIFT+1 (RIGHT SHIFT+DOT 2).
All JAWS commands use the RIGHT SHIFT key as part of the command.
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Patterns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Sensitive Help | RIGHT SHIFT+1 | RIGHT SHIFT+DOT 2 | JAWS Window | RIGHT SHIFT+J | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-4-5 |
| Adjust JAWS Verbosity | RIGHT SHIFT+V | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-3-6 | |||
| Open Task List | RIGHT SHIFT+0 | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 3-5-6 | |||
| List System Tray Icons | RIGHT SHIFT+K | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-3 | |||
| Refresh Screen | RIGHT SHIFT+Z | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-3-5-6 | |||
| Say Font | RIGHT SHIFT+F | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-4 | |||
| Windows Keys Help | RIGHT SHIFT+W | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-4-5-6 | |||
| Read Current Window | RIGHT SHIFT+B | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2 | |||
| Default Button in Dialog | RIGHT SHIFT+E | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-5 | |||
| Shut Down JAWS | RIGHT SHIFT+4 | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-5-6 | |||
| Select a Synthesizer | RIGHT SHIFT+S | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-3-4 |
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Patterns |
|---|---|---|
| Route JAWS to PC | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 3-6 (MINUS Sign) | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 3-6 |
| Route PC to JAWS | RIGHT SHIFT+ING Sign (PLUS Sign) | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 3-4-6 |
| Description | Braille Sign | Braille Dot Patterns |
|---|---|---|
| Run JAWS Manager | RIGHT SHIFT+2 | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-3 |
| Set Frame Top Left | RIGHT SHIFT+OW Sign | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-4-6 |
| Set Frame Bottom Right | RIGHT SHIFT+ER Sign | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-4-5-6 |
| Graphics Labeler | RIGHT SHIFT+G | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-4-5 |
| JAWS Find | RIGHT SHIFT+F CHORD | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-4 CHORD |
| RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-5 | RIGHT SHIFT+DOTS 2-5 |