Scsi's Access Keys Page of Sonoff Consulting Services, Inc.'s Productivity and Knowledge Transfer Web Site

NAVIGATION

Home Page [/], Expanded Home Page [\], or Graphics-based Home Page [r]

• What does Sonoff Consulting Services, Inc. do -- exactly? [x]
• Focusing on Productivity [y]
• "Your WebKISS™ Guide Resource" Page
• Proof that this is a "World Class level" Web site [m]
• Need Professional Assistance? [c]
• Scsi's "Perfect 10" Web Site Standard [u] -- Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
• Scsi's Best Practices: #1 [1]; #2 [2]; #3 [3]; #4 [4]; #5 [5]; #6 [6]; #7 [7]; #8 [8]; #9 [9]; #10 [0]
• Scsi's Test Criteria Evaluation Worksheet (STCEW) Tool [`]
• Use Any Browser -- by Design! [d]
• Tips and Notes [n]
• Scsi's Access Keys [k]
• Scsi's Privacy Policy

About Scsi [,]:

• Clients
• Profile

Site Map [i]

Productivity [p]:

• Desktop
• Editors and Viewers
• eLearning and Web-based Collaboration
• High-end Technology
• Mail Programs
• System Utilities
• Web Usability
• Miscellaneous
• Recommended Reading

Scsi's WebKISS™ Guides [']:

• #1: Why Validate a Web Site's Pages?
• #2: Why 100% Accessibility?
• #3: Why use more than one Web browser?
• #4: What could Management learn ....?
• #5: How does Adherence to Web Standards Save Both Time and Money?
• #6: What's the Return-On-Investment Rationale for adopting Scsi's World Class Level Best Practices?
• #7: What are the strengths and weaknesses of search tools and engines?
• #8: Want to Increase Your Search Engine Rankings?
• #9: How Productivity-focused is your Web Site?
• #10: Want a Free STCEW Tool-based Evaluation of Your Web Site's Pages?
• #11: TOTAL ACCESS ... So What?
• #12: What Does Your Company Web Site Convey About Customer-Centric Focus?

Other Web Sites [o]

Contact Us [q]

Major Headings on Scsi's Access Keys Page

For your convenience, the four major headings provided on this Web page are listed immediately below:

• What are access keys and how do they both increase Web accessibility and user productivity?
• Legend for Scsi's Pre-defined Access Keys
• Web Browser-specific Access Key Combinations Not Overridden by Scsi's Pre-defined Access Keys
• Additional Notes and Comments

NOTE: Relevant hyperlinks are included within the associated paragraphs to make your browsing session productive and all the more enjoyable.

What are access keys and how do they both increase Web accessibility and user productivity?

Special Note: Whenever single-character symbols enclosed within brackets appear on this Access Keys Web page, they are intended to serve as easy-to-remember identifiers that are associated hyperlink operations as defined by Scsi's legend for Scsi's access keys. Each of these operations applies throughout the Scsi P&KT Web site domain of sonoffconsulting.com. The access key-based operations serve as keyboard-based productivity tools to assist users in accomplishing navigation either within a given Web page or between Web pages. Their use is never compulsory in nature or intent. So, feel free to exercise their functionality for yourself to decide whether or not to make regular use of them at any time thereafter.

What are some examples of what access keys can do for you?

Examples of accesskey-initiated operations include jumping within or between Web pages located within the current Web site's domain, jumping to the text entry field of a search window, accessing a specific page located within a different domain, and so on.

NOTE: For the convenience of anyone who already knows about and wants to make immediate use of Scsi's suite of pre-defined access keys to navigate within and among Web pages of the Scsi P&KT Web site, the "access key" selections currently available are presented and described in the next major section, namely: Legend for Scsi's Pre-defined Access Keys.

How are access keys specified for any given Web page?

Programmatically, each Web site essentially defines whatever will be the specific keyboard character that when activated in combination with an operating system-dependent "control key" will result in accessing of the associated hyperlink (or a form's label in the case of a search window) located somewhere on the currently displayed Web page.

When supported by the particular browser you happen to be using, "access keys" enable you to enter specific keyboard-based combinations -- see bulleted list below for specific examples --that will serve as an alternative method for executing certain navigational operations that would otherwise be performed using a mouse or other pointing device.

What about some specific examples of how access keys can be launched?

For example, on a computer that uses the Microsoft Windows-based operating system, the access key combination you would employ with the Internet Explorer Web browser would first hold down the [Alt] key and then press the particular pre-defined character key -- see the Legend for Scsi's Pre-defined Access Keys section below -- having the corresponding ACCESSKEY attribute associated with it. You would then release these keys and then once you actually press the [Enter] key, the associated action for that particular access key combination would take place.

Alternatively, if you were making use of either a Firefox Web browser (version 2.0.0.x or higher) or a Flock Web browser (version 2.0 and above), you would first press both the [Alt]+[Shift] keys, release them, and then press the particular pre-defined character key for the associated action to be taken immediately.

Specific distinctions must always be keep in mind, depending on the operating system, Web browser, or proprietary nature of the device you are operating at that moment, and the following statements are intended to serve as a quick reference for you.

• For Microsoft's Internet Explorer -- or Google's Chrome -- Web browsers, first hold down the [Alt] key and then press one of Scsi's pre-defined access key characters. Press the [Enter] key to initiate the associated access key operation -- unless, of course, you are already viewing that destination page and in which case nothing will change and you may hear a beep sound from your computer's speakers.
• For Firefox [pre-2.0.0.x versions], Mozilla, Netscape (any post-4.x versions), Flock (pre-2.x versions), and numerous other Web browsers -- other than Opera -- installed on a Microsoft Operating System computer, first hold down the [Alt] key and then press one of Scsi's pre-defined access key characters, and you will immediately initiate the associated action.
• For Firefox [versions 2.0.0.x or later] and for Flock (versions 2.0 and later), access key definitions provided by Web pages can now be triggered using [Alt]+[Shift]+[pre-defined access key character] on Windows, [Ctrl]+[pre-defined access key character] on Mac OS X, and [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[pre-defined access key character] on Unix.
• For Opera Software's Web browser installed on a Microsoft Operating System, you first first press the keyboard combination of [Shift]+[Esc] and then release these keys to thereby enter the Web browser's access keys mode, and then you press one of Scsi's pre-defined access key characters to initiate the associated action.
• For MacIntosh Operating Systems and its various Web browsers, such as Safari, first hold down the [Ctrl] key and then press one of Scsi's pre-defined access key characters, and you will immediately initiate the associated action.
• For cell and smart phones which have their own proprietary operating systems, you will likely find that the only access key-like operations that can be launched will be just the ten numeric keys -- 1 through 9, and 0 (for 10) -- that are associated with Scsi 's Best Practices Web pages.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Variations in behavior or means of actuation of Access Keys should be expected for different Web browsers and for Web-enabled cell phones.

What are some of the subtle browser-specific distinctions associated with the launching of access key-based actions?

For example, Microsoft Internet Explorer MSIE happens to be designed to just focus on (stay at) any access key-assigned hyperlink and requires pressing of the [Enter] key to follow (launch the Web page associated with) the author-defined access-key-assigned hyperlink; Opera essentially ignores any non-conflicting-with-their-own access keys; Post 4.x versions of Netscape and all versions Firefox do follow (that is, launch) the Web page associated with each author-defined access-key-assigned hyperlink; and so on.

Legend for Scsi's Pre-defined Access Keys

Thirty six (36) pre-defined access key combinations apply throughout the entire Scsi P&KT Web site domain of sonoffconsulting.com. Each of Scsi's pre-defined access keys is listed below with the presumption that the user understands that the associated "Operating System-specific Access key selector" will be pressed in combination with the indicated accesskey character in order to initiate that particular operation. (See NOTES for more specifics about this matter):

Access Keys -- In Alphabetical Order

• c -- Scsi's Need Professional Assistance? page
• d -- Scsi's Use Any Browser -- by Design! page.
• i -- Scsi's Site Map page.
• j -- Jump (that is, skip) to the MAIN HEADING of whatever Scsi P&KT Web site page you are currently viewing.
• k -- Scsi's Access Keys page.
• m -- Scsi's Proof that this is a "World Class level" Web site Page.
• n -- Scsi's Tips and Notes page.
• o -- Scsi's Other Web Sites page.
• p -- Scsi's Productivity page. (Note: Possibly, a Windows Media Player override may occur when and if a Firefox 2.0.0.x or later Web browser version is used.)
• q -- Scsi's Contact Us page (for example, to ask Scsi a question).
• r -- Scsi's Graphics-based Home page.
• s -- Select the default search string text present in Scsi's dual-domain Search Window. You should then enter the desired search string entry and make sure that the desired search domain's radio button is selected before selecting the Search button to launch the search operation. When done, you can select the Back button until you are returned to a page on the Scsi P&KT Web site.
• u -- Scsi's Scsi's "Perfect 10" Web Site Standard page.
• x -- Scsi's What does Sonoff Consulting Services, Inc. do -- exactly? page.
• y -- Scsi's Focusing on Productivity page.

Access Keys -- In Numerical Order

• 1 -- Scsi's Best Practice #1: Fast Loading page.
• 2 -- Scsi's Best Practice #2: Use Any Browser page.
• 3 -- Scsi's Best Practice #3: Hyperlink Help Text page.
• 4 -- Scsi's Best Practice #4: User Control of Navigation page.
• 5 -- Scsi's Best Practice #5: Dual-domain Search Option page.
• 6 -- Scsi's Best Practice #6: User Control of Text Size page.
• 7 -- Scsi's Best Practice #7: Auto-resize (widthwise) page.
• 8 -- Scsi's Best Practice #8: Intelligent Printing page.
• 9 -- Scsi's Best Practice #9: Contact Information page.
• 0 -- Scsi's Best Practice #10: Validation to Web Standards page.

Access Keys -- Specific Symbol Keys Used

• , -- {"comma mark"} Scsi's About Scsi page.
• ; -- {"semicolon mark"} to jump to the BOTTOM of whatever Scsi P&KT Web site page you are currently viewing.
• . -- {"period mark"} to jump to the TOP of whatever Scsi P&KT Web site page you are currently viewing.
• / -- {"forward slash symbol"] to access Scsi's Home page.
• - -- {"minus or dash symbol"} to launch your associated e-mail client software.
• \ -- {"backslash symbol"} to access Scsi's Expanded Home page.
• ' -- {"apostrophe mark"} to access Scsi's WebKISS™ Guides page.
• ` -- {"grave accent symbol" which is the "backward apostrophe mark")} to access Scsi's Test Criteria Evaluation Worksheet (STCEW) Tool section on Scsi's "Perfect 10" Web Site Standard page.
• [ -- {"left bracket symbol"} to launch a test of the current page's source code for W3C XHTML 1.0 Strict conformance. When done with this specific test, please remember the browser's Back button to return to the Web page from which you initiated the test.
• = -- {"equal sign"} to launch a test of the Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) of whatever page you are currently viewing for W3C conformance. When done with this specific test, please remember to select the browser's Back button to return to the Web page from which you initiated the test.
• ] -- {"right bracket symbol"} to access HiSoftware's on-line portal where you will need to enter any URL address you wish to test for WAI/ADA's WCAG or WAI/508 Accessibility conformance. When done with this specific test, please remember to select the browser's Back button until the Scsi P&KT Web site's Web page from which you initiated the test reappears.

NOTES:

1. If you are using a non-Microsoft Operating System (OS), you may find that you will have to substitute another key (for example, [Ctrl]) for the [Alt] key as summarized below.
2. For Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) Web browsers, you will have to press the [Enter] key after performing the desired access key selection.
3. For some non-IE Web browsers you may find that pressing of the [Enter] key is not required as part of the overall access key-based operation. Examples of where this applies are Netscape, Firefox, and Mozilla.
4. The associated pre-defined access key for accessing any given Scsi P&KT Web site page will have no effect when that page is the currently displayed page. For example, on this Access Keys page, the key combination selection -- be it [Alt]+[k], [Ctrl]+[k], [Shift]+[Esc] followed by pressing the [k] key, or whatever applies to your specific Operating System or browser -- will either do nothing or else sound a beep to indicate a selection "error" has been attempted.
5. For some older Web browsers, such as Netscape Communicator versions 3.x and 4.x or earlier), you will likely find that one or more -- if not all -- of these Scsi-assigned access keys will be ignored entirely.
6. If you are using devices, such as cell phones, which do not provide for two-key combinations as have been described above, you may find that the ten numeric keys will function standalone as access keys to each of Scsi's ten Best Practices, and that's good to know, isn't it? Try this out for yourself when you get a chance to do so. You can then show your friends how this --0 through 9-- subset of access keys works on Scsi's P&KT Web site.
7. If there should prove to be incompatibilities or conflicts introduced by the presence of these Scsi pre-defined access key combinations that you feel should be addressed on your behalf, please Contact Us to make this information known. Rest assured that Scsi will investigate the matter immediately for whatever options may prove tenable as a solution and reply accordingly.

Web Browser-specific Access Key Combinations Not Overridden by Scsi's Pre-defined Access Keys

You should also recognize that Scsi has taken deliberate steps to avoid introducing conflicting access key definitions. In particular, the following reserved access key combinations have intentionally not been compromised by Scsi's above-listed set of pre-defined access key combinations:

• a -- to access Add to Favorites... menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape (post 4.x versions), and Opera).
• b -- to access Bookmarks menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape (post 4.x versions), and Opera).
• e -- to access Edit menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape (post 4.x versions), and Opera).
• f -- to access File menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape (post 4.x versions), and Opera).
• g -- to access Go menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Netscape (post 4.x versions)).
• h -- to access Help menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape (post 4.x versions), and Opera).
• t -- to access Tools menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape (post 4.x versions), and Opera).
• v -- to access View menu options (e.g., in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape (post 4.x versions), and Opera).
• w -- to access Window menu options (e.g., in Netscape (post 4.x versions)).

Additional Notes and Comments

1. Use of quoted text descriptions for some of the keyboard symbols above was adopted to resolve a detected conflict with assuring Best Practice #8 for intelligently word wrapped printing of this Web page's main contents.
2. You may wish to print out this set of Scsi P&KT Web site-specific access keys and keep it handy for general use.
3. If and when any Scsi-assigned access keys are reassigned or added, the values in effect will always be listed on this Access Keys Web page. So, please be sure to check this Web page first if you encounter any problems in attempting to activate access keys within the sonoffconsulting.com domain.

Web Page Validation and Contact Information

This Scsi's Access Keys Page of Sonoff Consulting Services, Inc.'s Productivity and Knowledge Transfer Web Site was last updated, validated -- to assure full conformance to W3C's XHTML 1.0 Strict [ [ ], cascading style sheet (CSS) [ = ], and WCAG Accessibility [ ] ] (Priorities 1, 2, and 3, inclusive) recommendations -- and uploaded on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. EST by Raymond Sonoff, President of Sonoff Consulting Services, Inc., 271 Saxony Drive, Crestview Hills, KY 41017-2294 USA: Telephone: (859) 261-5908.

Remember: If you have some questions to ask, wish to request additional information about specific topics, or want to send a request for proposal, Scsi always welcomes inquiries and will respond promptly (often the very same day) once you select either of these hyperlinks -- e-mail or -- then compose and send your message to us.