Use Scanning Mode

On–Screen Keyboard is a 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.

In scanning mode, On–Screen Keyboard continually scans the keyboard and highlights areas where you can type keyboard characters by pressing a hot key or using a switch–input device. This procedure tells you how to select scanning mode 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 ). 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: Select Settings. Select Typing Mode.	In the On–Screen Keyboard window: Be sure On–Screen Keyboard is selected by pressing ALT+TAB. Display the Settings menu by pressing ALT+S. Select Typing Mode by pressing T.
3	In the Typing Mode dialog box: Select Joystick or key to select.	In the Typing Mode dialog box: Select Joystick or key to select by pressing J.
4	To set the speed for how quickly On–Screen Keyboard scans: Select the Down Arrow, and then choose a value from the list. Select the Advanced button.	To set the speed for how quickly On Screen Keyboard scans: Press the TAB key. Press the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to select a scan interval. Select the Advanced button by pressing ALT+A.
5	In the Scanning Options dialog box: Select the Serial, parallel, or game port check box. Or, Select the Keyboard key check box. Select OK twice.	In the Scanning Options dialog box: Select the Serial, parallel, or game port check box by pressing S. Or, Select the Keyboard key check box by pressing K. Press ENTER twice.
6	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.

Notes

On–Screen Keyboard scans by highlighting each row of keys from the top to the bottom of the keyboard. When the row that contains the key you want to type is highlighted, you use the hot key or switch input device you have designated (see below) to select the row.
If you are using Regular Layout, On–Screen Keyboard then scans the individual characters in the row. When the key you want to type is highlighted you use the designated hot key or input device to select the character.
If you are using Block Layout, On–Screen Keyboard then scans the row. When the group of characters that contains the key you want to type is highlighted, use the designated hot key or switch input device to select a group of characters. On–Screen Keyboard then scans the individual characters within the group, and when the key you want to type is highlighted, use the designated hot key or switch input device to select the character.

On–Screen Keyboard: Settings: Typing Mode: Scan interval