How to enhance caret for visually impaired users

[Uncle John]

I have a user who has difficulty in distinguishing the insertion point from
the text even in quite large fonts. This is because the caret remains a very
fine blinking line.

Is i possible to enhance the caret

 

[Jezebel]

It's called the 'cursor', not the 'caret'. Check Help for 'accessibility',
and also look at the options under 'Accessibility' in the Control Panel.

 

[Uncle John]

Jezebel,
Caret is not the Cursor it is the insertion point in text an usually appears
as a blinking feint line to show where the next character TYPED will appear.
It has nothing to do with the mouse but is linked to the keyboard

 

[Graham Mayor]

No - the insertion point indicator is the *cursor* and as Jezebel has
indicated it's width is selectable under Windows Accessibilty options.
The mouse indicator is a *pointer*
A caret is a type of circumflex accent - ^


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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Jezebel]

Do you want to solve your problem, or argue semantics from a position of
ignorance? If you refuse to use 'cursor' you won't find the Help topic you
need.

 

[Uncle John]

Jezebel,

Yes, it is semantics and in this case the definition is critical. I had not
realised that the cursor could be described as a caret '^' hence the
confusion. i do not have cursor problems wtih Word.

Here is a definition from Microsoft

"The term caret is used in graphical user interface terminology where it
means a text insertion point indicator, frequently represented by a blinking
vertical bar. In this context, it may be used interchangeably with the word
cursor, although the latter term is often reserved for a mouse pointer."

So it seems we are both right and my problem is the visibility of the
blinking "caret"..

john

 

[John Butler]

Graham

Having found the control for setting the blink rate and width of the
"blinking cursor" on my own machine I looked for it in the customer's
notebook. It was there in Control Panel,etc.

However though, in the settings in control the blinker became wider and
much more visible, this was not reflected in documents Word (or email in
MSN premium) using the notebook with the new settings; the blinker remains a
fine feint line.
So not wanting to spend more time on the issue I will just have to leave as
it is.
Thanks very much for your help, nonetheless!
"Uncle John"

 

[John Butler]

Jezebel
I am as old as Methusela and I was not arguing from a position of
ignorance,rather trying to resolve a difficulty on an oldies notebook.
There IS a problem because some sources use cursor for the mouse pointer
and call the insertion point the 'caret'. This was the practice in metal
type setting and lino type setting with which I worked in my youth the
insertion point in proof correction was shown as ^ but YOU ARE RIGHT that
more recent Windows sources use cursor for both and that is the word to put
in a search engine
This means that typing in Word, using this syntax, one can have two cursors
on a page together, one a mouse pointer and the other a text insertion
point. Opting to hide the cursor while typing hides the mouse cursor.
Now having resolved this confusion I find that some mouse software allows
the insertion point cursor to be enlarged but other software does not:
unfortunately the latter case applies to the notebook of my elderly friend.

So though I have not solved the thin 'caret' difficulty I thank you for your
help.

John
PS http://latter-rain.com/eschae/jezebel.htm At first I was afraid you were
misleading me!

 

[John Butler]

Graham


Serendipitous Postscript
After some research with Microsoft I have found that installing Intellipoint
5.5 will enable control of the blinking cursor with the non Microsoft "big
track ball" for handicapped users who have difficulty in seeing the default
size

 

[Ed]

John: The following article may be of use to you, especially the first
paragraph under Troubleshooting near the bottom.
http://www.smartcomputing.com/edito...e/wingtips-tricks/2win1596/2win1596.asp&guid=

HTH
Ed

 

[John Butler]

Ed

Thanks
Very useful post
John

John: The following article may be of use to you, especially the first
paragraph under Troubleshooting near the bottom.
http://www.smartcomputing.com/edito...e/wingtips-tricks/2win1596/2win1596.asp&guid=

HTH
Ed

 

[Graham Mayor]

John
As I have Intellipoint 5.5 installed (I have a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard)
it hadn't occurred to me that this might be a factor. Thanks for the update.

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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