OFF97: Accessibility Aids May Not Work with Office Programs

ID: Q169975

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
Microsoft Access 97
Microsoft PowerPoint 97 For Windows
Microsoft Outlook 97

SUMMARY

Accessibility aids may not work with the programs listed at the beginning of this article. The "More Information" section of this article contains information about specific accessibility aids and how to obtain updated versions of these programs.

MORE INFORMATION

Accessibility aids are used by some people with disabilities. They include the following types of programs:

Screen readers for people who are severely visually impaired or blind

Screen magnifiers for people with low vision

On-screen keyboards and speech-recognition (dictation) software for people with limited dexterity

Keyboard enhancement utilities for people who have difficulty with standard keyboard behavior

The programs included with Microsoft Office 97 include a new system of menus and toolbars, collectively known as command bars. Because command bars are provided by each program rather than by the operating system, earlier versions of accessibility aids may not work with these new command bars. However, command bars implement a new form of accessibility called Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA). MSAA greatly enhances the accessibility of command bars when used with accessibility aids that support MSAA.

THIRD-PARTY PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT WORK WITH OFFICE 97

The following sections contain information about specific accessibility aids for which Microsoft has been able to obtain information. Please note that this list is not comprehensive; information about other accessibility aids will be added as it becomes available.

JAWS for Windows 95, Version 2.0, by Henter-Joyce, Inc.

JAWS (Job Access With Speech) for Windows, version 2.0, does not work correctly with any of the programs included in Microsoft Office 97.

JAWS for Windows version 3.0 does work properly with Microsoft Office 97. For more information, contact Henter-Joyce, Inc., technical support.

Technical Support E-mail: jaws@hj.com
Technical Support Phone : (800) 336-5658 (United States only); (813) 803-8600
Web Site Address : http://www.hj.com/

SLIMWARE Window Bridge by Syntha-voice Computers, Inc.

Window Bridge for Windows 95 supports MSAA, so it should work correctly with all of the programs included in Microsoft Office 97. If you are using an earlier version of Window Bridge, you must upgrade to the version for Microsoft Windows 95.

Technical Support E-mail: help@synthavoice.on.ca
Technical Support Phone : (905) 662-0565
Web Site Address : http://www.synthavoice.on.ca/

Window-Eyes by GW Micro, Inc.

Window-Eyes for Windows 95 supports MSAA, so it should work correctly with all of the programs included in Microsoft Office 97. If you are using an earlier version of Window-Eyes, you must upgrade to the version for Windows 95.

Technical Support E-mail: support@gwmicro.com
Technical Support Phone : (219) 489-3671
Web Site Address : http://www.gwmicro.com/

DragonDictate by Dragon Systems

DragonDictate version 2.5x works in a limited capacity with the programs included in Microsoft Office 97. You can use it to dictate and correct text, but it does not work correctly for other tasks.

DragonDictate version 3.0 includes support for Microsoft Office 97.

Technical Support E-mail: support@dragonsys.com
Technical Support Phone : (617) 965-7670
Web Site Address : http://www.dragon-systems.com/

More Information About Accessibility Aids

For more information about accessibility aids that are designed for use with Microsoft products, visit the Microsoft Accessibility and Disabilities Web page at the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/

A catalog of accessibility products is available at the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/aids.htm

The third-party contact information included in this article is provided to help you find the technical support you need. This contact information is subject to change without notice. Microsoft in no way guarantees the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: OFF97 XL97 WD97 ACC97 PP97 OL97 braille reader review jfw


Keywords          : kb3rdparty kbenable xlui kbprb 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: June 7, 1999