News from #Microsoft:

[nvaccess@fosstodon.org]

News from #Microsoft:

More logical navigation through Word documents for screen readers

There is a new setting (now in Office 365) which "allows you to use the up and down arrow keys to move through all the content in your document based on the logical reading order." - this will be a big improvement for situations including:
- Multi-column pages
- Text wrapped around images
- multi-page view

Read more at: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/more-logical-navigation-through-word-documents-for-screen-readers/4471937

#News #NVDA #ScreenReader #Accessibility #Keyboard

[vol4life8657@tweesecake.social]

@NVAccess So when I look in my copy of office, I do not see this option.

[rperez030@comunidad.nvda.es]

@NVAccess Is this different from reading a document usin browse mode with NVDA?

[davidgoldfield@allovertheplace.ca]

@vol4life8657 @NVAccess It's likely only available on insider builds for now.

[vol4life8657@tweesecake.social]

@DavidGoldfield @NVAccess That's weird, I'm on an insider build, and earlier I had it.

[nvaccess@fosstodon.org]

@vol4life8657 @DavidGoldfield The page at https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/more-logical-navigation-through-word-documents-for-screen-readers/4471937 was originally posted on 5th February, when the feature was in Insider builds, noting "This change is available to Word for Windows users running Version 2603 (Build 19727.20000) or later". Doug advised us today that the feature is now widely available. I have Office version 2602 build 19725.20172 and I have the option, hence why I waited until today to post it. It may take time to roll out to everyone though.

[nvaccess@fosstodon.org]

@Rperez030 While using browse mode in Word will overcome most of the same things like pressing down arrow in a multi-column document in Word, this setting is a Word setting, so it will work in focus mode as well as with no screen reader running. Microsoft left the option off by default to preserve the existing functionality - but I can't think of any good reason for NVDA users NOT to enable it (if anyone can think of a reason not to use it, please let me know).