# Links that are inaccessible with JAWS

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Sunday, 23-Mar-2014 13:48:08

Hi guys,
I can't imagine that someone hasn't posed this question already, but I did a search and couldn't find a topic for it. What are some alternative commands I can use when simply pressing enter on a link doesn't work? I'm currently running JAWS 13. I just tried to click on something on the ABC Family website, and nothing happened. I tried control-enter, shift-enter, insert-enter, and even control-shift-enter. Nothing worked, and I'm at the end of my tether with all these inaccessible links. Is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Becky

## Post 2 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Sunday, 23-Mar-2014 14:37:28

Actually jaws has a bad habbit of not landing exactly on a link.
Quite often doing a jawskey+f7 to get a links list will allow you to activate a link.
Sometimes just pressing tab and shift+tab will put you exactly on the link.
Pressing the jaws click numpad slash will activate a link when pressing enter doesn't work.
Hope one of these ideas work for you.
Bob

## Post 3 by Nicky (And I aprove this message.) on Sunday, 23-Mar-2014 16:45:13

some times I have found that the link is a mouse only clickable link. How do you go about that one?

## Post 4 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 23-Mar-2014 21:04:37

If on a computer with a full keyboard use the mouse buttons at the top of the number pad. These are the top second and third keys.
If on a laptop Shift 8 is the left and shift 9 is the right.
I personally haven't seen a website that only had mouse controls though. Can you say? I'd like to see that?
Also to add to Bob, when you activate links with insert F7 when you are on the link you want you can tab to activate link as well.

## Post 5 by silly_singer (The girl who's always lost in a melody) on Monday, 24-Mar-2014 3:07:16

If I remember correctly, you can also tap alt A when you have brought up the
links list with insert F7. This is quicker than tabbing over to activate.
I hope this helps.

## Post 6 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 24-Mar-2014 17:58:07

I was doing some work today and installed Jaws on a computer, so was reading the updates. I'd forgotten Jaws 15 claims to have fixed much of this, so if you have an upgrade, that would help.

## Post 7 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Tuesday, 25-Mar-2014 12:35:58

This is interesting. I'm glad I decided to read this post even though I didn't think it really applied to me. There is a website I used to visit and had no problems with, but in the last couple of months a certain link on that site stopped giving me the information I was looking for when I clicked on it. But after reading this post and the helpful suggestions, I went back and tried after not even visiting that site for more than a month, and hitting insert+F7 followed by ALT+a worked. Now I can go back to that site daily and use that link.

## Post 8 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Tuesday, 25-Mar-2014 13:07:27

Some sites use javascript to code their pages. (I don't know much about javascript, so maybe someone with more knowledge) can ccomment.
However, I think they can put a link on the page such that, if you click it it will put more information somewhere on that page. Jaws doesn't know the screen has changed, so you have to refresh the screen with insert+escape, then find the new information (if it is there).
Unless I'm completely bonkers this can make for a really harrowing reading experience.
Bob

## Post 9 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Tuesday, 25-Mar-2014 15:04:14

Ctrl+insert+enter is a way to expand links.
Kate

## Post 10 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 25-Mar-2014 18:38:49

The problem with web pages is design and screen readers, although try, just can't keep up. Sometimes that link you find will be inside a picture, so difficult.

## Post 11 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 26-Mar-2014 10:18:52

becky if you are using IE8, try firefox instead. sometimes i find certain webpages work better with firefox or load faster, or make jaws not hang etc. You are still on Windows XP aren't you? if you are ,you should really consider upgrading from XP

## Post 12 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Friday, 25-Apr-2014 9:45:17

Hi John
I'm using IE 11 now as well as Windows 7 and Office 2013. I was forced to get a new computer last week when my old refurbished XP laptop finally died and I didn't want to spend anymore money getting it fixed again.

## Post 13 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 25-Apr-2014 10:57:39

I'd maintain that you weren't forced as XP could still be an option if you insisted apon using it.

## Post 14 by starfly (99956) on Saturday, 26-Apr-2014 13:04:18

um.. you want people to use an OS that does not get updates? I highly suggest leaving xp far behind.

## Post 15 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 26-Apr-2014 13:08:22

No, i don't want people to use something that doesnt' get updates.
I'm just saying that it can be done if they insisted on doing so.

## Post 16 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 26-Apr-2014 18:09:27

Look how long it took to convert John.
Once he had Windows 7, he'll never go back. hahaha
Yeah baby!

## Post 17 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 26-Apr-2014 18:10:58

By the way. John is about to get a smoken altra book.
John dear, did you know that 8.1 and Windows 7 can communicate?
Just something to sleep on before you order. Smile.

## Post 18 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 26-Apr-2014 18:36:20

dude that's considered an ultrabook? I didn't know that although its not a current ultrabook, as a current has to have touch, b and has other specs

## Post 19 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 29-Apr-2014 15:59:58

OOO, you're gunna love your ultrabook! I love mine fo sho!
As for clicking links that do nothing, I have a couple of additional things to try.
1. hit the applications key. Sometimes it'll say open or open in new window. That will open the link.
2. Go to Jaws cursor and find the text of the link. Then rout pc to jaws and then double left click.
HTH

## Post 20 by Sonarflash (Newborn Zoner) on Wednesday, 03-Sep-2014 12:26:09

Please pardon if this is a bit off topic, but regarding keystrokes, I searched and struggled, trying to find out why my keyboard kept losing the right-hand Alt key in Windows 8.1 with JAWS 15. Last night, I discovered by accident when I hit the left shift and CTRL together, that toggled the keyboard into "Canadian multilingual standard" and hitting them both again returns it to "US".
All this info on keystrokes has been a great help. Over the past several years, attempts at wading through the JAWS manual usually put my old brain to sleep. Glad to discover these posts by younger, sharper minds.