Skip to main contentHome button, Freedom Scientific logo   Products & Services  |  Purchase  |   Downloads  |  Support

  News  |  Distributors |  Corporate Info  |  Contact Us  |  Search

What's New in JAWS 6.10

This page lists the exciting new features available in the version 6.10 update of JAWS. This is a free update for all current JAWS 6.0 customers that are using Internet License Manager (ILM) or dongle authorization.

Note: Freedom Scientific released an enhanced version of JAWS 6.10 on April 15, 2005 with several important fixes. if you have already downloaded and installed the 6.10 version posted on April 7, 2005, this new version will install over it and update it. There is no reason to uninstall JAWS.

JAWS Features
Braille
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft Office
Other Programs
Download JAWS 6.10

Fixes in the April 15, 2005 Release of JAWS 6.10

The enhanced release of JAWS 6.10 released on April 15, 2005, features the following additional fixes:

  • MSN Messenger 6.2 works again with JAWS as it did prior to the previous posting.
  • Problems with Access32 and JAWS 6.10 (unicode version) are resolved.
  • When you reply to an Outlook e-mail message, JAWS no longer gets "stuck" on the first line.
  • In Outlook, the keystroke for reading MSAA information has been changed from CTRL+SHIFT+M to ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+M to avoid conflicts with the native Outlook keystroke.
  • JAWS consistently opens attachments in Outlook when you select one from the INSERT+A list and press ENTER.
  • JAWS now speaks properly during installation if MAGic 9.30 is running.
  • JAWS now speaks correctly when selecting text in Outlook message headers.
  • Solved issues of certain Web pages with frames occasionally causing JAWS to stop responding.
  • Several minor issues in the JAWS online help system have been resolved.
  • Resolved an issue of occasional crashes in CPRS application used at the Veterans Administration.

JAWS Features

Skim Reading Summary

In the Skim Reading dialog box (CTRL+INSERT+SHIFT+DOWN ARROW), choose the Create Summary button to display a summary of the current page in the Virtual Viewer. This summary contains all the text you would hear if you began skim reading from your present location using your currently selected options. Each segment of text is a link. You can move to a segment and press ENTER to jump to its location within the document. Once you create a summary, it remains available until you generate another, even if you switch to a different document or program. You can press WINDOWS Key+INSERT+DOWN ARROW to review the last summary that you created in the Virtual Viewer. However, you can only use the links if the summary was created from the active document.

PAC Mate Desktop

PAC Mate Desktop allows you to establish a remote connection to your desktop or laptop computer from your PAC Mate. You can run programs and perform commands on your computer using your PAC Mate's keyboard. In effect, you can turn your PAC Mate into a braille display, synthesizer, and keyboard with a few simple commands.

Note: You must have PAC Mate firmware version 3.0 or later installed on your BX or QX unit to use this feature.

Do the following to begin using PAC Mate Desktop:

  1. Establish an ActiveSync connection between your PAC Mate and computer.
  2. On your computer, open the Start menu and choose Programs, JAWS610, Tools, PAC Mate Desktop.

Tip: If you want PAC Mate Desktop to start automatically when JAWS starts, open the Options menu and choose Basics. Then, choose the Advanced button and select the Launch PAC Mate Desktop on Startup check box. When you quit and restart JAWS, PAC Mate Desktop will also start.

  1. On your PAC Mate, press INSERT+SHIFT+F4 if you are using the QX model or DOTS 1-5-7-8 CHORD, D if you are using the BX model. You can now use your PAC Mate to operate your computer!

Do you need to pay any extra license fees to gain access to desktop JAWS with the PAC Mate?

No. You can use the new PAC Mate Desktop feature with any license of JAWS Standard or JAWS Professional. In fact, if you connect your PAC Mate to a computer without any authorization installed, JAWS still runs in 40 minute mode.

The JAWS Remote Access license fee is only required if you want to use your desktop or laptop computer to connect to a remote server using Citrix, Microsoft Terminal Services, or Microsoft Remote Desktop.

What version of PAC Mate firmware do you need to use the PAC Mate Desktop feature?

PAC Mate Desktop requires firmware version 3.0, which can only be installed on the PAC Mate BX or QX. PAC Mate units with earlier versions of the firmware cannot connect through PAC Mate Desktop.

Where can you read more information about setting up your computer to work with PAC Mate Desktop?

For more information on this feature, including installation information and steps for establishing a connection, refer to the topic "Using PAC Mate Desktop" in the JAWS 6.10 online help.

Unicode Version of JAWS

If you have Windows NT 4.0 or later, you will be installing the unicode version of JAWS when you upgrade to 6.10. Unicode allows JAWS to provide seamless support for languages with non-Latin alphabets, complex scripts, or special reading orders. With an appropriate SAPI-compatible speech synthesizer, you can now access information in a number of other languages you can purchase, including Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Hebrew, and more. Enhanced language support is also available if you use a braille display. You can even define your own braille representation for any symbols that JAWS does not read correctly.

The new unicode support also allows you to access special symbols for math and science. Whenever a symbol is not handled correctly, you can easily find out its unicode value, and then define your own reading and braille rule so that JAWS gives you relevant information. This new functionality should be a great benefit for both students and professionals.

If you have an earlier version of Windows, you will be installing the older ANSI version of JAWS when you upgrade to 6.10.

Language Detection

JAWS now attempts to detect the language of the current word and read it using the appropriate synthesizer voice. This feature was available in Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word in previous versions, and is now available for most other programs. Depending on the format of the document, you may need to use certain application commands or codes to indicate that words belong to a specific language. You can enable and disable language detection in the Adjust JAWS Verbosity (INSERT+V) dialog box or in the Text Processing dialog box of Configuration Manager.

WlmAdmin Support

JAWS now includes several useful commands for working with WlmAdmin. WlmAdmin is a program that allows you to manage an ILM license server for multi-user licenses.

  • Move to the server tree view - INSERT+SHIFT+T
  • Read static client information - INSERT+SHIFT+C
  • Read static license information - INSERT+SHIFT+L

Hear the Hexadecimal Value of Characters

JAWS can now announce the hexadecimal value of characters when you press NUM PAD 5 three times quickly. To hear hexadecimal values instead of the usual ASCII values, start Configuration Manager, open the Set Options menu, and choose Graphics and Symbols. Select the Speak Character Value in Hex check box to enable this option.

In addition, the Speak Character Value as Sequence of Multibyte Values check box (also in the Graphics and Symbols dialog box) allows you to determine how JAWS speaks the value of unicode characters. If you clear this check box, JAWS speaks the value of characters as is (for example, "u+627 hex"). If you select this check box, JAWS converts the character into a sequence (according to the current active codepage) and speaks the value of each of the component characters.

Table Indication Check Box

The Table Indication check box has been moved from the HTML Options dialog box to the Text Processing dialog box in Configuration Manager. If you select this check box, JAWS announces the number of columns and rows at the beginning of tables. In addition, JAWS indicates when you have moved to the end of a table.

Training Command on the Help Menu

Open the JAWS Help menu and choose Training to start FSReader. A dialog box that allows you to open a DAISY book appears. If you installed the JAWS Basic Training or What's New, you can select and open either of these books. These DAISY books guide you through the new features of your JAWS version and help you learn the basics of using JAWS.

Merge Schemes, PlaceMarkers, and Web Settings

When you use the Merge Utility to import settings from previous versions of JAWS into JAWS 6.10, your schemes, personalized Web settings, PlaceMarkers, and sounds are also imported.

Enhanced Edit Mode

You can enable or disable Enhanced Edit Mode in the Text Processing dialog box of Configuration Manager. If you enable this option, JAWS provides enhanced support for edit and rich edit areas. This feature allows for increased accuracy while reading text in these areas. In addition, enhanced edit support allows JAWS to recognize an extended selection of text attributes and better detect languages automatically. However, you may experience reduced responsiveness while using certain programs. This option is disabled by default.

Note: While this feature can provide expanded capability in some programs, it may cause problems in a number of others. It is recommended that you do not enable this feature unless you need JAWS to properly interact with languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, and others that output text from right to left, rather than left to right.

Braille

Word Wrap

If you enable Word Wrap, JAWS does not split a word that is too large to be shown on the braille display. When you pan to the next increment, you can read the word in its entirety. If you disable this option, JAWS displays as much of the word as possible, but a portion may be cut off. JAWS shows the remainder of the word when you pan to the next increment. This option is enabled by default.

You can turn Word Wrap on or off in the Adjust Braille Options (CTRL+INSERT+B) dialog box or the Braille Options dialog box in Configuration Manager.

New Options in the Adjust Braille Options Dialog Box

When you press CTRL+INSERT+B to temporarily change your Braille options for the active program, you now have quick access to many of the new and exciting Braille features introduced in JAWS 6.0. The following new options are available:

  • Grade 2 Suppress Capital Signs - If enabled, JAWS does not indicate capital letters on your Braille display.
  • Grade 2 Expand Current Word - If enabled, JAWS displays the current word in uncontracted Braille.
  • Flash Messages - Enable or disable Braille Flash Messages.
  • Auto Panning Mode - Change the active automatic panning method.
  • Word Wrap - If enabled, JAWS does not split a word that is too large to be shown on the Braille display.
  • User Panning Mode - Change the method used to pan the Braille display manually.

Note: The Increase and Decrease Number of Cells to Pan options are no longer available. In addition, the Whiz Wheels option is only available now if you have a Braille display equipped with Whiz Wheels.

Braille Viewer is Back

The Braille Viewer is once again available in JAWS 6.10. Braille Viewer provides a textual representation on the computer screen of the output received on a refreshable Braille display. To start Braille Viewer, open the Start menu and choose Programs or All Programs, JAWS610, Braille Viewer.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Change Line and Nonlink Text Length

There are four new options in the Personalized Settings dialog box that do not appear in the Adjust JAWS Verbosity (INSERT+V) dialog box for Internet Explorer. The Increase and Decrease Line Length options allow you to change the number of characters that JAWS recognizes as a line of text in the Virtual Buffer. The Increase and Decrease Nonlink Text options allow you to change the amount of text that must be found beyond the next link when you press the navigation quick key N.

Read Only Marked Table Headers

In Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat/Reader, you can now choose "Only Marked Headers" under the Table Titles option in the Adjust JAWS Verbosity dialog box (INSERT+V). If you select this option, which is now the default setting, JAWS only announces headers that are specifically defined as such in the table by the author.

New Table Reading Commands

You can use the following commands when reading tables in HTML and PDF documents:

  • Read from the beginning of the row to the current cell - INSERT+SHIFT+HOME
  • Read from the current cell to the end of the row - INSERT+SHIFT+PAGE UP
  • Read Current Column - INSERT+SHIFT+NUM PAD 5
  • Read from the top of the column to the current cell - INSERT+SHIFT+END
  • Read from the current cell to the bottom of the column - INSERT+SHIFT+PAGE DOWN

Control How JAWS Uses Style Sheets

JAWS now allows you to control how it handles style sheets on Web pages. If you experience difficulty reading Web pages or filling out forms in Internet Explorer, press INSERT+V to change this option temporarily or INSERT+SHIFT+V to change it for all pages within the current Web site domain. Select the option "Style Sheet Processing" and press the SPACEBAR to select one of the following settings:

  • Imported Style Sheets - Processes all style sheet information for the page. This is the default setting.
  • Top Level Style Sheets - Processes style sheet information embedded in the page or linked externally. Choose this setting if you experience problems with a Web page, or if your browser stops responding.
  • Ignore Style Sheets - Suppresses all formatting and layout information provided by the page's style sheet. This setting can help you work with difficult forms or pages that JAWS cannot seem to read.

Microsoft Office

Define Row and Column Titles in Excel

You can now use Excel's naming function to specify which rows and columns contain cell titles. Using names instead of JAWS commands makes the spreadsheet accessible to any user of JAWS 6.10 or later. There is no need to provide other users with the spreadsheet's .jsi file because the row and column title information is saved in the worksheet. This feature allows any spreadsheet author to define row and column titles without installing or using JAWS.

To use names to define row and column titles, do the following:

  1. Move to the first cell in the column or row containing the titles. If the spreadsheet contains both row and column titles, move to the cell where these two intersect.
  2. From the Insert menu, select Name and press RIGHT ARROW.
  3. Select Define and press ENTER.
  4. If the column contains row titles, type "RowTitle" and press ENTER. If the row contains column titles, type "ColumnTitle" and press ENTER. If the cell is the intersection of both row and column titles, type "Title" and press ENTER.

New Voice for Table Headers

In Microsoft Word and Excel, JAWS now reads row and column headers for tables in a different voice. To change this voice, open the Set Options menu in Configuration Manager and choose Voice Aliases. Select "HeaderVoice" and choose the Modify button.

Disable the Announcement of Monitor Cell Titles in Excel

There is now a verbosity option in Excel that allows you to toggle the announcement of monitor cell titles in Excel spreadsheets. This option is enabled by default. To change this setting, press INSERT+V, select "Announce Monitor Cell Titles," and press the SPACEBAR. If this option is on, JAWS reads the row and/or column title associated with the monitor cell and its contents when you press ALT+SHIFT+1 through 0. If you turn this option off, JAWS does not announce the titles of monitor cells. For more information on monitor cells, see Monitor Cells in Excel.

Tip: If you have not set a title for the cell, JAWS says, "Undefined." For information on defining row and column titles, see Excel Row and Column Title Reading.

Dock Floating Toolbars in Word

Toolbars in Word are either floating or docked. Floating toolbars are sometimes difficult to access with the keyboard and can obscure document text. JAWS now automatically docks all floating toolbars in Word. For more information, see Navigating Word Toolbars.

Read MSAA Information in Outlook

JAWS can now use MSAA (Microsoft Active Accessibility) to gather information in Outlook. If you find that the selected item is abbreviated or not read completely by JAWS, press ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+M to read the MSAA (Microsoft Active Accessibility) information for that item. MSAA provides more details to JAWS, so it can read all the information available.

Automatic Message Reading in Outlook

By default, JAWS no longer reads the entire message automatically when you open it. JAWS only announces the sender information and subject. If you want JAWS to automatically read the message body after reading the subject, press INSERT+V, select "Read Messages Automatically," and press the SPACEBAR to choose "Yes."

Tip: It is recommended that you leave this option set to "No" if you are using a braille display.

Automatically Read the Information Bar in Outlook

In Outlook, the information bar frequently displays useful status information. For example, this bar informs you when attachments have been removed from a message, which account a message will be sent from, when you last replied to the current message, when the appointment/meeting you are creating conflicts with an existing appointment, when an appointment time has passed, and so on. JAWS now announces the contents of the information bar when reading messages.

Other Programs

PDF Table Verbosity Options

There are several new verbosity options available in Adobe Acrobat and Reader. These options allow you to control how JAWS reads tables in PDF documents. To change these options, press INSERT+V while in Adobe Acrobat or Reader.

AOL Media Player

JAWS has included support for AOL Media Player since version 6.0. In JAWS 6.10, you can now press CTRL+SHIFT+S to hear the elapsed time and status of the current media. For more information, see America Online.

Download JAWS 6.10

You must download the version of JAWS that is compatible with your Windows operating system. If you have Windows XP, 2000, or NT, use the links in the section JAWS for Windows XP/2000/NT. If you have Windows ME, 98, or 95, use the links in the section JAWS for Windows ME/98/95.

Note: You must have the Internet License Manager (ILM) version of JAWS 6.0 to update to version 6.10 (the ILM version can also use a dongle for authorization). If your version of JAWS still uses the 3.5-inch disk authorization, contact Freedom Scientific Sales for details on switching to ILM authorization.

JAWS for Windows XP/2000/NT

Download JAWS 6.10 ILM Version for Windows XP/2000/NT
Download Free DEMO of JAWS 6.10 for Windows XP/2000/NT

JAWS for Windows ME/98/95

Download JAWS 6.10 ILM Version for Windows ME/98/95
Download Free DEMO of JAWS 6.10 for Windows ME/98/95