Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type and enter data, you can use On-Screen Keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard displays a visual keyboard with all the standard keys. You can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, or you can use a single key or group of keys to cycle through the keys on the screen.
To open the On-Screen Keyboard:
- Click on the Start button, then All Programs, then Accessories, then Ease of Access, then click on On-Screen Keyboard.
Select how information is entered into On-Screen Keyboard
Click Options, and then, under To use the On-Screen Keyboard, select the mode you want:
| Typing mode |
Description |
Click on keys |
In clicking mode, you click the on-screen keys to type text. |
Hover over keys |
In hovering mode, you use a mouse or joystick to point to a key for a predefined period of time, and the selected character is typed automatically. |
Scan through keys |
In scanning mode, On-Screen Keyboard continually scans the keyboard. It highlights areas where you can type keyboard characters by pressing a keyboard shortcut, using a switch input device, or using a device that simulates a mouse click. |
Note:
- If you're using either hovering mode or scanning mode and accidentally minimize On-Screen Keyboard, you can restore it by pointing to it in the taskbar (for hovering mode) or by pressing the scan key (for scanning mode).
- If you're using a mouse click to select a key in the Scan through keys mode, the mouse pointer must be located over On-Screen Keyboard.
- The keyboard layout changes in On-Screen Keyboard depending on the language displayed in the active program.
To set On-Screen Keyboard to use audible clicks
You can have On-Screen Keyboard make an audible click when a key is pressed.
Click Options, select the Use click sound checkbox, and then click OK.
To use a numeric keypad in On-Screen Keyboard
You can use a numeric keypad to enter numbers with On-Screen Keyboard.
Click Options, select the Turn on numeric keypad checkbox and then click OK.
To enable text prediction in On-Screen Keyboard
When text prediction is enabled, as you type, On-Screen Keyboard displays a list of words that you might be typing.
Click Options, select the Use Text Prediction checkbox, and then click OK.
If you don't want to automatically add a space after you insert a word using text prediction, clear the Insert space after predicted words checkbox, and then click OK.
Note
- Text prediction is only available in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. To enable text prediction in a specific language, you must first install additional language files for that language. For more information, see Install or change a display language.
- Text prediction isn't included in Windows 7 Home Basic.