JLS_Utilities For Script Developers Version 3.81

Introduction

This page describes a set of utility scripts, intended for those who are serious about writing JAWS scripts. These are the development utilities the Snowman uses to write his scripts. These are similar in functionality to the Home Row mode, provided as part of jaws. however, they do not require switching keyboard modes, and include a much more powerful feature set. Included here are lots of tools for learning exactly how your application behaves, and producing customizations with a fraction of the effort. This set is really a must for people who are serious scriptors, or who intend to become so. It is not intended for those who do not have some familiarity with programming, and with the way windows programs behave.

You can download a demo of these scripts below. But first, please read the following help file, which will give you a much better understanding of what these utilities can do. Detailed installation instructions are listed there, in a level 1 heading entitled, Installation. Then, return to this page for the download links. Read The JLS_Utilities help file.

You can also download an MP3 file, containing a 30 minute audio walkthrough of the use of these scripts by visiting the SnowMan's anonymous FTP site at: snowmanradio.dns2go.com

When you purchase these scripts, you also get a set of scripts for the script manager which provide a couple helpful items, such as:

Set, or go to, up to 5 book marks in a script file.
Place the cursor on a function call, and press a hot key to jump to the body of that function. Press another hot key to return to the original call location.
Place the cursor on a constant name, and press a hot key to search all open jsh and jsm files for that name.

The source for the script manager scripts is provided.

You also get a revised copy of window_navigator.jss. this script file is part of JAWS 5, but this copy includes extra things, such as utilities for managing a first in, last out, stack, and to position the cursor inside a window through the use of window relative percentages. The Source for this file is also provided.

File jls_utilities.jsb is a pre-compiled binary, which contains the bulk of the utility logic. Source for this file is not provided.

downloading

Purchase instructions are given in the next paragraph. Meanwhile, download the demo below, taking care to choose the correct file for your version of JAWS. A demo authorization file is provided, which will allow 500 utility key strokes before you need to restart jaws to continue using the utilities.

Caution! If you are a paid subscriber, obtaining an update, please save your existing authorization file, called jls_authorization.jsb, before installing this zip file. the zip contains a demo authorization, and will, unless you take precautions, overwrite your personal authorization forcing you back to demo mode. Remember to consult the installation instructions in the jls_utilities.html help file. Download JLS_Utilities version 3.81 for JAWS 5 Download JLS_Utilities version 3.81 for JAWS 3 or JAWS 4.x

Purchasing

We have instituted a 2-tier licensing structure for this product. If you simply want to use the utilities on a single jaws serial number, you can purchase a single-user authorization for $50.00 US.

If you need to move around from computer to computer, working on various JAWS serial numbers, such as might be the case if you are working at remote sites, using the client's computer, you can purchase a mobile license for $75.00 US. We are looking at more convenient solutions. but, for now, this license gets you an authorization for your personal jaws serial number, plus an unlimited number of remote authorizations, each of which encodes a host serial number, and your own personal serial number. You can instal this authorization on the client's machine. Each time you start jaws, you will need to login with your own personal serial number before using the utilities. When you move to a new serial number, you can operate the scripts in demo mode until you can acquire an updated mobile authorization by sending an e-mail stating your personal serial number, and the host serial number to the snowMan.

Both types of license will be eligible for all future updates free. Suggestions for useful additions are welcome from paid subscribers. Send an e-mail to Snowman@snowmanradio.com