Using TextAloud with Windows 8 Metro apps

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Jim Bretti
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Using TextAloud with Windows 8 Metro apps

Post by Jim Bretti »

TextAloud runs on Windows 8 as a traditional desktop application. Even though TextAloud itself is not a Metro application, you can still use TextAloud to listen to text in your Metro applications. The idea is to use either the TextAloud clipboard monitor function and/or TextAloud system hotkeys.

First, you'll want to make sure TextAloud is configured to start automatically when you login to Windows. From the TextAloud menu, click Tools -> General Options -> TextAloud Options, and click the Miscellaneous tab. Under "Startup Options", select the checkbox "Start TextAloud on Windows Login". This will start TextAloud automatically when you login to Windows, even you login straight to the Windows start screen and start using Metro apps. It is not necessary to go to the desktop for TextAloud to start.

The simplest way to use TextAloud with Metro applications is with TextAloud hotkeys. From the TextAloud menu, click Tools -> General Options -> Hotkey Setup. From this dialog, configure system wide hotkeys to speak text, add articles, pause/resume, and stop.

If you configure an "Add Article" hotkey, one problem you'll have is with getting a confirmation that the add function worked, since you can't see the desktop. One way to handle is to configure an automatic action to play a sound anytime an article is added to TextAloud. Click Tools -> General Options -> Automatic Actions, and associate a "Visual/Audio Notification" action with the TextAloud activity "Text Imported to TextAloud". Edit the Notification action, and make sure the action is enabled. Then under "Audio Notification", click the checkbox next to "Play default system sound". Now, whenever an article is added to TextAloud, you'll hear the default system sound. This will be your confirmation that the Add Article hotkey is working when you use it in Metro applications.

It is also possible for TextAloud to monitor the clipboard in Metro applications. The main problem is that it is currently not possible to display the TextAloud clipboard prompt in a Metro app. The prompt will appear, but you will need to switch to the desktop to see it. If you want to use the Clipboard Monitor, it may be convenient to increase the clipboard prompt timeout from its default setting. From the TextAloud menu, click Tools -> General Options -> Clipboard and MouseSpeak Options. In the Prompt Options box, increase the Display Prompt value from 3 to something a little higher. This way, if you copy text to the clipboard from a Metro application, you'll have more time to switch to the desktop and respond to the clipboard prompt.

Another question that comes up occasionally is if the TextAloud toolbar for Internet Explorer can be used in the Metro version of IE. The answer to this question is no, the metro version of IE does not allow toolbars. You need to use the desktop version of IE in order to use the TextAloud toolbar for Internet Explorer.

We plan to improve Windows 8 compatibility in future versions of TextAloud, and we are looking at the possibility of a Metro version of TextAloud.

If you have questions on any of this please send an email to support@nextup.com.
Jim Bretti
NextUp.com
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