On Sep 27, 2022, at 3:59 PM, Louise Pfau <louise.pfau@...> wrote:

Hi.  Gmail appears to have just phased out the basic html view, so I have to use the standard view now.  I noticed that when I log in, NVDA is automatically placed in focus mode, and the cursor is placed in the conversation list.  Is there a way to set NVDA to place the cursor at the top of the page, so that you can see if there is other important information?  With the basic html view, that's how it worked.  In my opinion, the basic html view worked better with a screen reader.

Thanks,

Louise

Hi.  Gmail appears to have just phased out the basic html view, so I have to use the standard view now.  I noticed that when I log in, NVDA is automatically placed in focus mode, and the cursor is placed in the conversation list.  Is there a way to set NVDA to place the cursor at the top of the page, so that you can see if there is other important information?  With the basic html view, that's how it worked.  In my opinion, the basic html view worked better with a screen reader.

Thanks,

Louise

For about a year now, Gmail has logged in to standard view by default, but you can still access the basic HTML view. You have to force focus mode, then hit shift tab to the top of the page and the button will be there to change the view. I wish they hadn’t gotten rid of the option to make basic HTML your default view though, I was able to do that for like four years before it suddenly changed one day. 

On Sep 27, 2022, at 3:59 PM, Louise Pfau <louise.pfau@...> wrote:

Hi.  Gmail appears to have just phased out the basic html view, so I have to use the standard view now.  I noticed that when I log in, NVDA is automatically placed in focus mode, and the cursor is placed in the conversation list.  Is there a way to set NVDA to place the cursor at the top of the page, so that you can see if there is other important information?  With the basic html view, that's how it worked.  In my opinion, the basic html view worked better with a screen reader.

Thanks,

Louise

I have made a cutt.us shortener.

Now as long as it doesn't go down.

www.cutt.us/gmailweb.

Aparently cutt.us is good on privacy but whatever I use this as my daily
driver because firefox refuses to run basic html button only chromium
based brousers like edge do.


On 28/09/2022 12:59 pm, Bob Cavanaugh wrote:

For about a year now, Gmail has logged in to standard view by default,
but you can still access the basic HTML view. You have to force focus
mode, then hit shift tab to the top of the page and the button will be
there to change the view. I wish they hadn’t gotten rid of the option
to make basic HTML your default view though, I was able to do that for
like four years before it suddenly changed one day.

On Sep 27, 2022, at 3:59 PM, Louise Pfau <louise.pfau@...> wrote:

Hi.  Gmail appears to have just phased out the basic html view, so I
have to use the standard view now.  I noticed that when I log in,
NVDA is automatically placed in focus mode, and the cursor is placed
in the conversation list.  Is there a way to set NVDA to place the
cursor at the top of the page, so that you can see if there is other
important information?  With the basic html view, that's how it
worked.  In my opinion, the basic html view worked better with a
screen reader.

Thanks,

Louise

On Sep 27, 2022, at 3:59 PM, Louise Pfau <louise.pfau@...> wrote:

Hi. Gmail appears to have just phased out the basic html view, so I have to use the standard view now. I noticed that when I log in, NVDA is automatically placed in focus mode, and the cursor is placed in the conversation list. Is there a way to set NVDA to place the cursor at the top of the page, so that you can see if there is other important information? With the basic html view, that's how it worked. In my opinion, the basic html view worked better with a screen reader.

Thanks,

Louise

Hi.  Gmail appears to have just phased out the basic html view, so I have to use the standard view now.  I noticed that when I log in, NVDA is automatically placed in focus mode, and the cursor is placed in the conversation list.  Is there a way to set NVDA to place the cursor at the top of the page, so that you can see if there is other important information?  With the basic html view, that's how it worked.  In my opinion, the basic html view worked better with a screen reader.

Thanks,

Louise

Hello,

While I find the standard view of Gmail different, I don't find it to be
worse than the Basic HTML. In fact, I find it allows for much greater
productivity and functionality. We've discussed this on the chat subgroup,
but I'll address it again here, as this topic has come up.

Gmail is a web app, and many individuals aren't used to, nor have they
learned how to interact with web apps. I recommend learning about web apps,
even if you choose not to use them, as they can make the use of many sites
much easier. Examples are Twitter, Facebook, Google Calendar, outlook.com,
Office 365 and Google Workspace, etc., etc. As a screen reader user myself,
I've been using the standard view of Gmail for years, and find that it
allows me to be quite productive, as much or more than many common mail
programs, for instance. While I provided technology training, I discovered
that web apps make students' lives easier in the long run as well, as they
are forced to learn, early on, about the various modes of screen readers
which, while potentially confusing, leads to a much better awareness of the
power of the screen reader. In addition, they will work with most any
screen reader and browser combination, and will do so without any setup,
thus making it much easier for individuals who need to transition to a new
version of an app, or a new computer. Gmail's web interface requires
keyboard shortcuts to be enabled for the first time. Once enabled, they
don't require enablement again. Any labels/folders created will always be
there, any preferences you set up, including signatures, will be there, so
on and so on.

While I completely understand that change is difficult, that Gmail's web
interface is different, that in some instances, you may prefer mail
programs for accomplishing a specific task, web apps don't have to be so
scary, and can be beneficial should you take the time to get accustomed to
using them. And, at the end of the day, if you learn them and don't like
them, go back to what you were using before. But you will have gained a
better awareness of how to interact with web apps, and how to interact
better with your screen reader.

And, to answer the question that started this thread: NVDA automatically
goes into focus mode and places you in the list of emails, similar to a
mail program. If any alerts appear on screen, you should hear them spoken
verbally. One such alerts is to enable notifications.

On Tue, Sep 27, 2022 at 3:59 PM Louise Pfau <louise.pfau@...> wrote:

Hi. Gmail appears to have just phased out the basic html view, so I have
to use the standard view now. I noticed that when I log in, NVDA is
automatically placed in focus mode, and the cursor is placed in the
conversation list. Is there a way to set NVDA to place the cursor at the
top of the page, so that you can see if there is other important
information? With the basic html view, that's how it worked. In my
opinion, the basic html view worked better with a screen reader.

Thanks,

Louise

--
Best,

Nimer Jaber

Check out and subscribe to BlindTechAdventures
<https://www.youtube.com/blindtechadventures> in podcast audio form on
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for the latest technology news.

Thank you, and have a great day!

On Tue, Sep 27, 2022 at 05:07 PM, Brian Vogel wrote:

I'll let others answer your original question, as it's worth discussing as far as accessing Gmail webmail with NVDA.

Although Google has claimed that they're going to kill Basic HTML View, they still have not.  It's just now kinda-sorta hidden as far as getting to it.  Once you are logged in to Gmail you can use the following link,  Basic HTML version of Gmail, to change back to the Basic HTML version.  Just bookmark that link and after you log in to Gmail and land in the standard view you can activate it to shift back to Basic HTML view (at least until Google actually inally kills it entirely).

Hi Brian.  I have the link you provided already bookmarked, in fact that's what I use all the time.  When I used the "sign in" link on it this morning though, the standard html was activated for some reason.

Thanks,

Louise

Bob,

As has been pointed out by Louise, Google has been putting "the writing on the wall" about the ultimate fate of Basic HTML view for quite a while now.

No one will ever have any legitimate claim to being surprised when the door is eventually actually shut for good.  They have put a ton of work into maximizing the accessibility of the standard view, and all its bells and whistles, because it will eventually be the only view.
--

Brian - Virginia, USA  - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044  

Memory is a crazy woman that hoards rags and throws away food.

         ~ Austin O'Malley

On Wed, Sep 28, 2022 at 04:19 AM, Gene wrote:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/ 

-
That is a superior option for going straight in to Basic HTML view upon login, but even that now has the dialog after entering your login information asking, for all practical intents and purposes, "Do you really want to use Basic HTML view?," and giving you the option to use standard instead.  This did not used to occur.

I'm no longer going to argue about the phase out of Basic HTML view.  What we're discussing on this very topic is big, red letter writing on the wall.  Indications to the wise should be sufficient for long term planning.
--

Brian - Virginia, USA  - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044  

Memory is a crazy woman that hoards rags and throws away food.

         ~ Austin O'Malley