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Accessibility Tutorials / Windows XP

Select a Keyboard Layout

On–Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen that allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. Besides providing a minimum level of functionality for some people with mobility impairments, On–Screen Keyboard can also help people who do not know how to type. This procedure tells you how to select a keyboard layout for On–Screen Keyboard.

Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
1
On the Start menu:
  • Point to All Programs.
  • Point to Accessories.
  • Point to Accessibility.
  • Select On–Screen Keyboard.

Note:  A message box with a link to more information about the On–Screen Keyboard may appear. To close the box, select OK.

Display the Start menu by pressing CTRL+ESC (or the Windows logo key [image: Windows logo key] ).
  • Move to All Programs by pressing P.
  • If it does not open automatically, press ENTER to open the All Programs menu.
  • Move to Accessories by pressing the DOWN ARROW key.
  • Press ENTER.
  • Select Accessibility by pressing ENTER.
  • Move to On–Screen Keyboard by pressing the DOWN ARROW key.
  • Press ENTER.

Note:  A message box with a link to more information about accessibility utilities may appear. To close the box, press ALT+TAB to select the message box, and then press ENTER. Then, press ALT+TAB to select the document in which you want to begin working.

2
In the On–Screen Keyboard window:
  • On the Keyboard menu, choose the keyboard options you prefer by selecting or clearing the check boxes.
In the On–Screen Keyboard window:
  • Display the Keyboard menu by pressing ALT+K.

  • Choose from the following keyboard options:
  • Select Enhanced Keyboard by pressing E.
  • Select Standard Keyboard by pressing S.
  • Select Regular Layout by pressing R.
  • Select Block Layout by pressing B.
  • Select 101 keys by pressing 1.
  • Select 102 keys by pressing 2.
  • Select 106 keys by pressing 6.
3
After selecting On–Screen Keyboard options, to return to the document you want to type characters in:
  • Place the insertion point where you want to begin.

Note:  To exit On–Screen Keyboard, select the Close button.

After selecting On–Screen Keyboard options, to return to the document you want to type characters in:
  • Press ALT+TAB to select it.

Note:  To exit On–Screen Keyboard (be sure it is selected by pressing ALT+TAB), and then press ALT+F, X.


[image: On-Screen Keyboard: Keyboard: Select keyboard layout]

On–Screen Keyboard: Keyboard: Select keyboard layout


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Last updated: Thursday, February 14, 2008
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