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Microsoft Magnifier will not follow text editing in Firefox 4 or higher

  • 13 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by kdubfreak

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I have a visual impairment and utilize Microsoft Magnifier to assist with reading text on my PC. The software has the ability to follow the mouse cursor and follow any text editing cursor position, and yes, I have it set to do so. This has worked well for me for years in nearly every application.

However, since the release of Firefox 4 it will no longer track text editing in Firefox. Therefor, I have been using version 3.6 for quite some time now, but would really like to utilize some of the features in the more recent versions.

I do periodically download the latest version to test its compatibility, and here is the current functionality. It will track some text editing if the cursor is at the end of a line of text, but specifically will not follow any text editing within the body of text. Many websites (Facebook, Yahoo Mail, Outlook Web Mail, etc.) will not follow text editing at all.

This issue happens with Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

This is very frustrating for me. Imagine if every time you tried to type you had to close your eyes, and then later review that text by having to track your mouse over it. UGH!

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Mozilla team.

BTW: Please do not suggest that I use another program/add on to see my screen. I have used many, and prefer Microsoft Magnifier. Thank you.

I have a visual impairment and utilize Microsoft Magnifier to assist with reading text on my PC. The software has the ability to follow the mouse cursor and follow any text editing cursor position, and yes, I have it set to do so. This has worked well for me for years in nearly every application. However, since the release of Firefox 4 it will no longer track text editing in Firefox. Therefor, I have been using version 3.6 for quite some time now, but would really like to utilize some of the features in the more recent versions. I do periodically download the latest version to test its compatibility, and here is the current functionality. It will track some text editing if the cursor is at the end of a line of text, but specifically will not follow any text editing within the body of text. Many websites (Facebook, Yahoo Mail, Outlook Web Mail, etc.) will not follow text editing at all. This issue happens with Windows XP, Vista, and 7. This is very frustrating for me. Imagine if every time you tried to type you had to close your eyes, and then later review that text by having to track your mouse over it. UGH! Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Mozilla team. BTW: Please do not suggest that I use another program/add on to see my screen. I have used many, and prefer Microsoft Magnifier. Thank you.

All Replies (13)

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Hi,

Please try unchecking Follow mouse cursor in the Magnifier Settings.

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Thanks for the quick reply.

If I uncheck "Follow mouse cursor" then, well, it won't follow my mouse cursor, and I need it to also follow my mouse cursor to read text on websites and such.

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Try to disable hardware acceleration.

  • Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"
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I tried this: After clicking on a text box like this or in a mail message, if the mouse pointer is stationary, I think the issue doesn't occur. But then you may have to use the four arrow keys and the Home and End keys to navigate within the typed text (the Magnifier follows). To navigate between text boxes or within editable sections in a page, you may have to use the Tab and Shift + Tab keys. This is not a solution, but I hope this is helpful.

Modified by Vivek

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Cor-el: I'll try the hardware acceleration and get back to you. Thanks.

Vivek. Wilfre: I'm not sure I understand your post. You are just describing how the program works and how to edit text. Yes, your mouse must be stationary or the magnifier will follow the mouse, but if you are typing then your mouse IS stationary. I navigate more with the keyboard than the mouse anyway, so I am familiar with how to edit text and navigate using the keyboard and keystrokes. Yes, it does sometimes follow what you are typing but again try editing a word in the middle of a paragraph, editing a reply email, correcting a url, chatting on FB, etc. etc.

Thanks again folks. I'll upgrade to the newest version again, try disabling acceleration, and post some specific symptoms.

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OK, so am am currently using Firefox 9.0 and I am still having issues. I tried unchecking hardware acceleration with no change.

Here is the issue as I am typing right now. If I am at the end of the text it does follow my text editing just fine, but when my cursor is anywhere else within the text (even one character back) it attempts to follow but is way off on another part of the screen.

Thanks again.

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I think enabling Always use the cursor keys to navigate within pages in Firefox Tools (Alt + T) Options > Advanced > General may provide a better experience. This feature (Caret Browsing) can also be enabled/disabled by pressing F7 on the keyboard.

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I did try "Always use the cursor keys to navigate within pages", which is a cool new feature that I like about the newer versions of Firefox. It allows you to navigate through text on websites using a carrot. This is great because I can read using the keyboard instead of the mouse. :)

However, this feature does not correct the issue of following text editing withing the body of the text. :(

BTW: I forgot to mention that I use Microsoft Magnifier in the docked view in Windows 7. This is the same look as the previous versions of magnifier found in Windows 98-Vista. At work the computers run Windows XP and this is the only view option. I mention this because in the new full screen view in 7 you may still be able to see your text editing (just a few lines above where you are typing), but in the docked view you see another part of the screen.

Thanks again for your continued help.

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I also have a vision impairment, and the only way I get past it most of the time is to: First what windows are you using? If Windows XP SP3 Pro 32-bit like I'm using you can go into the Display Properties, and set larger values. You could also go into Advanced Display Properties and change the Display DPI setting to a higher number. I use 120 which is 125% of normal size display making all displayed larger from the get go , but with this last setting you may have some problems with some Web pages that still aren't designed to be more accessible to your vision needs. Try these settings, and let me know how things are for you. You might only want to go to 110, or 115 DPI in the advanced display properties if this should help fix your small text problems. You will however have to make the Display properties settings larger to get larger text in most areas of windows if this is also a need help thing for you. Good Luck!

Modified by Lightsttn1

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Thanks for the response. I am aware of the methods available to change the display settings to increase the font size and DPI. As I stated in my original post, I am not looking for alternatives or other programs. I am looking for a solution to correct the issue with magnifier not following text editing correctly in Firefox . Thank you.

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Just an update. I tinkered around with "Always use the cursor keys to navigate within pages," and it is not tracking the caret properly either. Just like when text editing it tries to follow, but is in a different part of the screen (a few lines above the text).

I also tried using the magnifier in full-screen mode when text editing, but it is still too far off from where you are typing to see what you are doing.

I also tested the latest versions of other browsers for compatibility with this issue.

Internet Explorer works fine... completely compatible. Unfortunately I don't like the browser at all. I tested SeaMonkey, Chrome, Safari, Maxthron, Opera, and K-Meleon. Most would not follow text editing at all, but the ones that did had similar issues.

Any help would be nice.

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Thank you for the update. We would very much like to help you and I'm sure if a definite solution is found it would be posted by a forum contributor/user. Other than tinkering with the Magnifier settings, you can also try to disable all hardware related functions and spelling functions in Firefox by unchecking all the options under Accessibility and Browsing in Tools > Options > Advanced > General. Also, try enabling only the caret feature. Posting in a Windows 7 forum may also help. Please do post the results.

Modified by Vivek

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I will continue to tinker, and post any results.

I did find this post on another forum, but don't really understand everything they are discussing. It says that the bug is fixed, but there are obviously still issues.

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=656089#c29