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Re: JAWS Locking up when I open some messages


 

The agent I dealt with back then was using Outlook MS365.
It was the huge lag or refusal to speak when opening messages with lots of graphics, tables, etc. So, much of what you are describing.

As for arrowing down and finding that lag, is your reading/preview pane on? I try to keep that off because it is loading the message in the background and in the olden days, that was opening oneself up to malicious activity.
I don't even know where to check that right now.
I will check later as I am getting ready to head out for much of the day.

Thanks for the case numbers. I'm tempted to refer to all of them...
I have next to no respect for Jaws support.



Richard, USA,
"When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly."
-- Barbara J. Winter.

My web site:

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Katrina Anderson
Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2025 8:14 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages

Richard,

Could you elaborate about what could not be duplicated? Was testing done on a similar system to yours, and with Outlook? To be sure, since I've described multiple issues with Outlook, Was the issue involving serious lag when certain messages are opened? I am guessing so, since that is the focus of this thread, but just checking.

I actually have 3 case numbers, which I will share below. Besides the original message, which is what I am guessing others should reference, two additional case numbers were created when I forwarded two separate email messages (one from Kroger and another from Goodreads). Again, I wish he had communicated better, advising me exactly how to share the requested messages. Forwarding messages was all I knew, and I did not know to ask if there was another method. When I forwarded the two troublesome messages, I included the original case number, which resulted in those threads having multiple case numbers in the subject line. The case numbers are:
Original Case #: 00749013
Kroger Forwarded Message Case #: 00750511 Goodreads Forwarded Message Case #: 00750531

To be clear, the agent did not say the case is with the development team; I guess that was my hopeful assumption. Rather, on Friday, January 31, 2025, the agent replied to a thread containing the forwarded Kroger message, Case #: 00750511. That number, and the case # 00749013 (for my original message) is in the subject line. He wrote that he would pass the attached files, containing the troublesome messages, to the development team. Unfortunately, this particular agent doesn't communicate very well. Friday, I've specifically asked him what "report" was found that connects to my issues. I explained that since he seems to have been focused on issue 1 (and not issue 2 involving Outlook locking up and not sending/receiving mail), my guess is the report concerned the serious lag when opening certain messages; no response thus far. There were several messages between us Friday; the last was from me late Friday, so the ball is in his court. I will continue to ask about unanswered questions, and request he identify what specific case number could be used by others when reporting similar problems.

FYI, Starting yesterday, or maybe Friday, a new issue has started. As I arrow down through the list of messages, after a particular message (related to the ACB Braille Forum), JAWS goes silent and I am forced to wait as previously described. JAWS of course starts functioning again and all is good. I've not opened the Braille Forum message yet; it will be interesting to do so, and see if that type of behavior happens again after the message is deleted/moved.

Katrina
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Richard Turner via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2025 10:19 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages

Katrina,
Do you have a case number we could reference?
I've gone through this several times with FS support, and while one of the support agents I know to be very good, I basically ended up with they cannot duplicate it. This was a couple years ago now. I'm not having this issue quite as much, but it would be good to tie it to your case when it happens again and I send an attached message.

If not, perhaps the date when their support agent told you it is now with the development team?

Thanks,


Richard, USA,
"When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly."
-- Barbara J. Winter.

My web site:

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Katrina Anderson
Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2025 7:04 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages

Again, thank you for sharing needed findings. Have you reported these Outlook related issues to Microsoft? Based on my experience, not sure it would help to do so, but maybe...

Katrina

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Konnie Ellis via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 4:01 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages

I have been experiencing the same issue using NVDA for about the past year.
I do use Outlook classic.
I noticed that when I first got this new PC a few months ago, the type of messages where this normally happens, stopped happening.
But as the weeks went by, it's now back to the same old, same old. Very frustrating.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Katrina Anderson via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 12:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages

A bit of an update (or follow up) for those experiencing a serious lag when opening certain messages in Outlook. I don¡¯t know why I referred to Outlook as locking up in the subject line; it is probably because I use that phrase in regards to a different Outlook issue, which I have a bit of update for¡­will address it in a different thread.



I filed a case with JAWS Support a week to 10 days ago regarding the serious lag in performance (JAWS goes silent and it is like the screen is
frozen) when certain messages (lengthy and/or what I believe is referred to as HTML content (graphics, tables, links, photos, etc.) Unfortunately, the agent didn¡¯t always clearly communicate, and apparently they are very busy there. He asked me to send some examples of messages that are troublesome; I did a week ago. It took him almost a week to follow up, and his response was that the problem could not be replicated. The end¡­no further comment.
I wrote back as tactfully as possible, saying it is good he doesn¡¯t have the problem, but the fact is I and others are having the problem, etc. He responded by saying something like, I think you are using Outlook; I was not, and that might be why I couldn¡¯t replicate the sluggishness.
Seriously? The fact I am accessing email via Outlook is an extremely pertinent detail (emphasized clearly in my original message and replies); how was he not sure about that¡­whatever.



I wrote back emphasizing the importance of Outlook in regards to this matter. I have no evidence that the lag in JAWS performance happens when accessing email via other means. I reiterated the lag for sure happens with JAWS 2024 and 2025¡­not sure about 2023, and with Narrator; I do not use NVDA. For those who might care, I will mention here that Alt-Tab doesn¡¯t work¡­JAWS is totally silent and focus remains on what I assume is the body of the message as it attempts to open. I cannot do anything; not even escape out of the message or close Outlook. The other suggestions on this group have been tried, but again I am stuck, and am forced to wait until JAWS speaks and I¡¯m permitted to take action (e.g. read the message, Alt-Tab, close the message, etc.) To be clear, I encounter messages, like Sam¡¯s Club marketing stuff, that causes JAWS to pause for a few seconds; probably 3-4 seconds. The silence/delay I¡¯m dealing with is way more extreme (e.g. ¡°Happy Birthday¡± could be sung a minimum of two, and probably three, or more times before JAWS speaks again and/or I can take action)¡­editing/replying to these messages is even more annoying as the silences happen over and over again. I determined if I erase the original content, there is no delay, but when forwarding messages, you need the content to remain.



The agent then asked again about Outlook add-ins, which he asked, and I answered, earlier in the thread of messages between he/me¡­what the heck!
The agent obviously is not referencing prior messages. I replied with kindness/respect, but said something that spurred the agent into action; he did some research, sent numerous messages, etc., after that. It was at that point when he finally shared that there was at least one other report about this issue, and it is with the development team. I then learned that the agent forgot to tell me how to send the messages (don¡¯t forward but save/attach files). I had forwarded them, and he accessed them via a program that isn¡¯t Outlook¡­what a waste of time! I am not in his shoes, have never done his job, etc., so I am trying to go easy on the agent.



After a week of waiting/poor communication, the good news is the matter has finally been passed onto the development team for investigation. I was asked to urge others who share the problem to contact JAWS Support. You could call to report, or send an email. The latter is probably best, so you can share examples of messages that require a significant wait before JAWS speaks again.



In case it helps, Following are steps to attach the troublesome messages.

1. Select the message in the Microsoft Outlook inbox.
2. Press Alt+F to open the File drop down menu.
3. Choose Save As from the menu.
4. Save the file in a location where it can easily be found. The file
should have the name of the email's subject line in your inbox, and will have a .msg extension.
5. Start an email addressed to support@...
<mailto:support@...> , fill in the subject line, and add appropriate comments/information in the body of the message. I recommend your comments alert the reader to look for attached files.
6. Use your preferred method to insert/attach the desired saved files.
7. Send the message.



Whether you call or email, provide information about your system (OS, Outlook version, JAWS version and Serial Number, etc.) Provide information like when the problem started, can the problem be traced to a recent JAWS update or change in Outlook, etc. I recommend you mention that others have reported the same, and those reports were passed onto the development team, and ask could your report be passed on as well.



Katrina

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of chaltain@... via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 7:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages



I see this with JAWS, Narrator and NVDA. Alt-tabbing away or hitting
control+end don¡¯t seem to be any better for me than just waiting. This
control+has
been a round for years. I think FS addressed it a while ago, but that only made it marginally better, and I agree, it¡¯s gotten worse lately. IMHO, there¡¯s an issue in the AT layer for either Windows or Outlook. FS would know best and should be able to work with Microsoft if needed.



BTW, I don¡¯t have this problem with voiceOver on IOS, so sometimes, I¡¯ll wait to open up such an email until I¡¯m on my phone.



--

Christopher (AKA CJ) =>¡Â

Chaltain at Outlook, USA



From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Wayne23 via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 5:00 PM
To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages



Something else that can work is pressing control+end to go to the bottom of the email and working your way up.



|

Wayne Senior,

Dewsbury, England





On Tuesday, 14 January 2025 at 22:20:32 GMT, Mr. Ed via groups.io < <mailto:pinky14@...> pinky14@...>
wrote:





Hi,

I have tab away from the email then back again and Jaws reads again.

Mr. Ed



From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Susan Thompson via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 3:09 AM
To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages



HI all,



I¡¯ve particularly noticed this recently ¨C it seems like since recent versions of JAWS 2025. It is also hard as it is to find a pattern.



but acknowledging Brian¡¯s valid comment, I¡¯ve not tried it with NVDA or Narrator, but it seems so intermittent that if I go to one when it happens, I¡¯m not sure it would replicate and I don¡¯t want to have to use those screen readers very long to see if it might happen.



I realize this is possibly at the risk of not solving the problem, But I might see if when it happens it is a more complex email structure, I didn¡¯t think of that.

Regards

Susan





From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Katrina Anderson via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 5:09 PM
To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages



This has been an ongoing problem (that I and numerous others have
experienced) for months/years. I¡¯ve tried many things to resolve the problem, but to no avail. Unsure if I previously reported the issue to Vispero, I decided to do it now¡­just sent a report about the frequent silences after opening certain messages in Outlook, and also inquired about Outlook locking up/freezing; typically requiring the program to be removed from the Task Manager. JAWS may not have anything to do with it, but couldn¡¯t hurt to ask.



Katrina



From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Steven Hicks via groups.io
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 11:17 PM
To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages



I Have experienced this as well, seemingly on long messages with lots of content, eventually it does come back though.





From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Brian Vogel via groups.io
Sent: 14 January 2025 04:16
To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M365-Accessibility] JAWS Locking up when I open some messages



Have you had the same issue when using either NVDA or Narrator for the same messages? That is a first pass diagnostic to decide whether the fault lies with the JAWS screen reader versus Outlook 365.



If you can't replicate with a different screen reader (or even if you can) this needs to be reported to Vispero/FS Support. They'd need to know if it's only happening with JAWS, or with JAWS and any other screen reader or screen readers.

--

Brian ¡¤ ¡á? ¡¤ ???? ¡¤ Virginia, USA - Windows 11 Pro, Version 24H2, Build 26100; M365 Family; Android 13 (Xiaomi HyperOS 1.0.10.0)

It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.

~ Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881


--

|

Regards,

Wayne Senior

Latest stable versions of NVDA, JAWS and Narrator.

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