Orca is a free, open source, flexible and extensible screen reader that provides access to the graphical desktop through speech and refreshable Braille.
Orca is a part of the GNOME platform and its releases are synchronized with the GNOME releases.
Orca works with applications and toolkits that support the Assistive Technology Service Provider Interface (AT-SPI), which is the primary assistive technology infrastructure for Linux and Oracle Solaris. Applications and toolkits that support the AT-SPI include the GNOME Gtk+ toolkit, the Java platform's Swing toolkit, LibreOffice, Gecko, and WebKitGtk. AT-SPI support for the KDE Qt toolkit is being pursued.
This section provides information on getting started with the Orca Screen Reader.
Selecting the keyboard layout. See Keyboard Layout.
Setting up Orca. See Configuration.
Maintaining multiple configurations. See Profiles.
Bind, Unbind and Rebind Orca commands. See Keybindings.
Discover Orca’s commands. See Learn Mode.
Performing the Orca commands using the Orca modifier key. See The Orca Modifier.
Toggling CapsLock when it is in Laptop Layout. See CapsLock in Laptop Layout.
This section provides information on reading content, navigating, and accessing the information easily.
Reading content. See Documents.
Navigating and setting dynamic headers. See Tables.
Examining text formatting. See Text Attributes.
Accessing widgets embedded in documents. See Filling out Forms.
Moving by heading and other elements. See Structural Navigation.
Interacting with dynamic web content. See Live Regions.
This section provides information on examining and interacting with screen contents.
Learning about your location. See WhereAmI.
Using the pointer to examine the screen. See Mouse Review.
Examining a Window spatially. See Flat Review.
Reading previously received messages. See Notifications.
Searching window for objects. See Orca Find.
Storing and retrieving objects. See Bookmarks.
Through Orca preferences, you can customize Orca for all desktop applications. Orca preferences can also be customized on an application-by-application basis.
Orca preferences can be grouped into preferences that apply in general and those that are unique to applications only.
To view the Preferences Dialog, use the following keyboard shortcuts:
To access Orca's preferences, use Orca modifier + Space.
To access Orca’s preferences for the current application, use Ctrl + Orca modifier + Space.
You can customize the following functions:
Configuring Orca’s fundamental behavior. See General Preferences.
Configuring what is spoken as you type. See Key Echo Preferences.
Configuring the voice used by Orca. See Voice Preferences.
Configuring Orca’s keyboard shortcuts. See Key Bindings Preferences.
Configuring what gets spoken. See Speech Preferences.
Defining how specific words get pronounced. See Pronunciation Preferences.
Configuring Orca’s Braille display support. See Braille Preferences.
Configuring what formatting is presented. See Text Attributes Preferences.
Certain Orca preferences are unique only to applications. These preferences allow you to customize Orca only in certain environments, such as web pages or chat applications. You can configure the following preferences:
Configuring Orca’s support for Firefox and thunderbird. See Gecko Navigation Preferences.
Configuring Orca’s support for IM and IRM. See Chat Preferences.
Configuring Orca’s navigation within tables. See Table Navigation Preferences.
Configuring Orca’s support for Spell Check. See Spell Check Preferences.
Configure Orca’s files to open with other applications. See Open files with other applications.
This section provides an overview of all the commands to perform different functions in Orca.
Commands for interacting with Orca. See Controlling and Learning to Use Orca.
Commands for getting the time, date, and notification messages. See Time, Date, and Notification Commands.
Commands to learn about your location. See Where Am I Commands.
Commands to access saved Configurations. See Profile Commands.
Commands executable on Braille display. See Braille Commands.
Commands for customizing Orca’s speech output. See Speech Settings Commands.
Commands for accessing document content. See Reading Commands.
Commands for accessing tabular information. See Table Navigation Commands.
Commands for navigating by elements. See Structural Navigation Commands.
Commands for spatially reviewing windows. See Flat Review Commands.
Commands for manipulating the pointer. See Mouse/Pointer Related Commands.
Commands for searching Window contents. See Orca Find Commands.
Commands to bookmark and retrieve objects. See Bookmark Commands.
Commands for accessing web live regions. See Live Region Commands.
Commands for use in IM and IRC. See Chat Commands.
Commands for troubleshooting. See Debugging Commands.
You can magnify the Orca screen which is different action than just enlarging the text. This feature allows you to move around by zooming in on parts of the screen. See Magnifying a Screen Area.