Navigating with Screen Readers

Means of navigation have been improved for screen-reader users. This topic explains what actually changed and how to use it. The screen-reader users require the scheduler-screen-reader role to enable these features.

Prerequisites

Redwood Server has been tested with the JAWS screen-reader for the visually impaired. When you want to use a screen-reader, you have the following options, depending on your application server:

You use the scheduler-screen-reader role or append &sap-accessibility=X in the URL. Note that the use of the role is highly recommended. Despite what the name might suggest, the URL parameter is supported on all supported application servers, and is designed for testing purposes.

Basic flow

The main navigation control groups links for all object types. The control will only show one group at a time with all links for the group. All links on hidden groups are not shown.

Examples of groups are:

• Monitoring
• Definitions

When a link of a group is followed, a tab page is opened, which consists of two visible parts:

1. An entry is added to a list containing the names for all currently open tab pages.
2. A page is opened (using a frame) containing the information associated with the object type.

Most of the pages opened are so called "overviews", which are lists of objects of a certain type. When a row in the list of such a page is chosen, a new subordinate page will be displayed. The page contains all attributes of the selected object and offers all possible actions on the object.

Extra Controls on the Main Page

Besides the controls described in the basic flow, the main page contains more controls.

1. Language selector - This is a simple combo input, allowing to choose a language. Note that this now also influences the screen-reader.
2. Log-out button - Simple button, performing a log out.
3. Tool-bar - Contains actions like: show summary page, submit, show processes page, show options dialog. It will also contain context-specific actions for the current page.
4. Search - Input used for IntelliSearch.
5. Information dialog - Shows the systems version information.
6. Summary page - This is the default page shown after logging in. It contains general information about the system.

Using the Screen-Reader for Basic Flow

Groups can be accessed since they are links. The tool-bar also contains links and they are placed higher up on the page, so they will appear first. Selecting a group will expand it, like "Monitoring", after that it will show the links inside, these are prefixed with the "open" keyword. Selecting a link will open a page.

At anytime one page is shown, however more can be open at the same time, with the exception of detail pages. It works like tab pages, selecting a tab representing the page will show it. To display a page, you can make use of the fact that the tab names are level 1 headings, and can be navigated as such, by using the '1' key.

Again, most pages contain a list of objects, by navigating through level 2 heading, one navigates through the rows, arrow down can be used to announce row contents. After selecting a row, a detail page is displayed besides the overview. With level heading 3 navigation you can directly navigate to it. From here you should be able to access all the data and actions of the object.