Hello Pat.
Ok, I believe this should solve your problems.
The Window Eyes scripts use a plugin which passes information about
skype to Window Eyes itself, such as the name of the person calling you,
or when a call ends, when people sign on or off, Etc. However Skype
recently removed their extras manager from their installer so now you
cannot use this plugin with a freshly installed copy of Skype.
Thus I suggest the following:
1. Uninstall Skype, either through add/remove programs under XP or
Uninstall a program under Windows Vista/Seven control panel.
2. Download the Skype 5.3 Installer which was the last to include the
extras manager from here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3105504/Skype5-3Setup.exe
And install that. This link is off my Drop Box for now, though I
may host this file on my Web Site soon. Please note that although this
is not the latest version, it is the last version to contain the extras
manager. Skype will update itself on its own to the latest version.
2. Once You've installed that, log in to Skype and at the top of the
window (you'll need the mouse cursor for this) you may see that the
plugin from GW-Micro wants to use Skype. You need to click the allow
button. If this does not appear, you may access it by doing the following:
Go to the tools menu in Skype with an alt-t or by navigating to it
through the menu bar, then down to options. Then scroll down to
advanced and tab over to the link that says "Manage other programs
access to Skype", go in this. You may find it helpful to use the mouse
cursor again in here to locate and click the GW-Micro Plugin, then go to
the change button, and set it to allowed. Click OK a couple of times
and you should suddenly notice Window Eyes becomming more verbose about
announcing things to you.
3. Set file error. If you hear WE say something like "not a valid
set file" when Skype opens or you alt-tab to it, you need to update
those set files. Open your WE config window with the control-backslash,
and go to the menu bar, in the file menu go down to update outdated
settings. This should locate any old set files and update them for you.
4. Invalid control types. If you find that some of the areas in Skype
don't navigate properly, you need to reclass them. I noticed this in
the options screen in the list where you arrow up and down through
things like general, audio settings, etc. When you're on this list and
if you find that it's not reading right, press insert-r and press space
on focused which it should automatically be on already. For the list of
options categories I found that list box worked best for that. For the
audio settings for your speakers and microphone boxes I found reclassing
those to combo box seemed to work for me. The last control I reclassed
was the edit-box where you type for instant messages and sms messages.
Reclassing that to edit box works well, otherwise if you don't WE won't
read when you erase messages and such. The WE scripts include an
accessible interface to Skype itself so you don't have to use the Skype
window itself, however I find it just as easy just to use the Skype
window. For example, if you want to IM someone, do an applications key
on their name and go down to send IM. It should drop you in their edit
box for typing a message. You can just press enter when done to send
the message. To review previous messages just press shift-tab to get to
the message history. You'll have to shift-tab roughly 3-4 times. It
may sound daunting but it's really not bad once you get used to it.
Lastly on your menu bar in Skype under Extras, you should see a
pull-down menu called Accessibility. You may find it useful to check
both the screen reader mode and extended keyboard navigation.
I hope this helps you get going with Skype. Some people use Skype
Talking as well, which again is a plugin that is separate of Skype and
Window Eyes and needs to be authorized to work with Skype. Again you'll
need this slightly earlier version for that. Personally, although Skype
Talking does have a nice interface which works something like Qwitter's
if you know about that, I find it just as well not to use it. The WE
scripts for Skype provide the same amount of information and
functionality once you get them working. Additionally, if you have both
Skype Talking and the WE Skype Scripts installed, you'll find that
contacts signing on or off are announced twice, unless you disable this
in one or another of the scripts or Skype Talking. Also personally I
found there were some instability issues with Skype Talking (WE freezing
with screen savers with Skype Talking running), though this may not be
the case with everyone. Given that Skype Talking needs to be authorized
with Skype to work just as WE Scripts do, I think it best and easier
just to stick to WE Scripts.
Hope this helps.
Cory
On 27/07/2011 12:09 PM, Pat Ferguson wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I wish someone would let me call them. I mean someone that really
knows Skype.
I'm so mad! I some how got another language selected, just because
Window-Eyes wouldn't read the combo boxes to me. It's not reading half
this stuff at all, and when I go to check boxes, it reads them as
unchecked. I'm so frustrated.
I need someone to let me call them please.
Any help is much appreciated, please.
Thanks.
Frustrated Pat
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your
message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your
message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You
can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only.
If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to
GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so
the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage
your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
