Zoom Scripts Documentation.

Introduction.

Welcome to the Zoom Conferencing Scripts documentation. Zoom is a highly accessible and easy to use conferencing client which has become widely used by visually impaired people in recent years. It provides plenty of opportunities for visual and audio interaction, together with screen-sharing and recording capabilities, to name but a small number of its features.

Despite the high level of accessibility included, there are a number of features which the scripts provide so as to make it more convenient for you to host and participate in conferences with confidence. By far the best of these is the ability to suppress alerts from being spoken automatically, when a person enters or leaves the room, if you are using the computer audio, if a chat message has been sent or if someone raises their hand for example. While these are undoubtedly useful things to know, they do mean that they can interrupt the flow of presenting as they can be disconcerting to the speaker. Moreover, if you are delivering a presentation which involves the audience hearing the output from a screen-reader, it is not acceptable for listeners to hear such messages. These can be disabled, and you can review the most recent of these quickly.

Other features are also included, such as the ability to only hear who has raised and lowered a hand, (perhaps in anticipation of asking a question).

This documentation is quite short and will get you up and running in just a few minutes. You will learn how to install the scripts, how to activate them and of course, how to work with the different features.

Hear an audio demonstration of the Zoom Scripts.

Purchase our training course Time to Go Zoom!

This is an in depth training course which will not only teach you how to use Zoom but also how to get over some accessibility difficulties in the program which are currently being investigated by Zoom Accessibility.

Downloading and Installing the Scripts.

The Zoom Scripts can be downloaded from this page. They consist of a program which will allow the scripts to be installed into the version of JAWS you are using.

Please download the scripts installer.

For reasons best known to themselves, Microsoft will block a number of file downloads, even though almost every security program does not. If you find this happens, you can Download the zipped archive of the binary files.

Once downloaded, work through the below instructions.

The following notes describe how to locate your JAWS Settings/ENU folder where all your JAWS scripts live. This will allow you to place the JAWS scripts into the required location in order that the screen-reader can use them.

1. First of all, locate the zipped archive with which you have been provided.
2. If you are using the standard unzip utility for Windows, pressing Enter will open up this file.
3. Press Control+A so as to select the contents of the entire zipped archive.
4. Press Control+C to copy the contents of the zipped archive to the Windows clipboard.
5. Press Insert+J to move to the JAWS window.
6. Press ALT+U for the Utilities menu.
7. Locate the item, Explore Utilities Folder, found on the Utilities menu and press Enter.
Alternatively, press the shortcut key, letter X.
8. From the list of folders which appears, select, Explore My Settings and press Enter.
9. This is the folder you need to place the scripts into. Press Control+V to paste the content of the zipped archive into this folder. If Windows prompts you as to whether files should be replaced, press the Space Bar on the Replace All Button.
10. Finally, press ALT+F4 to close the Settings/ENU screen and then restart your computer.

Using the regular installer, installing the scripts is extremely straightforward. Simply run the installer program, the majority of prompts for which will be announced by your JAWS screen-reading software automatically.

In most cases, pressing Enter to activate the “Next” Button on each screen should be sufficient. Following the opening screen, the scripts installer detects the versions of JAWS which are installed onto the machine and presents you with a series of Radio Buttons, inviting you to choose which release you would like to install the scripts into. Press the Down Arrow key to select the version of JAWS you wish to use,, then press Enter.

If you wish to install the scripts into another JAWS version at a later date, this can easily be achieved by running the installer a second time and choosing a different version of JAWS from the list.

You will next be asked for a language folder into which the scripts should be installed. This refers to the JAWS language settings to be used. You should press the Down Arrow key until "enu (English US)" is selected, then press Enter. Indeed, this is usually the first item in the list.

Prior to copying the necessary files to the computer, you will be asked to confirm the location of the installation of JAWS script files. If JAWS is being used by a person with an alternative Windows account to the one shown, you should correct this in the Edit Field before proceeding, changing the text so it points to the scripts user's account instead. The majority of users will not have to be at all concerned with this screen and can just press Enter to continue with the scripts installation.

When the installer has completed creating the additional folders required for the scripts , and copying files to them, you will be prompted to restart the computer and you should comply with this request. This is critical!

Activating the scripts .

When the Windows operating system is fully loaded, please start the Zoom client, usually by activating a shortcut on the Windows desktop.
After a short pause, the scripts will check the Hartgen Consultancy server to determine whether or not an activation file for the product is available for you. This is based on your JAWS for Windows serial number.

If an activation file is not found, a Dialog Box will appear with an "OK" Button in focus, stating that an activation file could not be found.
you will then hear messages periodically given, stating that the scripts are running in "Demonstration Mode".

"Demonstration Mode" is designed as a temporary measure to allow you to use JAWS so as to contact us to alert us to the fact that there is a problem.

If an activation file is found, it will automatically be downloaded to your computer and placed in the correct location on the machine. You will be advised of this with the words "Product Activated.

If you have purchased an activation file, and you find that the scripts are operating in "Demonstration Mode", please contact Hartgen Consultancy immediately, whereupon a manual activation file can be sent to you.

Please note: You can install the scripts onto multiple machines provided the same JAWS serial number is being used. In other words, JAWS must be activated with the same serial number on each of the computers to host the scripts .

Configuring Zoom.

There is a final step we recommend, and this can only be carried out when a meeting is in progress. It is a one-time setup procedure. You do not have to work through these steps but it may make things easier for you.

• Press ALT+U to focus on the list of participants in the meeting.
• Press Shift+Tab until you reach the button "More options to manage all participants".
• Press the Space Bar to activate the Button and select the option "Pop-out".
• When you have found this option, press Enter to activate.
• Press ALT+U to instruct JAWS that the menu has closed.

What this means is from this point forward, when you have pressed ALT+U to open the participants list, you can now press F6, and this will rotate between all the available Zoom windows which are open, including the one for the participants list. It makes it much easier to handle a meeting that way. It means you can activate the list, leave it open, and very quickly find out who is in the meeting whenever you want.

Using the Zoom Scripts.

Managing Alerts.

By far the most important keystroke you should use is ALT+Windows+S. This enables or disables the Zoom alerts from being spoken or sent to the Braille display if you have one. It is a toggle keystroke, so pressing it repeatedly will cycle between the three available options.

• Alerts Disabled. Self-explanatory. You will not hear alert information./li>
• Alerts Disabled including External Applications. If this option is selected, you will not hear Zoom-generated alerts, nor those emanating from other applications. These include those from web browsers, such as news events and download information./li>
• Alerts Enabled. All alerts are spoken regardless of their type.

The recommended setting is: "Alerts Disabled".

Whichever condition this feature is set to, the behaviour applies globally, irrespective of the application in which you are working.
So if you have disabled alerts from being spoken, you will not hear them in your web browser, word processor, etc.

However, there is a possibility that you would like to hear only alerts pertaining to people who have raised their hand. If this is the case, from within Zoom press ALT+Windows+Y. Again, this is a toggle action keystroke and will enable or disable the feature. Similarly, you may like to know whether anyone has entered or left the Waiting Room. Moreover, you may like to know whether you are in a Waiting Room or not. So if alerts are disabled, press ALT+Windows+W to toggle this access on and off.

Whether alerts are enabled or disabled, you can press ALT+Windows+A from within any application. This will speak or Braille the most recent alert irrespective of its type. This is a global keystroke and can be pressed from within any application.

Sound Notifications.

Sounds to indicate various events within a Zoom meeting can be enabled, disabled and auditioned.

Activate Hotkey Help by pressing Insert+H or ALT+Windows+H.
There are a number of hyperlinks at the top of this screen. You simply press Enter on the link depending upon which item you wish to activate or deactivate.

The items as taken from the hotkey help are as follows:

• Activate the sound for when someone has raised or lowered a hand in the Participants List.
• Deactivate the sound for when someone has raised or lowered a hand in the Participants List.
• Listen to the sound for the raising of hands in the Participants List.
• Listen to the sound for the lowering of hands in the Participants List.

• Activate the sound for when someone has muted or unmuted audio in the Participants List.
• Deactivate the sound for when someone has muted or unmuted audio in the Participants List.
• Listen to the sound for when someone has muted audio in the Participants List.
• Listen to the sound for when someone has unmuted audio in the Participants List.

• Activate the sound for when you receive a private chat message.
• Deactivate the sound for when you receive a private chat message.
• Listen to the sound for when you receive a private chat message.

• Activate the sound for when you receive a public chat message.
• Deactivate the sound for when you receive a public chat message.
• Listen to the sound for when you receive a public chat message.

• Disable all sounds.

"Working with Text Chat Messages.

One of the core components of the Zoom Conferencing client is the ability to send and receive Text Chat messages. From within a meeting, go ahead and press ALT+H. This takes you into the Text Chat window and the text edit field for composing a new message is in focus. Type a message followed by pressing Enter, whereupon it will be sent automatically.

To move to the list of Text Chat messages which have been sent, press Control+Shift+H. You can press F9 to place a message into the JAWS Virtual Viewer. We'll come back to this keystroke later. Press Escape to close and return to Zoom.

To move back to the Edit Field for composing a new message, press Control+Shift+E.

Whether alerts are enabled or disabled, from within the Zoom client press Control+1 through to Control+0 on the numbers row of the keyboard. This will allow you to hear the 10 most recent alerts, with Control+1 speaking or displaying the most recent. Press the relevant keystroke twice quickly so as to place the message into the JAWS Virtual Viewer for closer inspection.

We will now discuss the role of the next keystroke relating to text chat messages: Control+F5. This has three options:

• All alerts are available when pressing Control+1 through to Control+0. Text chat messages are not spoken when they arrive.
• Only text chat messages are available by pressing Control+1 through to Control+0. Text chat messages are not spoken when they arrive.
• Text chat messages are spoken automatically as they arrive. Moreover, when you press Control+1 through to Control+0, you will be reviewing Text Chat messages only.

In summary, if you do not wish to hear any text chat messages as they arrive, select one of the first two options.

Regardless of the Control+F5 setting you have selected, you can press:

• ALT+Windows+R. This will remind you of the current settings. They are displayed in the JAWS Virtual Viewer for easier reading.
• ALT+Windows+M. This will display in the Virtual Viewer all the messages available during the current session.

Users Raising Hands.

If alerts have been disabled, you can be notified automatically if a meeting participant has raised his or her hand. Press ALT+Windows+Y in order to toggle this automatic speaking on and off. In the future, you will be able to take control of other alert types.

A more accurate method of determining people who have their hand raised is to move through the participants list. If sounds are enabled, you should hear an audio cue alerting you to the fact that a user has a hand raised or lowered. You then have the opportunity of pressing Tab to move to the "Lower Hand" and "Unmute" Buttons.

Determining Who is Talking.

To hear the name of the person speaking, press Control+Shift+T. After a short pause, JAWS should announce this correctly.
Best results are achieved if the Alerts setting discussed above is set to "Alerts Disabled".

The Timer.

This feature should only be used if the below problem occurs.

On some machines, pressing keystrokes such as ALT+R to start recording will cause JAWS to announce inaccurate information. This is because the alert denoting the recording status is not being sent to JAWS fast enough. If this occurs, from within the Hotkey Help select the "Adjust Timer" link. The default value is 5. So you can slow down the timer by entering a higher value. We suggest a value of 10 is a good starting point. Type it in and press Enter. JAWS will then wait a little longer before checking the status.

Interaction in the Participants List.

Assuming you have configured the Participants Panel in the way described above, there are a number of keystrokes you can use. Press F6 so as to focus on the Participants Panel first.

When in the Participants Panel or Attendees List, press the Grave Accent Key followed by P to move to the list box of users. The Grave Accent key is situated to the immediate left of figure 1 on the main QWERTY keyboard.

When in the Participants Panel or Attendees List, press the Grave Accent key followed by W to move to the users in the waiting room.

To admit someone from the waiting room to the meeting, focus on the user name and press the Grave Accent key followed by A.

Braille Mode.

When Braille Mode is enabled, any alerts from Zoom itself will not be spoken and will only be communicated in Braille. That is not to say that speech is suppressed entirely. There are ways in JAWS to do that. However, it was requested that people perhaps wanted to see alerts on the display while listening to alternative speech content, such as when delivering an audio demonstration of an application.

Braille Mode should only be used in the above situation. If you need to enable or disable it, press ALT+Windows+B.

Additional Improvements.

The scripts enhance the usability of using Zoom in a number of other ways:

• If you wish to join a meeting, and you have an ID, press the Grave Accent key followed by J.
• When scheduling a meeting, creating a new one, or reviewing your audio settings, the dialog box controls are somewhat easier to comprehend.
• ALT+R should report whether recording is enabled or not.
• ALT+P should report whether recording has been paused or is resuming.
• Regardless of the alert setting, ALT+A reports whether the audio is muted or unmuted. Note that this could take a couple of seconds.
• Press F9 to place the contents of the focused control into the JAWS Virtual viewer, such as a chat message in the history list or a name in the participants list. Press Escape to close.
• Press Insert+T twice quickly to place the window title into the JAWS Virtual viewer, including a Meeting ID. Press Escape to close.
• Press Insert+F8 for a list of keystrokes native to Zoom. Press Enter on an item to carry it out.
• Press Insert+H for Hotkey Help.

Checking for Updates.

You will notice at the bottom of the Hotkey Help screen is a link entitled "Check for Updates." Press Enter on this link to check to see if there are any new Zoom Script updates available.

Technical Support.

If you require Technical Support, please email brian@hartgenconsultancy.com.

If necessary we can use the JAWS Tandem feature to remote onto your computer with your permission and rectify any problem which may have arisen.