# Accessibility features in textual editors

Textual editors in Eclipse can be configured to better fit the needs of people using Accessible Technology such as screen readers and magnifiers. This document describes the relevant options.

## Code Folding

Some editors offer code folding by default which can be confusing. Disabling this feature can help to better read the code. Search for "folding" in the Preferences dialog to find related options.

## Accessing Annotations

You can navigate to the next annotation by pressing Ctrl+. and to the previous one by pressing Ctrl+,. Out of the box not all available annotation types are included in that navigation, for example, breakpoints are not part of it. Breakpoints and other annotation types can either be enabled via the Next Annotation toolbar button drop-down menu or by checking Include in next/previous navigation on the General > Editors > Text Editors > Annotations preference page.

Navigating to an annotation moves the text caret to the annotated line, and displays the annotation text in the status line. The next section explains how to read the status line under Windows.

Some annotation types, for example warnings and errors, can be accessed by pressing F2 after having navigated to one of them or setting the caret inside the annotation.

## Reading the status line with JAWS

JAWS desktop users press Insert+PageDown to read the Eclipse status line and JAWS laptop users press Caps Lock+PageDown.

## Accessing the Current Line Number

You can get the current line number by pressing Ctrl+L or via Navigate > Go To Line....

## Hovers and Pop-up Windows

F2 can be used to show and give focus to most hovers and pop-up windows in textual editors, like content assist proposals, content assist argument proposals, Quick Assists, Quick Fixes, errors and warnings. This allows the screen reader to read its contents. The key sequence for the Show Tooltip Description command can be changed on the General > Keys preference page.

## Quick Diff Hover

Like normal hovers can be shown by pressing F2, the quick diff and revision hovers that appear when hovering over the quick diff ruler on the left can also be shown by pressing a key sequence. However, out of the box no key sequence is defined for that. Go to the General > Keys preference page to assign a key sequence to the Show Quick Diff Ruler Tooltip command.

## Annotation Hover

Like normal hovers can be shown by pressing F2, the annotation hover that appears when hovering over the vertical ruler on the left can also be shown by pressing a key sequence. However, out of the box no key sequence is defined for that. Go to the General > Keys preference page to assign a key sequence to the Show Ruler Annotation Tooltip command.

## Content Assist Auto Activation

In order to prevent content assist to open automatically and hence maybe unexpectedly, it is recommended to disable auto activation. In the SDK the options below are available. Other editors might offer similar preferences.

- Deselect Enable auto activation on the Ant > Editor > Content Assist preference page
- Deselect Enable auto activation on the Java > Editor > Content Assist preference page

## Reading Words in the Java Editor

In order to get correct results when letting the screen reader read words in the Java editor it is recommended to disable Smart caret positioning in Java names on the Java > Editor preference page.

## Reading Java Code in the Java Editor

Some screen readers do not read punctuation by default, however it is useful to hear punctuation when reading code. When using a Java Editor with a screen reader, you can do the following:

- JAWS:

  JAWS reads most punctuation out of the box, however it does not say commas. To change this:

  - Utilities > Configuration Manager
  - Set Options > Customize Punctuation...
  - Select comma in the list, and change the setting from All to Most
  - OK
  - File > Save (to save the configuration)
  - File > Exit (to exit the JAWS Configuration Manager)
- NVDA:
  - NVDA menu (Insert+n) > Preferences > Voice settings...: enable Speak all punctuation
  - NVDA menu (Insert+n) > Save configuration
- Orca:
  - Preferences > Speech > Punctuation level: All
  - OK
- VoiceOver:

  VoiceOver reads most punctuation out of the box, however it does not say commas. To change this:

  - VoiceOver Utility
  - Verbosity tab
  - Punctuation: All
- Window-Eyes:
  - Global > Menu level: Advanced
  - Screen > Punctuation: enable Textual, Math, and Miscellaneous
  - File > Save

### Related tasks

Accessibility features in Eclipse
Navigating the user interface by using the keyboard

### Related reference

Accessibility preference page
Keys
Font and color settings in Eclipse