Word form help text problem

[Nemo]

I created a form in Microsoft Word XP. Added my own "help text" so
that screen reader reads a caption for each input field. Almost all
of my input fields work for the screen reader EXCEPT several "address
fields". The tag,"street address of college", is not read. Instead
the JAWS reads the coordinates of the field. Also JAWS does this
sometimes for the "firm address" fields.

Finally I have a place for 2 references. In one, JAWS reads
accurately "relationship of reference to yourself". But in the room
for a second reference, it does not read that line but the coordinates
of the input field and adds page 4.

How do I work around this? Is this a problem with Word or with JAWS
or with something I have done?

Thanks for your help.
Nadine

 

[Dian D. Chapman, MVP]

See if the info in this article helps...

Microsoft Word Forms vs Blind Users
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=134

Also, if you don't get a better answer here, you might want to post to
this Word group on Yahoo...as this group is run by a blind user and
has many JAWS users in the group. Maybe someone there has some tips
from their experiences.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/word-ms/

Good luck!

Dian D. Chapman
Technical Consultant, Microsoft MVP
MOS Certified Instructor, Editor/TechTrax Ezine
Tech Editor for Word & Office 2007 Bibles
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Dian.Chapman

Soldiers' Angels Blankets of Belief
http://www.mousetrax.com/dian/angels.html

Free Computer Tutorials: http://www.techtrax.us
Free Word Tricks eBook: http://www.mousetrax.com/books.html
Learn VBA the easy way: http://www.mousetrax.com/techcourses.html

 

[Nemo]

See if the info in this article helps...

Microsoft Word Forms vs Blind Usershttp://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=134

Also, if you don't get a better answer here, you might want to post to
this Word group on Yahoo...as this group is run by a blind user and
has many JAWS users in the group. Maybe someone there has some tips
from their experiences.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/word-ms/

Good luck!

Dian D. Chapman
Technical Consultant, Microsoft MVP
MOS Certified Instructor, Editor/TechTrax Ezine
Tech Editor for Word & Office 2007 Bibleshttps://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Dian.Chapman

Soldiers' Angels Blankets of Beliefhttp://www.mousetrax.com/dian/angels.html

Free Computer Tutorials:http://www.techtrax.us
Free Word Tricks eBook:http://www.mousetrax.com/books.html
Learn VBA the easy way:http://www.mousetrax.com/techcourses.html

Formatting can conflict with reading of Help Text. Because there was
a requirment for two (2) references, I used a numbered list to warn
the user of the screen reader. So just the reference name entry was
numbered; the next five lines (part of group) were not numbered; then
numbered the second reference name input field. Screen reader did not
read that it was a numbered list and the list formatting interfered
with the next input field. Screen reader read the coordinates of the
field, not its help text.

Also tabs, if not part of style, seem to be read first as coordinate,
but the help text is finally read.