This application contains three methods for obtaining help at any time.
Context Sensitive Help is available for each control within the application. When focused upon a control, press Insert+F1 (or Caps Lock+F1) if using the JAWS laptop layout. An Edit Field is available containing the help information. It will briefly describe the purpose of the focused control together with keystrokes you can use.
Press the Arrow keys to read the help and press Escape to cancel. This will return you back to the control which previously had focus.
Press Control+Shift+C or Insert+H to open Leasey Command Centre.
The dialog contains:
Press the Tab key to move through the controls.
Focus starts in the Command Edit Field. Type part of a command name, shortcut, or related word to filter the list.
If the Command Edit Field is empty, pressing Tab moves to the Matching commands list and shows all available commands. If you have typed text into the Edit Field, the list shows only commands matching the search term.
Use Up and Down Arrow to move through the list. You will hear the command name, followed by the corresponding shortcut key. The list therefore serves two purposes. You can press Enter on a command to carry it out, and you can learn the shortcut key for quicker access next time you need to use it.
Press Control+Shift+I for Where Am I. You will receive a succinct summary of where you are located within the focused application.
If you are at all familiar with even the basic principles of using a Windows computer, you will know that pressing the Windows key by itself brings into view the Windows Start Menu. This is just one of the ways in which a program can be launched. Another method is the Windows Desktop, activated with Windows+D or Windows+M.
However, the Windows Start Menu has been revised over time and can become unpredictable. On an occasional basis, we have observed situations where JAWS does not read the content of the Start Menu at all! The useful tools referred to in this chapter describe ways in which Leasey helps you overcome these potential difficulties. They ensure you can locate programs in a predictable way together with being able to remove programs or add new ones.
The Leasey Start Menu and Leasey Main Menu are designed to reduce the amount of searching you need to do when you want to start work.
If you are new to computers, the Windows Start Menu can feel crowded and inconsistent. If you are an experienced user, it can still be slower than it needs to be when you know exactly what you want. Leasey gives you two different approaches:
The Leasey Start Menu is the larger list. It helps you find applications, files and portable programs, and it gives you tools for cleaning and organising the list.
The Leasey Main Menu is the shorter list. It is intended for the programs, web sites and files you use every day.
Think of the Start Menu as the catalogue and the Main Menu as your personal front desk.
The Leasey Start Menu is available with the Leasey Key then Windows+S.
The Leasey Start Menu is intended to make it easier to find and launch applications, especially when using JAWS. It displays a list of applications found in the Windows Start Menu. This includes regular desktop programs and Microsoft Store style apps where Windows makes them available. You can filter the list, launch an item, remove items you do not want to see, add your own files or portable programs, rename items, rearrange the order of the list, add selected items to the Leasey Main Menu, create desktop shortcuts, and add selected items to the Windows Startup group. We will describe the purpose of the Leasey Main Menu later in this chapter.
The main window is easy to navigate.
It contains:
You can move through these controls by pressing the Tab key. If all of that seems a little daunting, do not be concerned. Everything will be explained as we move through this chapter.
Moving Around the Main Window.
Press Tab to move through the controls.
Useful shortcut keys include:
The most important controls are the Filter edit box and the Applications list.
When the Leasey Start Menu launches, focus is in the applications list. First letter navigation is possible in this list together with typing successive characters, such as, word.
When focus is in the Applications list:
You can also type letters while focused in the list. For example, typing W should move to an entry beginning with W. Typing WO quickly should move to an entry beginning with WO, such as Word.
When the app opens, focus is placed in the Applications list. Press Control+F if you want to move straight to the Filter edit box. In the Filter edit box, start typing part of an application name. The Applications list is narrowed as you type. For example, typing word should find entries containing word. As you type, JAWS should announce the first matching item and the number of matches. For example, if Word is the only match, you should hear something like, Word, 1 match.
From the Filter edit box:
To launch an application:
Step 1. Move to the item in the Applications list.
Step 2. For example, if Microsoft Word is installed on your computer, use first letter navigation or press Down Arrow until JAWS says, "Word". You might do the same for Notepad, Outlook, Microsoft Edge or any other program you use often.
Step 3. Press Enter to launch the application. Alternatively, Tab to reach the Launch Button and press Enter or Space.
The app asks Windows to launch the item maximised. Some applications may honour this request better than others, but the intention is that the launched app should be easy to find and use immediately.
If there is an item you do not want on the Leasey Start Menu:
Step 1. Move to it in the Applications list.
Step 2. Press Delete.
Step 3. Confirm the removal. Type Y for Yes or N for No. You can also press Enter since Yes is the focused control.
You can also use the Remove Button. Removing an item does not uninstall the application from Windows. It only hides it from the Leasey Start Menu. JAWS should announce that the item has been removed.
You can select several items temporarily and then remove them from the Leasey Start Menu together. This does not uninstall the applications from Windows.
Step 1. Move to an application in the Applications list.
Step 2. Press comma to select it for removal.
Step 3. Press comma again if you want to unselect it.
Step 4. Continue moving through the list and pressing comma on each application you want to select.
Step 5. Press forward slash to hear the applications currently selected.
Step 6. Press full-stop or period to clear the temporary selection without removing anything. You should be asked to confirm before the selection is cleared.
Step 7. Press Alt+R, the Delete key or activate the Remove Button to remove the selected applications from the Leasey Start Menu.
If you arrow back to an application which is already selected, JAWS should read the application name in the usual way and JAWS should simply say, selected.
While applications are selected for removal, Launch, Rename, Move Up, Move Down, and Add to Leasey Main Menu are unavailable. This is deliberate so you do not accidentally launch or change the wrong item while cleaning the menu.
To bring back all removed Windows Start Menu items:
Step 1. Press Tab to reach Restore Removed.
Step 2. Press Enter or Space.
Step 3. Confirm the restore.
JAWS should announce that removed applications have been restored.
You can add a file, shortcut or portable program if you know where it is located.
To add an item:
Step 1. Press Tab to reach Add File, or press Alt+I.
Step 2. Choose the file in the standard Windows file dialog.
Step 3. Type the name you want to appear in the Leasey Start Menu.
Step 4. Confirm the name.
The new item should appear in the Applications list.
Examples of things you might add include:
The Leasey Start Menu may contain hundreds of items. The Leasey Main Menu is intended to be a much shorter menu with only the items you use most often. While it is true that you can remove as many applications as required from the Leasey Start Menu, the reality is that this can take some time and you are likely to install new programs and apps which will appear there. The Leasey Main Menu described later is designed so you only add the items which are special to you that you may use every day. It is also very helpful if you are working with someone who is new to computing and may be quite daunted with the hundreds of applications provided by the Start Menu.
To add an item to the Leasey Main Menu:
Step 1. Find the item in the Leasey Start Menu.
Step 2. Move to it in the Applications list.
Step 3. Press Control+M, or press Tab to reach Add to Leasey Main Menu and press Enter or Space.
JAWS should confirm that the item has been added. If the item already exists on the Leasey Main Menu, JAWS should tell you this rather than adding a duplicate.
Some people prefer to have a small number of important items on the Windows Desktop. This may also be useful for Microsoft Store apps or Leasey modern apps where it can otherwise be difficult to create a normal desktop shortcut. A good example might be that you would like a shortcut to Leasey Word on the desktop.
To create a desktop shortcut:
Step 1. Find the item in the Leasey Start Menu.
Step 2. Move to it in the Applications list.
Step 3. Press Control+D, or press Tab to reach Create Desktop Shortcut and press Enter or Space.
JAWS should confirm that the desktop shortcut has been created.
If the matching shortcut is already on the desktop, the Button changes to Remove Desktop Shortcut. In that case, pressing Control+D or activating the Button removes the shortcut which Leasey created.
Creating or removing a desktop shortcut does not install or uninstall anything. It only changes the shortcut on the Windows Desktop.
You may have a program which you want to start automatically when Windows starts. For example, a diary, a communications program, or a specialist tool you use every day.
To add an item to the Startup group:
Step 1. Find the item in the Leasey Start Menu.
Step 2. Move to it in the Applications list.
Step 3. Press Control+G, or press Tab to reach Add to Startup Group and press Enter or Space.
JAWS should confirm that the item has been added to Startup.
This creates a normal Windows Startup shortcut for the current user. It does not change the original application.
If you later want to review or disable startup items, open Startup Programs from the Leasey Start Menu.
To rename an item:
Step 1. Move to it in the Applications list.
Step 2. Press F2.
Step 3. Type the new name and press Enter.
Step 4. Confirm the name is correct by pressing Enter.
You can also use the Rename Button. Renaming changes only the name shown in Leasey Start Menu. It does not rename the real Windows shortcut or application. JAWS should announce the old and new names after the rename is saved.
You can change the order of items in the Applications list.
Step 1. Move to the item you want to reposition.
Step 2. Use the Move Up or Move Down Buttons.
The shortcut keys for these Buttons are:
JAWS should announce where the item has moved. For example:
Moved WhatsApp below Word.
Move Up and Move Down should refer to visible applications in the current Leasey Start Menu list, not applications you have already removed from the menu.
The Leasey Start Menu includes an Uninstall Programs Button. This opens a separate tool for reviewing and uninstalling applications.
Removing an item from the Leasey Start Menu only hides it from this menu. Uninstall Programs is the tool to use when you really want to remove software from the computer.
The Uninstall Programs window contains:
The list includes many traditional desktop programs and Microsoft Store style apps where Windows makes them available. Some Windows components and technical app packages are hidden by default so the first list mainly contains apps people are likely to recognise. These hidden items may include Windows support packages, Microsoft Store infrastructure, framework packages used by other apps, or components Windows reports as not removable. Select Show advanced and protected items if you want to include those additional entries.
Type in the Filter edit box to narrow the list. Press Control+F to move to the Filter edit box. Press Enter on an app to hear details. Use the Details Button if you want to review information such as publisher, version, install date, size and location. Details opens in a read-only Edit Field so you can read it line by line.
A description might be:
Use the Explain Button if you want a short plain-language description of the selected app. This uses the Leasey OpenAI API key if it is already in place. Please refer to the later chapters of this documentation concerned with ChatGPT.
A description might be:
WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to send text messages, make voice and video calls, and share media with others. It is commonly used for personal and group communication. Since it is not a system or security component, it is generally safe to remove if you do not use it. However, if you communicate with friends or family through WhatsApp, you should keep it installed.
The Delete key deliberately does not uninstall an app.
To uninstall, move to the app and activate the Uninstall Button. You should be asked twice before the uninstaller is started. We are asking you twice to be absolutely certain.
Leasey will never uninstall a program by itself. It will use the uninstaller as designed by the developer.
The Leasey Start Menu includes a Startup Programs Button. This opens a separate tool for reviewing programs which Windows starts automatically.
This does not list or change Windows services. That is deliberate because disabling services can be risky.
The Startup Programs window contains:
You can move through these controls by pressing the Tab key.
The list includes normal Startup folder entries and common Windows registry Run entries. JAWS startup components are excluded because JAWS should be allowed to start with Windows.
A typical list entry might say:
Adobe Acrobat Synchronizer, Disabled, Current user registry This identifies the name of the item, where it is managed, and the current state.
Use the Details Button if you want to review the item name, status, source, publisher, command and path.
Use the Explain Button if you want a short plain-language description of the selected startup item. This uses the Leasey OpenAI API key if it is already in place. Please refer to the later chapters of this documentation concerned with ChatGPT.
It is very important that you understand what is being disabled prior to doing so. Please under no circumstances disable an entry unless you are completely confident that it is not going to impact upon your computer's performance.
A description might be:
The "Adobe Acrobat Synchronizer" is a program from Adobe that helps sync files and settings across devices using Adobe Acrobat. It is currently disabled, meaning it does not start automatically when your computer boots up.
It is generally safe to keep this item disabled unless you frequently use Adobe Acrobat and need the syncing feature. If you rely on accessing your documents from multiple devices, you may want to enable it. Otherwise, you can leave it disabled to improve startup speed.
Use Disable if you do not want the selected item to start automatically with Windows. Use Enable to restore an item which this tool has disabled.
If Windows reports that an item cannot be disabled, the item is left unchanged.
The Leasey Main Menu is a shorter menu for the applications and tools you use most often. It is separate from the larger Leasey Start Menu. The Start Menu is useful for finding things. The Main Menu is intended for fast daily launching.
The Leasey Main Menu starts with a small selection of commonly used items where they are available on the computer. Examples may include Word, Outlook Classic, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Edge, File Explorer, Remote Incident Manager, and Leasey applications such as Leasey Connect, Leasey Cuts, Leasey Database Manager, Leasey Diary, Leasey File Manager, Leasey Media Centre, Leasey Notes, Leasey Social, and Leasey Word.
It may also include Shut down the computer and Restart the computer. If you choose Shut down the computer or Restart the computer, you should be asked to confirm before the action takes place.
You can add more items to the Leasey Main Menu in three ways:
Use Add to Leasey Main Menu from the Leasey Start Menu. or Use Add File from the Leasey Main Menu if you know where the file or portable program is located. or Use Add URL from the Leasey Main Menu if you know the web address.
The Leasey Main Menu window contains:
You can move through the Buttons by pressing the Tab key.
Press Up or Down Arrow to move through the Applications list. Press Enter to launch the selected item. Press Delete to remove the selected item from the Leasey Main Menu. Press F2 to rename the selected item. Press Alt+I to add a file or portable program. Press Control+U to add a URL. Press Alt+Y to reinstate all Main Menu shortcuts provided by Leasey without removing existing items. Press Alt+T to restore all settings to defaults. This erases the current Main Menu customisations and returns the list to the installed defaults. Press Alt+U to move an item up. Press Alt+D to move an item down. Press Control+Shift+S to sort the list alphabetically. Press Control+Comma to open Options. Press Control+Shift+I for Where Am I. Press Control+Shift+C to open Leasey Command Centre. Press Escape to close the menu.
Removing an item from the Leasey Main Menu does not uninstall the application from Windows. It only removes that entry from the Leasey Main Menu.
Reinstate All Main Menu shortcuts provided by Leasey asks for confirmation and then adds any missing Leasey-provided shortcuts. It does not remove your own custom entries.
Restore all settings to defaults asks for confirmation and then erases the current Main Menu customisations. It replaces the list with the installed default shortcuts.
Here is an example of how to add a URL to the Leasey main Menu.
Step 1. Open up the Leasey Main Menu.
Step 2. Press the Tab key to reach the Button entitled "Add URL".
Step 3. Press Insert+F1 or Caps Lock+F1. An Edit Field is displayed containing content such as: "Add URL adds a web address to Leasey Main Menu. Press Enter or Space to enter the name and URL. Press Escape to close this window".
So we now know we have the right Button.
Step 4. Press Escape to return to the Leasey main Menu screen.
Step 5. Press Space Bar on the Button.
Step 6. When prompted, into the first Edit Field, type a name used to identify the web site on the Leasey Main menu.
Step 7. Press Tab and type or paste the URL pointing to the web site.
Step 8. Press Enter and JAWS confirms that the name and site have been added.
Step 9. You now have a choice. The new entry has been added to the bottom of the menu. You can press Alt+U repeatedly until it is in the desired position. JAWS will announce where the item has been moved to, such as, "Moved Hartgen above Leasey Social".
Step 10. Alternatively, Press Control+Shift+S. This sorts the menu into alphabetical order. JAWS confirms this. Either approach is completely acceptable. Some people will prefer the menu to be sorted alphabetically. Some will prefer the items in a specific order, perhaps the items most frequently being placed at the top of the list.
This may be helpful for beginners who need a familiar starting point every time the computer starts.
Step 1. Open the Leasey Main Menu with Print Screen or the Leasey Key followed by Windows+M.
Step 2. Press Control+Comma to open Options.
Step 3. Find the check box to launch the Leasey Main Menu at startup.
Step 4. Check it and save the Options.
From that point, the user can begin from the Leasey Main Menu rather than first having to remember where to go.
Press Control+Comma from the Leasey Main Menu to open Options.
Options contains two important settings.
The first is Start automatically with Windows. If this check box is selected, Leasey Main Menu will be added to the current user's Windows Startup group. This can be useful for a beginner who benefits from always starting with the same simple menu. If you later clear the check box, Leasey removes that Startup shortcut.
The second is Data location. This will be fully described in the chapter of this documentation relating to the Backup and Restore Manager and should generally not be changed here.
Insert+F1 opens Context Sensitive Help for the focused control.
Caps Lock+F1 also opens Context Sensitive Help if you are using the JAWS laptop keyboard layout.
Control+Shift+I reports succinct location information through the Where Am I utility.
Control+Shift+C or Insert+H opens Leasey Command Centre for reviewing commands.
Escape closes most Leasey windows or cancels the current dialog.
Control+Comma opens the Options dialog.
Leasey Key followed by Windows+S opens the Leasey Start Menu.
Tab moves forward through the controls.
Shift+Tab moves backward through the controls.
Control+F moves to the Filter Edit Field.
Alt+A moves to the Applications list.
Up Arrow and Down Arrow move through the Applications list.
Typing letters in the Applications list performs first-letter or type ahead navigation.
Enter or Num Pad Enter launches the selected application.
Alt+L activates Launch.
Delete removes the focused item, or removes the temporary selection if items have been selected for removal.
Alt+R activates Remove.
F2 or Alt+N renames the selected item.
Comma selects or unselects the focused item for temporary removal.
Forward Slash reports the items temporarily selected for removal.
Full-stop or Period clears the temporary removal selection after confirmation.
Alt+I or Control+I activates Add File.
Control+M activates Add to Leasey Main Menu.
Control+D creates or removes the matching desktop shortcut.
Control+G adds the selected item to the Windows Startup group.
Control+Shift+L toggles whether the Start Menu closes after launching an item.
Alt+P opens Uninstall Programs.
Alt+S opens Startup Programs.
Alt+U moves the selected item up.
Alt+D moves the selected item down.
Alt+E or Control+E restores removed Start Menu items.
Control+R refreshes the list.
Alt+C or Escape closes the Leasey Start Menu.
Control+F moves to the Filter Edit Field.
Type in the Filter Edit Field to narrow the installed apps list.
Down Arrow moves from the Filter Edit Field to the first match.
Up Arrow and Down Arrow move through the Installed apps list.
Enter or Num Pad Enter opens Details for the selected app.
Delete deliberately does not uninstall. It reminds you to use the Uninstall Button.
Control+R refreshes the installed apps list.
Escape closes Uninstall Programs.
Insert+F1 opens Context Sensitive Help for the focused control.
Up Arrow and Down Arrow move through the Startup apps list.
Enter or Num Pad Enter opens Details for the selected startup item.
Alt+T activates Details.
Alt+X activates Explain.
Alt+D disables the selected enabled startup item.
Alt+E enables the selected disabled startup item.
Control+R refreshes the startup apps list.
Escape closes Startup Programs.
Insert+F1 opens Context Sensitive Help for the focused control.
Print Screen opens the Leasey Main Menu.
The Leasey Key followed by Windows+M also opens the Leasey Main Menu.
Tab moves forward through the controls.
Shift+Tab moves backward through the controls.
Up Arrow and Down Arrow move through the Applications list.
Typing letters in the Applications list performs first-letter or typeahead navigation.
Enter or Num Pad Enter launches the selected item.
Delete removes the selected entry from Leasey Main Menu.
F2 renames the selected entry.
Alt+I or Control+I activates Add File.
Control+U activates Add URL.
Alt+Y reinstates all Main Menu shortcuts provided by Leasey without removing existing custom entries.
Alt+T restores all settings to defaults after confirmation.
Alt+U moves the selected item up.
Alt+D moves the selected item down.
Control+Shift+S sorts the Main Menu alphabetically.
Control+Comma opens Options.
Control+R refreshes the list.
Control+Shift+I reports Where Am I.
Control+Shift+C opens Leasey Command Centre.
Escape closes the Leasey Main Menu.