When using the laptop keyboard layout, most of the commands are right at your fingertips so you do not need to continually switch your right hand to the number pad and then back to the main section of the keyboard.

However, without a number pad, some keystrokes are difficult or impossible to use.Įven if you use a desktop system or keyboard, you may want to try the laptop keyboard layout. Almost all laptops have an INSERT key, and it can be used in the same way for many reading commands as the INSERT key on a regular keyboard. Therefore, many of these functions have been shifted to the main section of the laptop keyboard. However, very few laptop systems have keyboards with a number pad, or if they do, it is not easily used. When doing so, the INSERT key on the number pad is used as the JAWS Key, or modifier, to create keystrokes that are used in reading the screen. Most JAWS users read the screen with keystroke combinations using the number pad. Why is it that people who use laptop computers with JAWS screen reading software need a different keyboard layout? The majority of people who use computers use a full-sized keyboard with a number pad.

Route PC to JAWS, INSERT+NUM PAD PLUS (laptop users: CAPS LOCK+APOSTROPHE).

Route JAWS to PC, INSERT+NUM PAD MINUS (laptop users: CAPS LOCK+LEFT BRACKET).

NUM PAD MINUS twice quickly, Invisible cursor (laptop users: CAPS LOCK+P twice quickly).

NUM PAD MINUS, JAWS cursor (laptop users: CAPS LOCK+P).

NUM PAD PLUS, PC cursor in most applications, Virtual cursor in HTML and PDF documents (laptop users: CAPS LOCK+SEMICOLON).

ASTERISK, right mouse button (laptop users: CAPS LOCK+9).

FORWARD SLASH, left mouse button (laptop users: CAPS LOCK+8).

Some other keys which may be used include the following: If you want to use your number pad for typing numbers, press NUM LOCK to toggle back and forth from screen reading mode to number input mode.

When JAWS is loaded, the NUM LOCK is turned off, so that the keys represent movement keys, such as left arrow, right arrow, page up, and so on. Reading the screen is done by pressing keys on the numeric keypad, or NUM PAD, sometimes in combination with other keys on the keyboard. NOTE: For those of you participating in the live Webinar, the following link will open the documentation in a new browser window. JAWS and MAGic Reading Commands and Cursors Used by JAWS JAWS and MAGic Reading Commands

Virtual keyboard with number pad