The power of keyboard commands!
Keyboard commands or shortcuts are combination of two or more keys used to perform frequently used tasks of an application. For most users keyboard shortcuts are an alternate means of accessing the function whereas for those with visual impairments keyboard shortcuts are the only means of performing different tasks in an application.
Keyboard commands or shortcuts are present for most applications and it is no different for screen readers!
This post lists keyboard commands for two of the most widely used screen readers on the Windows operating system, JAWS and NVDA for accessing PDF documents.
Whether you are a screen reader user or an accessibility tester, use the cheat sheet of screen reader commands given below to access PDF documents with JAWS and NVDA!
Screen reader and PDF versions:
The commands listed below are applicable to JAWS and NVDA running on a Windows 10 computer:
Both JAWS & NVDA have commands for reading PDF documents as well as for interacting with PDF forms.
So let’s first go through the commands for reading PDF documents!
PDF Documents
The following table lists JAWS and NVDA commands for reading PDF documents:
| Function | JAWS command | NVDA command |
| Read Document Title | Insert + T | Insert + T |
| Read Next Line | Down Arrow | Down Arrow |
| Read Previous Line | Up Arrow | Up Arrow |
| Read Next Paragraph | P | P |
| Read Previous Paragraph | Shift + P | Shift + P |
| Read continuously (Say All) | Insert + Down Arrow | Insert + Down Arrow |
| Go to a page | Ctrl + Shift + N | Ctrl + Shift + N |
| Go to Next page | Ctrl + Page Down | Ctrl + Page Down |
| Go to Previous page | Ctrl + Page Up | Ctrl + Page Up |
| Open the Find dialog | Ctrl + Insert + F | Ctrl + Insert + F |
| Open the Links list dialog (JAWS) or Elements List dialog (NVDA) | Insert + F7 | Insert + F7 |
| Go to Next Link | Tab | Tab or K |
| Go to Previous Link | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab or Shift + K |
| Open the Headings list dialog (JAWS) or Elements List dialog (NVDA) | Insert + F6 | Insert + F7 then Alt + H |
| Go to Next Heading | H | H |
| Go to Previous Heading | Shift + H | Shift + H |
| Go to Next Table | T | T |
| Go to Previous Table | Shift + T | Shift + T |
| Read current cell in a Table | Ctrl + Alt + Numpad 5 | – |
| Go to Next cell in a Table | Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow | Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow |
| Go to Previous cell in a Table | Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow | Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow |
| Go to Next Graphic | G | G |
| Go to Previous Graphic | Shift + G | Shift + G |
| Open the Select a Graphic dialog | Ctrl + Insert + G | – |
| Go to Next List | L | L |
| Go to Previous List | Shift + L | Shift + L |
| Go to Next List Item | I | I |
| Go to Previous List Item | Shift + I | Shift + I |
Tip: While reading large documents with JAWS, press Ctrl + Windows key+ K to add a temporary PlaceMarker!
Now let’s find out the commands for interacting with PDF forms!
PDF Forms
The following table lists JAWS and NVDA commands for reading PDF documents:
| Function | JAWS command | NVDA command |
| Open the Forms list dialog | Insert + F5 | – |
| Turn on Forms Mode (JAWS) or Focus Mode (NVDA) | Enter | Insert + Spacebar |
| Turn off Forms Mode (JAWS) or Focus Mode (NVDA) | Numpad Plus | Insert + Spacebar |
| Go to Next Button | B | B |
| Go to Previous Button | Shift + B | Shift + B |
| Go to Next Combo box | C | C |
| Go to Previous Combo box | Shift + C | Shift + C |
| Go to Next Edit field | E | E |
| Go to Previous Edit field | Shift + E | Shift + E |
| Go to Next Form field | F | F |
| Go to Previous Form field | Shift + F | Shift + F |
| Go to Next Radio button | R | R |
| Go to Previous Radio button | Shift + R | Shift + R |
| Go to Next Checkbox | X | X |
| Go to Previous Checkbox | Shift + X | Shift + X |
Enjoy reading PDF documents and do share your experiences of using the above commands!!
