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Re: Having Issues with NVDA with Excel and Outlook 2016

Quentin Christensen
 

Hi Bob,

Which version of NVDA are you using?  And are you using any add-ons?

I don't have Office 2016 handy, only Office 365, however when I insert rows as you describe, NVDA keeps responding.  I just tried it in a blank worksheet, I went to A2, applications key, "insert" "row", then the row is inserted and focus returns to the book and NVDA reads: "Book 1 Excel, sheet 1 table, a2" - note that I haven't created a table, despite the word being mentioned there.

In Outlook, we're aware of some issues with some newsletters, particularly those with many layout tables, although generally the issue is either too much feedback about tables and cells, or too many blank lines, rather than crashing.

We did include some improvements for Outlook particularly in NVDA 2020.3, so if you aren't using that version, please do try it at least.  Another setting which may make a difference, is an advanced setting:

1. Press NVDA+control+g to open NVDA's general settings.
2. Press CONTROL+SHIFT+TAB to move to the last tab
3. Press SPACEBAR to check that you acknowledge the warning.
4. Press TAB until you get to "Use UI Automation to access Microsoft Word Document Controls when available".
5. Press SPACEBAR to toggle that
6. Press ENTER to close settings.

Outlook uses a Microsoft Word style window to display messages in Outlook.  This setting changes how NVDA gets information from Word or Word-style controls like this.  Some things may work better, and some may not work as well, but see how you find it.

Also if you are using any add-ons, try restarting NVDA with those disabled to test that as well (NVDA+Q, then down arrow to "Restart with add-ons disabled" and press ENTER).

Kind regards

Quentin.

On Wed, Nov 18, 2020 at 1:19 PM Bob Cavanaugh <cavbob1993@...> wrote:
Hello list,
I've been using NVDA for about 10 years now, but it's really only been
in the last few that it has become an every day use in my life, as
I've primarily been using System Access. However, since that screen
reader's future is uncertain, I want to get a few things with NVDA
fixed. I have two fairly major problems with Office 2016 on Windows 10
and the latest version on NVDA:
1. In Excel, whenever I try to modify a spreadsheet, NVDA stops
reading the document that is in focus. For instance, I like to double
check where I inserted a row. So, I will navigate to the row where I
want to insert, hit my applications key, choose insert from the menu,
and choose "entire row" from the dialog that pops up. On clicking OK,
I am returned to the spreadsheet as expected, but unless I alt-tab
away from and back to the spreadsheet or restart NVDA, it will not
read anything in the spreadsheet. Is there any way to fix this so that
NVDA will continue to read things in spreadsheets after taking such
actions? Note, it does not do this if working in a table within the
spreadsheet, just when the spreadsheet isn't a table.
2. The bigger issue is with Outlook, where reading at least some HTML
emails is nearly impossible with NVDA. This is particularly
problematic on emails from Groupon, which I have a lot of on my other
account which I access through Outlook. When I open those emails,
Outlook unexpectedly closes. This is the primary reason I still use
System Access with Outlook, because I've never had this problem with
that screen reader.
Bob







--
Quentin Christensen
Training and Support Manager
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