Google Docs Format Menu With Screen Readers

Overview

The Format menu in Google Docs provides users with a variety of tools and options to customize the appearance of their documents. It offers a range of formatting options for text, paragraphs, spacing, and more. Here’s an overview of the features typically found in the Format menu:

• Text: Modify text formatting, such as font, size, color, and style.
• Paragraph Styles: Apply predefined paragraph styles (e.g., Heading, Normal Text).
• Align & Indent: Adjust alignment, indentation, and line spacing.
• Line Spacing: Set spacing between lines of text.
• Columns: Create multiple columns in the document.
• Bulleted & Numbered Lists: Create lists with bullets or numbers.
• Table: Format tables, including cell size, borders, and shading.
• Cell Styles: Apply predefined cell styles in tables.
• Image Options: Adjust image size, position, and text wrapping.
• Table of Contents: Customize the appearance of the table of contents.
• Headers & Footers: Format headers and footers.

Navigation In Format Menu Using Screen Readers

1. Open Your Document:

   • Launch your web browser and navigate to Google Docs (docs.google.com).
   • Sign in to your Google account if you aren’t already.

2. Create a New Document or Open an Existing One:

   • To create a new document, select “Blank” or choose a template.
   • To open an existing document, go to “File” > “Open” and select the document you want to edit.

3. Navigate the Google Docs Interface with Your Screen Reader:

   • Google Docs is accessible with screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and others. Use the screen reader’s keyboard shortcuts to navigate the interface and read the document content.

4. Access the Format Menu:

   • To access the Format menu, press Alt + E on Windows or Option + E on Mac. This keyboard shortcut will open the Format menu.

5. Explore the Format Menu Options:

   • Once the Format menu is open, you can explore various formatting options using your screen reader. The Format menu includes options like:
   • Font: To change the font style and size of your text.
   • Paragraph styles: To apply headings, normal text, or other predefined styles.
   • Text color: To change the text color.
   • Highlight: To apply a background color to selected text.
   • Line spacing: To adjust the spacing between lines of text.
   • Alignment: To align text (left, center, right, or justified).
   • Bullets & numbering: To add lists to your document.
   • Paragraph borders: To add borders around paragraphs.
   • Columns: To create multiple columns in your document.
   • Table of contents: To generate or update a table of contents.
   • Text Direction: Change the text direction for languages that read from right to left.
   • Clear Formatting: Remove any applied formatting from selected text.
   • More Formats: Additional formatting options like headers and footers, margins, and page size.

6. Select and Apply Formatting:

   • To apply formatting, select the text or paragraph you want to format using your screen reader’s navigation keys (e.g., arrow keys).
   • Open the Format menu and choose the desired formatting option.
   • Adjust settings as needed using the submenus that appear.

7. Review Changes:

   • After applying formatting changes, use your screen reader to review the document and ensure that the formatting is as desired.

8. Save Your Document:

   • Don’t forget to save your document by pressing Ctrl + S (Windows) or Command + S (Mac) or by navigating to “File” > “Save.”