EdSharp is a full featured, friendly, powerful, open source text editor. It uses a standard Windows interface for an application that supports multiple document windows.

Though intended for sighted users as well, it seeks to enhance productivity for users of the NVDA, JAWS, Window-Eyes, System Access or other screen readers by automatically verbalizing relevant information.

These speech messages supplement default speech heuristics, providing confirmation or results of commands without the need for manually interrogating the screen.

If NVDA, JAWS, Window-Eyes, or System Access are not detected in memory, EdSharp uses the default SAPI voice, if available, which may be configured via the Speech applet in Control Panel.

Written in the C# (pronounced C Sharp) language, EdSharp implements the Homer editor interface, which originally evolved with the TextPal editor. The same interface was also implemented in the package of JAWS scripts and tools called HomerKit.

EdSharp requires the

.NET Framework 2.0.

Almost every EdSharp command may be done through a mnemonic keystroke, as well as a menu or mouse operation. These commands begin with the standard keys available in Notepad or most Windows-based editors.

EdSharp then adds many beneficial features. Optional JAWS scripts provide further fine tuning of the speech interface for those users.

Installation:

The installation program for EdSharp is called edsetup.exe. When executed, it prompts for a program folder, the default being

C:\Program Files\EdSharp

The installer also creates a program group for EdSharp on the Windows start menu, containing choices to launch EdSharp, read Documentation, and uninstall. Additional choices either set or clear an association between EdSharp and files with a particular extension, such as .txt or .ini.

Binary formats such as .pdf or .ppt may also be associated with EdSharp, thus permitting automatic conversion to text when opened via Windows Explorer.

The EdSharp setup program checks whether the required .NET Framework 2.0 is already installed, and if not, lets you do so. You may need to reboot Windows and restart the EdSharp installer during the process.

After installing EdSharp, the setup program presents a list of three checkboxes that are on by default. The first checkbox offers an optional set of JAWS scripts to fine tune the EdSharp speech interface in a few ways that could not be accomplished otherwise.

Mainly, these scripts suppress the often unnecessary verbalization of keystroke names, such as "Control+S," leaving just the command name if appropriate, such as "Save." If the scripts were installed and you would later prefer default JAWS behavior instead, delete files matching the EdSharp.* pattern from the user script folder, which may be reached via the "Explore Settings" option in the JAWS program group of the Windos Start menu.

Alternatively, press Insert+0 when EdSharp is active to load JAWS Script Manager, then cursor down to the following line:

;SwitchToConfiguration("default")

Delete the initial semicolon character (;), which uncomments that code, then press Control+S to save and recompile the scripts. Press Alt+F4 to exit script manager.

If you prefer not to install the JAWS scripts in the first place, e.g., because you are a Window-Eyes, System Access, or HAL user, then press Spacebar to uncheck that option of the setup program.

The second checkbox sets Alt+Control+E as a system-wide key associated with the EdSharp shortcut placed on the Windows desktop. If this hot key is found to conflict with an existing shortcut, navigate to either the EdSharp or other shortcut on the desktop, press Alt+Enter for properties, and then change the hot key to something else (or leave it blank).

The third checkbox in the list, available via DownArrow, offers EdSharp documentation in the default web browser (usually Internet Explorer).

EdSharp may be safely installed over previous versions. The About option from its Help menu, or Alt+F1 key, indicates the current version number and release date. The History of Changes command, Shift+F1, summarizes fixes and improvements over time.

EdSharp features may be explained in the following categories:

• Editing.
• navigating.
• querying.
• managing files.
• pasting snippets.
• working with structured text.
• word processing.
• programming.
• and miscellaneous.

Shortcut keys:

1. Launch EdSharp=Alt+Control+E, Launch or activate the EdSharpapplication via a Windows desktop shortcut.
2. Hotkey Summary=Alt+Shift+H, Display this list of command names, hot keys, and descriptions in a new window.
3. Documentation=F1, Open Documentation in web browser.
4. About=Alt+F1, Display version and release date.
5. History of Changes=Shift+F1, Display list of fixes and improvements.
6. Key Describer=Control+F1, Toggle a mode in which pressing a key describes its action.
7. Alternate Menu=Alt+F10, Present all commands in a single, alphabetized list.
8. Context Menu=Shift+F10, Pick a command from those available to Windows Explorer for the current file extension.
9. SendTo Menu=Control+F10, Pick a command from those available as Windows "Send To" options.
10. Select All=Control+A, Select all text.
11. Unselect All=Control+Shift+A, Clear text selection.
12. Select Chunk=Control+Space, Select contiguous sequence of non-blank characters at cursor, or select the next chunk if a selection already exists.
13. Say Selected=Shift+Space, or JAWSKey+Shift+DownArrow, Say selected text, or spell if repeated.
14. Say Chunk=Shift+BackSpace, Say chunk at cursor.
15. Start Selection=F8, Mark starting point of text to be selected.
16. Complete Selection=Shift+F8, Select text from starting point to cursor.
17. Reselect=Control+Shift+F8, Reselect between previous start and end positions.
18. Go to Start of Selection=Alt+Shift+F8, Return to start position of selection.
19. Copy All=Control+F8, Copy all text to clipboard.
20. Read All=Alt+F8, Say all text (without moving cursor).
21. Say Address=Alt+A, Say line, column, and percent position of cursor.
22. Say Block=Alt+B, Say the rest of the current code block, or the whole block if repeated.
23. Say Braces=Alt+Shift+], Say number of braces on either side of cursor.
24. Say Indentation=Alt+I, Say the indentation level of the current line, or the preceding line with less indentation if repeated.
25. Say Yield=Alt+Y, Say number of characters, words, and lines in all or selected text.
26. Say Status=Alt+Z, Say whether current file has been modified since last save to disk, or say its character encoding if repeated.
27. Say Clipboard=Alt+Apostrophe, Say clipboard text, or spell if repeated.
28. Say Time=Alt+Semi-colon, Say current time and date.
29. Insert Time=Alt+Shift+Semi-colon, Insert current time and date.
30. Calculate Date=Control+Shift+Semi-colon, Calculate and insert date.
31. Configuration Options=Alt+Shift+C, Adjust configuration options through a dialog.
32. Set Default Font and Color=Alt+Shift+Equals, Set default font and color for editing window.
33. Manual Options=Alt+Shift+M, Adjust options by directly editing the main configuration file.
34. Reset Configuration=Alt+Shift+0, Revert to default options, or define a new compiler configuration.
35. Copy=Control+C, Copy selected text to clipboard, or copy current line if no selection.
36. Copy Append=Alt+C, Append selected text to clipboard, or append current line if no selection.
37. Copy Rich Text=Control+Shift+C, Copy selected text with formatting to clipboard.
38. Cut=Control+X, Cut selected text to clipboard, or cut current line if no selection.
39. Cut Append=Alt+X, Cut and append selected text to clipboard, or cut and append current line if no selection.
40. Paste=Control+V, Paste text from clipboard.
41. Paste File=Control+Shift+V, Insert another file at cursor position.
42. Append from Clipboard=Alt+7, Toggle a mode in which text copied to the clipboard is also saved to a file.
43. Undo=Control+Z, Undo the last editing action.
44. Redo=Control+Shift+Z, Redo the last action that was undone.
45. Save Snippet=Alt+S, Save all or selected text to a snippet file.
46. Invoke Snippet=Alt+V, Pick snippet file to paste or execute.
47. View Snippet=Alt+Shift+V, Pick snippet file to view or edit.
48. Yield with Regular Expression=Control+Shift+Y, Count parts of text matching a regular expression.
49. Extract with Regular Expression=Control+Shift+E, Extract text matching a regular expression, putting matches in a new window.
50. Replace with Regular Expression=Control+Shift+R, Search and replace regular expression in all or selected text.
51. Replace=Control+R, Search and replace string in all or selected text.
52. File Find=Alt+Shift+F, Open file from list of files containing a search string.
53. Forward Find=Control+F, Search forward for string in all or selected text.
54. Reverse Find=Control+Shift+F, Search backward for string.
55. Forward Find with Regular Expression=Control+F3, Search forward for regular expression in all or selected text.
56. Reverse Find with Regular Expression=Control+Shift+F3, Search forward for regular expression in all or selected text.
57. Forward Find at Cursor=Alt+F3, Search forward for chunk or selected text.
58. Reverse Find at Cursor=Alt+Shift+F3, Search backward for chunk or selected text.
59. Forward Find Again=F3, Search forward for next match.
60. Reverse Find Again=Shift+F3, Search backward for previous match.
61. Word Wrap=Control+W, Word wrap lines.
62. Unwrap=Control+Shift+W, Unwrap lines.
63. Guard Document=Control+F7, Make document read-only.
64. No Guard=Control+Shift+F7, Clear read-only status.
65. Toggle Punctuation=JAWSKey+Grave, Accent, Toggle JAWS voice between all and no punctuation.
66. Voice Louder=Alt+Grave, Increase JAWS voice volume by 5%.
67. Voice Softer=Alt+Shift+Grave, Decrease JAWS voice volume by 5%.
68. Voice Faster=Control+Grave, Increase JAWS voice rate by 5%.
69. Voice Slower=Control+Shift+Grave, Decrease JAWS voice rate by 5%.
70. Extra Speech Toggle=Control+Shift+X, Toggle extra speech messages on or off, redirecting to Speech.log file.
71. Extra Speech Log=Alt+Shift+X, Open speech.log file in a new window.
72. Go to Percent=Control+G, Go to percentage point in document.
73. Go to Percent Again=Alt+G, Repeat Go command.
74. Jump to Line=Control+J, Jump to line number or to line, column position.
75. Jump to Line Again=Alt+J, Repeat Jump command.
76. Set Bookmark=Control+K, Set bookmark at cursor position.
77. Clear Bookmark=Control+Shift+K, Clear bookmark at cursor position.
78. Go to Bookmark=Alt+K, Go to bookmark in current file.
79. Set Favorite=Control+L, Add current file to the list of favorites.
80. Clear Favorite=Control+Shift+L, Clear current file from the list of favorites.
81. List Favorites=Alt+L, Open a file from the list of favorites.
82. Recent Files=Alt+R, Open a file from the list of those recently used.
83. New=Control+N, Open a new editing window.
84. New from Clipboard=Control+Shift+N, Open a new editing window containing clipboard text.
85. Open=Control+O, Open file.
86. Open Other Format=Control+Shift+O, Open file in another format and convert it to text.
87. Open Again=Alt+O, Reload the current file from disk.
88. Properties=Alt+Enter, display Windows properties dialog for current file.
89. Save=Control+S, Save.
90. Save As=Control+Shift+S, Save As.
91. Save Copy=Alt+Shift+S, Save copy of document using a different name.
92. Export Format=Alt+Shift+E, Export document to another format.
93. Print=Control+P, Print current file.
94. Mail Body=Control+M, Mail current file as body of an email message.
95. Mail Attachment=Control+Shift+M, Mail current file as an email attachment.
96. Burn to CD=Alt+Shift+B, Burn a list of files or folders to a CD.
97. Web Download=Alt+Shift+W, Pick files to download from a web page or the current document.
98. Web Client Utilities=Alt+Shift+Space, Pick a web client utility to run.
99. Run=F5, Execute current file, based on its extension.
100. Run at Cursor=Shift+F5, Execute a web URL or email address at cursor position or in selected text.
101. Prompt Command=Alt+F5, Prompt for a command line to execute and say its standard output.
102. Review Output=Alt+Shift+F5, Open standard output of last prompt or compile command in a new editing window.
103. Compile=Control+F5, Compile source code, say output, and jump to error position.
104. Pick Compiler=Control+Shift+F5, Pick a compiler or interpreter from the list of those configured.
105. Say Compiler=Alt+0, Say current compiler and folder.
106. Go to Folder=Control+0, Go to folder containing recent or favorite files.
107. Go to Special Folder=Control+Shift+0, Go to special folder of Windows.
108. Go to Environment=Control+Shift+G, Go to interactive environment of current compiler.
109. Spell Check=F7, Spell check all or selected text.
110. Thesaurus=Shift+F7, Look up synonyms for word at cursor.
111. Lookup Term=Alt+F7, Look up information from dictionary.com, thesaurus.com, and wikipedia.org.
112. Translate Language=Alt+Shift+F7, Translate all or selected text from one natural language to another.
113. Say Path=Alt+P, Say full path of current file.
114. Path to Clipboard=Alt+Shift+P, Copy full path of current file to clipboard.
115. Path List=Control+Shift+P, Generate a list of files in a new editing window.
116. Special Character=F2, Insert character indirectly by specifying its Unicode value.
117. Quote=Control+Q, Add prefix sequence to current or selected lines.
118. Unquote=Control+Shift+Q, Remove prefix sequence from current or selected lines.
119. Join Lines=Control+Shift+J, Word wrap lines in all or selected paragraphs.
120. Hard Line Break=Control+Shift+H, Set the maximum width of lines in all or selected text.
121. Upper Case=Control+U, Convert current or selected characters to upper case.
122. Lower Case=Control+Shift+U, Convert current or selected characters to lower case.
123. Proper Case=Alt+U, Convert current or selected characters to proper case.
124. Swap Case=Alt+Shift+U, Convert lower case characters to upper case, and vice versa.
125. Yield Encoding=Alt+Shift+Y, Render all or selected text based on a character encoding.
126. Format Code =Control+4, Arrange indentation and other stylistic conventions in a C-like language.
127. Repeat Line=Control+Y, Copy current line below it.
128. Evaluate Expression=Control+Equals, Evaluate current line or selected text as a JScript.NET expression and copy the result below.
129. Replace Tokens=Control+Shift+Equals, Swap user-defined tokens with their computed results in all or selected text.
130. Transform Files=Alt+Equals, Apply a set of search and replace tasks to a list of files in the current window.
131. Trim Blanks=Control+Shift+Enter, Trim leading and trailing blanks from the current or selected lines, and remove more than two consecutive blank lines.
132. End Character=Alt+End, Go to last non-blank character of line and read it.
133. Home Character=Alt+Home, Go to first non-blank character of line and read it.
134. Next Word=Control+RightArrow, Go to next word and read it.
135. Prior Word=Control+LeftArrow, Go to previous word and read it.
136. Next Chunk=Alt+RightArrow, Go to next chunk and read it.
137. Prior Chunk=Alt+LeftArrow, Go to previous chunk and read it.
138. Next Sentence=Alt+DownArrow, Go to next sentence and read it.
139. Prior Sentence=Alt+UpArrow, Go to previous sentence and read it.
140. Next Paragraph=Control+DownArrow, Go to next paragraph and read it.
141. Prior Paragraph=Control+UpArrow, Go to previous paragraph and read it.
142. Delete Right=Control+Shift+Delete, Delete from cursor to end of line.
143. Delete Left=Control+Shift+Backspace, Delete from cursor to start of line
144. Delete Down=Alt+Shift+Delete, Delete from cursor to bottom of file.
145. Delete Up=Alt+Shift+Backspace, Delete from cursor to top of file.
146. Delete Line=Alt+Backspace, Delete current line.
147. Delete Hard Line=Control+D, Delete line ending in hard line break.
148. Delete Paragraph=Control+Shift+D, Delete past one or more blank lines.
149. Delete File=Alt+Shift+D, Delete current file on disk.
150. Rename=Alt+Shift+R, Rename current file on disk.
151. Next Section=Control+PageDown, Go to next section.
152. Prior Section=Control+PageUp, Go to Prior Section.
153. Go to Section=F6, Go to section in body from topic in table of contents.
154. Go to Contents=Shift+F6, Go to topic in table of contents from section in body.
155. Search for Topic=Control+F6, Search for a topic based on text in its heading.
156. Search for Topic Again=Alt+F6, Search again for the next matching topic.
157. Topic=Alt+T, Say topic of current section.
158. Text Contents=Alt+Shift+T, Generate and prepend a table of contents to the current document.
159. Section Break=Control+Enter, Insert a section break at the cursor position.
160. HTML Format=Control+H, Convert current document to HTML in a new window.
161. Text Convert=Control+T, Convert other formats to text files with the same name except for a .txt extension.
162. Text Combine=Control+Shift+T, Convert other formats to text and combine them in a new editing window.
163. Justify=Alt+Shift+J, Set justification of cursor or selected text.
164. Style=Alt+Shift+Slash, Set style of cursor or selected text.
165. Baseline=Alt+Shift+6, Set vertical alignment of cursor or selected text.
166. Set Selection Font=Alt+Shift+Dash, Set font of cursor or selected text.
167. Next Alignment=Control+RightBracket, Go to next change in justification.
168. Prior Alignment=Control+LeftBracket, Go to previous change in justification.
169. Next Style=Control+Slash, Go to next change in style.
170. Prior Style=Control+Shift+Slash, Go to previous change in style.
171. Next Baseline=Control+6, Go to next change in baseline.
172. Prior Baseline=Control+Shift+6, Go to previous change in baseline.
173. Next Font=Control+Dash, Go to next change in font.
174. Prior Font=Control+Shift+Dash, Go to previous change in font.
175. Say Font=Alt+Dash, Say current font and color.
176. Say Styles=Alt+Slash, Say current justification and styles.
177. Infer Indent=Alt+RightBracket, Infer the indent unit of the current document, or configure EdSharp accordingly if repeated.
178. Toggle Indentation=Windows+Grave, Toggle announcement of indentation by JAWS.
179. Indent Mode=Alt+Shift+I, Toggle auto indent with Enter, and announcement of indentation changes.
180. Enter New Line=Enter, Start new line at left margin.
181. Indent New Line=Shift+Enter, Start new line with same indentation as current one.
182. Indent New Line Prior=Alt+Shift+Enter, insert prior line with same indentation as current one.
183. Indent=Tab, Indent current line or selected text by one unit.
184. Outdent=Shift+Tab, Reduce indentation of current or selected lines by one unit.
185. Align=Alt+Shift+A, Adjust indentation of current or selected lines according to prior line.
186. Next Block=Control+B, Go to the next block of code, having the same or less indentation.
187. Prior Block=Control+Shift+B, Go to the previous block of code, having the same or less indentation.
188. Next Indent=Control+I, Go to the next change in indentation.
189. Prior Indent=Control+Shift+I, Go to the previous change in indentation.
190. Right Brace=Control+Shift+RightBracket, Search forward for matching right brace character.
191. Left Brace=Control+Shift+LeftBracket, Search backward for matching left brace character.
192. End Tag=Control+Shift+Period, go to closing tag of HTML element.
193. Start Tag=Control+Shift+Comma, Go to opening tag of HTML element.
194. Next Part=Alt+PageDown, Go to next match of NavigatePart setting.
195. Prior Part=Alt+PageUp, Go to previous match of NavigatePart setting.
196. Go to Part=Alt+Shift+G, Pick a part to go to.
197. Order Items=Alt+Shift+O, Sort items alphabetically in all or selected text.
198. Reverse Items=Alt+Shift+Z, Reverse order of all or selected items of text.
199. Keep Unique Items=Alt+Shift+K, Discard repetitive items in all or selected text.
200. Number Items=Alt+Shift+N, Insert numbers at the start of items in all or selected text.
201. List Different Items=Alt+Shift+L, Compare two lists and put non-overlapping items in a new window.
202. Query Common Items=Alt+Shift+Q, Compare two lists and put overlapping items in a new window.
203. PyDent=Alt+LeftBracket, Convert from PyBrace format, or reformat typical Python code, using the IndentUnit setting and adding comments at ends of blocks.
204. PyBrace=Alt+Shift+LeftBracket, Convert from PyDent format, or reformat typical Python code, using braces instead of indentation and adding comments at ends of blocks.
205. Insert Script Path=Control+I, Insert JAWS script path in Open or Save Dialog.
206. Insert All Users Path=Control+Shift+I, Insert JAWS All Users path in Open or Save Dialog.
207. Explorer Folder=Alt+Backslash, Open Windows Explorer in the EdSharp program folder, data folder, or current folder.
208. Command Prompt=Control+Backslash, Open a command prompt in the EdSharp program folder, data folder, or current folder.
209. Environment Variables=Control+E, Change Windows environment variables for the current process, user, or system.
210. Next Window=Control+Tab, Cycle to next editing window.
211. Prior Window=Control+Shift+Tab, Cycle to previous editing window.
212. Windows Open=Shift+F4, Say titles of current editing windows.
213. Current Windows=F4, Activate an editing window from a list of those currently open.
214. Close Window=Control+F4, Close current editing window.
215. Close All but Current Window=Control+Shift+F4, Close all editing windows except the current one.
216. Exit EdSharp=Alt+F4, Exit the EdSharp application.
217. Arrange Icons=Alt+F11, Arrange open windows.
218. Cascade=Control+F11, Cascade open windows.
219. Tile Horizontal=Alt+Shift+F11, Tile open windows horizontally.
220. Tile Vertical=Control+Shift+F11, Tile open windows vertically.
221. Elevate Version=F11, Download latest EdSharp version and run installer (after confirming).