Access Keys
Access keys enhance web accessibility by providing keyboard users with shortcuts to a web site's key links. They offer an alternative way of navigating a web site to users who cannot use a mouse. Access keys are useful for all web site visitors because it is often easier to use an access key than it is to work through all the links on a page using the tab key.
Unfortunately there isn't an established standard for which keys should be used. The RNIB (Royal National Institute of the Blind) recommend using the UK Government Standard which is laid down in section 2.4.4 of the e-Government Web Handbook. Screen readers such as WindowEyes already use similar key combinations and will be unable to use the access keys provided.
We use the following access keys on all our web pages:
- Access Key [1] = Home
- Access Key [2] = unassigned
- Access Key [3] = Site Map
- Access Key [4] = Search
- Access Key [5] = unassigned
- Access Key [6] = unassigned
- Access Key [7] = unassigned
- Access Key [8] = Terms and Conditions
- Access Key [9] = unassigned
- Access Key [0] = Access Keys
How to use Access Keys on a Windows PC
- Internet Explorer 5+
Hold down the ALT key, press the number of the access key, release both keys then press ENTER - Internet Explorer 4
Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key - Firefox, Mozilla
Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key - Netscape 7
Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key - Netscape 6 and earlier
Access keys are not supported - Opera
Hold down the Shift key and press Escape, release both keys, then press the number of the accesskey
How to use Access Keys on Apple Mac
- Safari
Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key - Firefox, Mozilla
Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key - Internet Explorer 5
Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key - Internet Explorer 4.5
Access keys are not supported - Netscape
Access keys are not supported - Opera
Hold down the Shift key and press Escape, release both keys, then press the number of the accesskey - Omniweb
Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key
http://www.quotes.co.uk/accesskeys.php
Last updated: Tuesday, 8th July 2008
All trademarks and registered trademarks shown on our web site are acknowledged
and are the property of their respective owners. © Quotes 1996-2010