TIP: Using Matlab with your Screen Reader

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(Applies to: SuperNova Access Suite, SuperNova Screen Reader)

Using Supernova or Hal with Matlab 2007 from MathWorks

Matlab is a high-level language and interactive environment, widely used in U.S. universities and colleges, that enables users to perform computationally intensive tasks faster than with traditional programming languages such as C, C++, and Fortran. Supernova and Hal will both work with Matlab 2007 from MathWorks (www.MathWorks.com) providing:

• Your computer is running an up to date version of Sun's Java Engine.
• Your computer is running Sun's Java Access Bridge version 2.0 (or above)
• You have set Supernova (or Hal) to use Dolphin's "Java Accessibility" map file when using Matlab

(Please see below for further setup instructions.)

If all three of these criteria are met then Supernova (or Hal) will read Matlab's user interface using Sun's Java Access Bridge technology (as the Matlab application itself is a Java application and not a Windows application).

One other accessibility tweak that will help when reviewing the screen output in Matlab's command window using Supernova or Hal is to enable the check box "Arrow keys navigate instead of recalling history" in Matlab's "Preferences" dialog box. This will enable a Supernova or Hal user to arrow through the command window's screen output in order to review it line by line (or letter by letter).

Setup instructions.

Supernova and Hal both support applications that support the Java Access Bridge version 2.0 (and above).

The Java Access Bridge works with the Sun Java engine. Only Java applications running in their own window are supported. Java applications that run inside Internet Explorer or Netscape are not supported (this is a limitation of the Java Access Bridge). Enterprise customers need to use the Sun Java Plug-in to force their Java applications to run in their own Window and therefore be accessible.

Installing the Java Access Bridge:

Before you can use Supernova or Hal with Java applications you need to install the Java Access Bridge 2.0.

1. Ensure you have the Java Runtime Environment installed. You can download the latest version from http://java.sun.com/getjava/
2. Once the Java Runtime Environment is installed you can then install Java Access Bridge 2.0. It is available from http://java.sun.com/products/accessbridge/.
3. Run the Java application, in this case Matlab 2007. 
4. With the focus on the Java application (i.e. Matlab 2007), open the Supernova or Hal control panel (LEFT CONTROL+SPACEBAR).
5. Select the "Map" menu in Supernova or Hal's control panel (ALT+M).
6. In the "Map" menu select the menu item "Create or Choose map file".
7. In the "Choose map file" dialog box choose the radio button "Use an existing map file" and in the pull-down list box select "Java Accessibility".
8. Close all dialogs using the "OK" or "Close" buttons.

Now you are ready to use the Java application (in this case Matlab 2007).

Troubleshooting screen corruption:

When using Java applications there might be some screen corruption, typically some parts of the Java application are displayed grayed out. This is caused by the Java application using DirectDraw.

You can solve this problem by using Supernova's DirectDraw compatibility mode:

To enable DirectDraw compatibility mode:

1. Open the Supernova control panel by pressing LEFT CONTROL+SPACEBAR.
2. Select the "Configuration" menu and then the "Video Engine" menu item.
3. Select the checkbox "DirectDraw / GDI+ Compatibility mode".

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