Documentation Contents

# Accessibility Enhancements in Java SE 1.4

Java Accessibility Guide > Java Accessibility API (JAAPI) Programmer's Guide > Accessibility Enhancements in Java SE 1.4

The features described here were introduced in the Java SE 1.4. These features are also part of subsequent releases of the Java SE.

## Contents

- AccessibleExtendedComponent.getAccessibleKeyBinding
- AccessibleRole New Constants
- Accessibility Support for HTML Object Tags
- Support for Tracking HTMLEditorKit Keyboard Link Traversal
- Assistive Technologies Property
- Screen Reader Property
- API Enhancements
- AccessibleEditableText
- AccessibleExtendedComponent
- AccessibleExtendedTable
- AccessibleKeyBinding
- Mnemonic Tab Navigation
- List Navigation by First Letter
- Accessibility Support for HTML Components
- Screen Magnifier Property

### AccessibleExtendedComponent.getAccessibleKeyBinding

Interface `AccessibleExtendedComponent` has a new method, `getAccessibleKeyBinding`, to return key bindings associated with an object.

### AccessibleRole New Constants

Class `AccessibleRole` contains the following new constants:

- `DATE_EDITOR`
- `FONT_CHOOSER`
- `GROUP_BOX`
- `SPIN_BOX`
- `STATUS_BAR`

### Accessibility Support for HTML Object Tags

This release adds accessibility support for HTML `object` tags. `CTRL-t` and `SHIFT-CTRL-t` navigate to the next and previous component, respectively, associated with an `object` tag in an HTML document. `CTRL-SPACE` activates the default action associated with the component.

### Support for Tracking HTMLEditorKit Keyboard Link Traversal

Assistive technologies needed a way to track HTMLEditorKit keyboard link traversal. The constant `AccessibleContext.ACCESSIBLE_HYPERTEXT_OFFSET` was added to support this feature.

### Assistive Technologies Property

The `javax.accessibility.assistive_technologies` property specifies the assistive technologies to load into the JVM.

### Screen Reader Property

The `javax.accessibility.screen_reader_present` property, when set to true, lets the Java platform libraries know that a screen reader is present on the system. Application developers can check this property. If an application is self-voicing and a screen reader is present, developers can turn off the self-voicing.

### API Enhancements

The following new classes and interfaces have been added to the Java Accessibility API:

- `javax.accessibility.AccessibleEditableText`
- `javax.accessibility.AccessibleExtendedComponent`
- `javax.accessibility.AccessibleExtendedTable`
- `javax.accessibility.AccessibleKeyBinding`

In addition, `javax.accessibility.AccessibleContext` was updated to reflect the new classes and interfaces.

### AccessibleEditableText

Interface `AccessibleEditableText` provides support for text editing by assistive technologies.

### AccessibleExtendedComponent

Interface `AccessibleExtendedComponent` provides the standard mechanism for an assistive technology to determine the extended graphical representation of an object.

### AccessibleExtendedTable

Interface `AccessibleExtendedTable` provides extended information about a user-interface component that presents data in a two-dimensional table format.

### AccessibleKeyBinding

Interface `AccessibleKeyBinding` provides the standard mechanism for an assistive technology to determine the key bindings which exist for an object.

### Mnemonic Tab Navigation

This new feature provides support for easier tab navigation using mnemonics on a `JTabbedPane`.

### List Navigation by First Letter

This new feature provides support for list navigation using the first letter of list items.

### Accessibility Support for HTML Components

This release provides accessibility support for HTML components in Swing.

### Screen Magnifier Property

The `javax.accessibility.screen_magnifier_present` property, when set to true, lets the Java platform libraries know that a screen magnifier is present on the system. Application developers can check this property, and if a screen magnifier is present, developers should make sure their applications are compatible with screen magnification.

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