Reading time: 4 minutes

Assigning keyboard commands to Braille button combinations

If you would like to use your Braille display to perform common tasks in Windows such as copy and paste, open the Start menu, open File Explorer, close an application, etc, then this can be done by assigning a Braille button combination to the keypress.

To do this:

1. Open the Dolphin ScreenReader Control Panel.
2. From the "General" menu, open the "Keyboard settings" submenu and select "Hotkeys (ALT + G, K, H)".
3. Select the "Simulate Key Press" command set.
4. Select the keypress you want to simulate on the Braille display from the "Command" list, for example, select "Windows key + D" if you want to assign a Braille button combination to the command to minimise all apps and place focus on the desktop.
5. Select the "Add Braille Key" button and go through the process of selecting a Braille button combination to simulate the keypress.

Once done, you will now be able to simulate your selected keypresses using button combinations on your Braille display, helping you work more efficiently as it enables you to perform the keyboard command without having to move your hands from the Braille display to the keyboard, and back again.

Simulating keyboard commands using HumanWare or Focus Braille displays

If you are using a HumanWare Brailliant or Focus Braille display with input keys, you can simulate keyboard commands directly from your Braille display.

To do this:

1. Press one of the following:
   • SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 1 to input the Function Key modifier.
   • SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 3 to input the CONTROL key modifier.
   • SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 4 to input the WINDOWS key modifier.
   • SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 5 to input the Dolphin Key modifier.
   • SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 6 to input the ALT key modifier.
   • SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 7 to input the SHIFT key modifier.
2. Input the letter or number

Examples

To simulate F1:

1. Press SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 1 to enter the Function key modifier state.
2. Release all keys.
3. Press the input keys for "a" (DOT 1).

To simulate CONTROL + N:

1. Press SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 3 to enter the Control modifier state.
2. Release all keys.
3. Press the input keys for "n" (DOT 1 + DOT 3 + DOT 4 + DOT 5).

To simulate CONTROL + SHIFT + N:

1. Press SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 3 to enter the Control modifier state.
2. Release all keys.
3. Press SPACE + DOT 8 + DOT 7 to add the SHIFT modifier state to the sequence.
4. Release all keys.
5. Press the input keys for "n" (DOT 1 + DOT 3 + DOT 4 + DOT 5).