Using a Screen Reader and Java Access Bridge with JDeveloper

In order for assistive technologies, like screen readers, to work with Java-based applications and applets, the Windows-based computer must also have Sun's Java Access Bridge installed, as described below.

Please refer to the Oracle9i Developer Suite Installation Guide found in the root directory on the Oracle9i Developer Suite CD, in <oracle_ids_home>/doc/core902/install/toc.htm for information about installing Oracle9iDS. Please refer to the Preface in the documentation found on the Oracle9iDS CD, in <oracle_ids_home>/doc/core902/install/pref.htm for additional information about accessibility.

Please refer to the following information to set up a screen reader and Java Access Bridge.

  1. Install the screen reader, if it is not already installed.

    Refer to the documentation for your screen reader for more information about installation.

  2. Install JDeveloper.

    Refer to the Installation Guide found in <oracle_ids_home>/doc/core902/install/toc.htm and on OTN for more information about JDeveloper installation.

  3. Download Java Access Bridge 1.0.2. The file you will download is accessbridge-1_0_2.zip. It is available from:
    http://java.sun.com/products/accessbridge.

    Refer to the Java Access Bridge documentation available from this web site for more information about installation and the Java Access Bridge.

  4. After downloading the file, extract the contents to a folder; for example, accessbridge_home.
  5. Install Java Access Bridge by running Install.exe from the <accessbridge_home>\installer folder.
  6. Confirm that you want to install the Java Access Bridge into each of the Java virtual machines displayed in the dialog. Click OK when you see the Installation Completed message.
  7. Confirm that two jar files: access-bridge.jar and jaccess-1_3.jar were added to the folder <oracle_home>\jdk\jre\lib\ext during the install. If necessary, copy them from <accessbridge_home>\installer\installerFiles to
  8. <oracle_home>\jdk\jre\lib\ext.
  9. Confirm that two DLL files: JavaAccessBridge.dll and WindowsAccessBridge.dll were added to the folder <oracle_home>\jdk\jre\lib\ext. If necessary, copy them from <accessbridge_home>\installer\installerFiles to <oracle_home>\jdk\jre\lib\ext.
  10. Add the files listed above, JavaAccessBridge.dll and WindowsAccessBridge.dll, to the Winnt\System32 directory, as they must be in the system path in order to work with JDeveloper.
  11. Confirm that the PATH environment variable has been updated to include the directory where the DLL files were installed, <oracle_home>\jdk\jre\lib\ext.
  12. Confirm that the file <oracle_home>\jdk\jre\lib\accessibility.properties includes the following line:

    assistive_technologies=com.sun.java.accessibility.AccessBridge

    If necessary, copy the file accessibility.properties from <accessbridge_home>\installer\installerFiles to <oracle_home>\jdk\jre\lib.

  13. Modify the file jdev.conf located in the folder <jdev_install>\jdev\bin to uncomment the AddVMOption line as shown below:

    #
    # Prepend patches to the bootclasspath. Currently, rtpatch.jar contains a
    # patch that fixes the javax.swing.JTree accessibility problems.
    # Uncomment the line below if you need to run JDeveloper under JAWS.
    #
    AddVMOption -Xbootclasspath/p:../../jdk/jre/lib/patches/rtpatch.jar

  14. It is also necessary to use Hotspot instead of OJVM to run JDeveloper. To do this, set the SetJavaVM line in the jdev.conf file as follows:

    SetJavaVM hotspot

  15. Start your screen reader.
  16. Start JDeveloper by running the file jdev.exe located in the folder <jdev_install>\jdev\bin.

The steps above assume you are running Windows and using a Windows-based screen reader. A console window that contains error information (if any) will open first and then the main JDeveloper window will appear, once JDeveloper has started.


About JDeveloper Accessibility
JDeveloper Features That Support Accessibility
Recommendations for Customizing JDeveloper
Highly Visual Features of JDeveloper