Orca
Orca is a free (and open source) screen reader for Linux based computers.
Install
Orca is bundled with Gnome based distributions, such as Ubuntu
Guides, Documentation, and resources
How to find your version
From command line, run orca --version
Modes
- Browse mode: This is the default mode when using a browser.
- Focus mode: With default settings, this mode will automatically turn on when navigating to certain interactive elements (such as radio buttons or text inputs, etc.). It can be manually turned on or off by use of <kbd>Insert</kbd> + <kbd>A</kbd> keys.
Commands
The following are some common commands.
The default Orca modifier key is set to: Insert (or numpad zero)
Common
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Read next focusable item | Tab |
| Read next item | down arrow |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab |
| Read previous item | up arrow |
General
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Activate Button | Enter or Space |
| Activate Link | Enter |
| List headings | Alt + shift + H |
| Exit focus mode | Orca + a |
| Exit focus mode | Orca + a |
| Read current item | Keypad + enter |
| Report Title | Orca + keypad enter |
| Toggle speech on and off | Orca + S |
| Toggle between browse and focus modes | Orca + A |
| Turn Off | Super (windows or command key) + Alt + S |
| Turn On | Super (windows or command key) + Alt + S |
| Open Orca settings | Orca + space |
| Keyboard command while in forms or application mode | <keyboard command> |
Reading
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Read next focusable item | Tab |
| Read next item | down arrow |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab |
| Read previous item | up arrow |
| start reading from current position | Key Pad Plus |
Forms
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| Activate Button | Enter or Space | |
| Activate Form Control | Space | |
| Exit focus mode | Orca + a | |
| Exit focus mode | Orca + a | |
| enter text | <enter text> | must be in a form or application context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select next option | Down arrow | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select previous option | Up arrow | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select an option | Enter | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| Read next focusable item | Tab | |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab | |
| Toggle between browse and focus modes | Orca + A | |
| Keyboard command while in forms or application mode | <keyboard command> | |
Tables
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| Move to the start of the container | shift+comma | Will move to the start of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Past the end of the container | comma | Will move past the end of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Move to next column | alt + shift + right arrow | |
| Move to next row | alt + shift + down arrow | |
| Move to previous column | alt + shift + left arrow | |
| Move to previous row | alt + shift + up arrow | |
Elements
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| List headings | Alt + shift + H | |
| previous form field | shift + tab | |
| Move to the start of the container | shift+comma | Will move to the start of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Past the end of the container | comma | Will move past the end of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Next block quote | q | |
| Previous block quote | shift + q | |
| Open a list of block quotes | alt + shift + q | |
| Next button | b | |
| previous button | shfit + b | |
| Open list of buttons | alt + shift + b | |
| Next checkbox | x | |
| Previous checkbox | shift + x | |
| Open list of checkboxes | alt + shift + x | |
| Next combo box (select) | c | |
| Previous combo box (select) | Shift + c | |
| Open a list of combo boxes (selects) | alt + shift + c | |
| Next edit field | e | |
| Previous edit field | shift + e | |
| Open list of edit fields | alt + shift + e | |
| Next form field | Tab | |
| Open list of form fields | alt + shift + f | |
| Next graphic | g | |
| Open list of graphics | alt + shift + g | |
| Next heading | h | |
| Previous heading | shift + h | |
| Next heading of level | 1-6 | |
| Next landmark | m | |
| Previous landmark | shift + m | |
| Open list of landmarks | alt + shift + m | |
| Next link | k | |
| Previous link | shift+ k | |
| Open a list of links | alt + shift+ k | |
| Open a list of visited links | alt + shift + v | |
| Next list | l | |
| Open list of lists | alt + shift + L | |
| Next list item | i | |
| Next paragraph | p | |
| Previous paragraph | shift + p | |
| Open a list of paragraphs | alt + shift + p | |
| Next radio button | r | |
| Next separator | s | |
| Next table | t | |
| Next unvisited link | u | |
| Next visited link | v | |