Using the Search Feature

If you have FSReader open from the last topic, you’re ready to go.

1. First switch to the JAWS window by pressing INSERT+J.
2. Next, press ALT+H to go to the Help menu.
3. Find and press ENTER on Training in the Help menu. FSReader opens to the JAWS Table of Contents.

The Search function allows you to quickly find a specific word or phrase in text content. For example, type the word “file” to find all instances of that word or other words that contain it like the word “profile.” Space before the f and after the e to find all occurrences of just the word “file.”

I’ll demonstrate how this works. I’ll navigate to the top of the Table of Contents by pressing CTRL+HOME. I’ll press CTRL+F to activate the find command, then type the word file without a space before or after, and press ENTER. If the text is found, focus will move to the first instance of that word or phrase. If it isn’t, you will receive a message that your search string is not found.

JAWS found a phrase containing the word “profile,” which includes the letters f I l e. I’ll select the text to visually indicate where focus is on the screen by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW to select the text that was found. I’ll press RIGHT ARROW to deselect that text.

I’ll press CTRL+HOME to navigate to the top and try it again with a space before and after the word. Now the results only contain the word “file,” I’ll press CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW to select the text and visually indicate where focus is on the screen.

Press F3 to navigate to the next instance of your search, and SHIFT+F3 to navigate to the previous occurrence.

You can also search for an entire phrase. I’ll press CTRL+HOME to navigate to the top of the Table of Contents, then press CTRL+F to activate the Find command. I want to know the total listening time for each training book. I’ll type the phrase “total time,” and press ENTER. Now I’ll press F3 to navigate through each instance of that phrase.

Finally, let’s explore other items in the Find dialog box. I’ll press CTRL+F. Here, we have the search edit box. I’ll press TAB to move through the other items. Context-specific history controls whether the find history is context-specific for the current site or application. For example, when you are on a specific website, checking this box will show your history for that site only. Check the Maintain history of recent finds box to retain a history of recently found items. Choose to search forward or backward from the cursor location using the direction forward or direction reverse radio button. Use the Ignore Case check box to ignore or specify the case of your search. For example, if the word or phrase you are searching for contains capital letters, you can choose not to ignore case so the results will match exactly what you type. We also have the Find button, Delete button, the Clear Find History button, and the cancel button.

I’ll press ESC to exit the Find dialog and return to the JAWS Basic Training Table of Contents in FSReader.

When continuing on to the next topic in this module you may leave FSReader open with the Table of Contents in view. That is where we pick up again in the next topic.

Please allow [07:49] to watch the short instructional demonstration on using the Search feature in FSReader before continuing to the next topic.