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Here are instructions for getting Mushclient to work with screen readers. Mushclient is a MUD client, which can allow visually impaired people to play MUDs (Multi-user Dungeons).

  1. Once MUSHClient is installed, put the plugin for whichever screen reader you are using (listed below) in the plugins directory. This will be something like c:\Program Files\MUSHClient\worlds\plugins.
  2. Create a world in MUSHClient as normal, and add your plugin to it through the Plugins dialog that can be found in the File menu, or by pressing control+shift+p. After doing so, the plugin should speak its welcome message. If it does not, follow the instructions in Troubleshooting below. If it still doesn't work, email me and I can help you.
  3. To enable and disable speech while in a world, type tts and press enter.
  4. If your screen reader reads the line number and time while reviewing, go into the world configuration and under the output item in the tree, disable show line information.

Screen reader plugins

A note on prompts

MUSHclient, and these plugins, process complete lines only. This means that certain lines, such as prompts with no newline at the end will be spoken after the next line comes in. There are several ways around it.

For muds that support it, enabling Convert IAC EOR/GA to new line in the Output item of the configuration will translate certain telnet sequences into a newline for you. You may have to enable it mud-side (e.g. config +telnetga on smaug). If your mud doesn't support it, enabling this won't hurt anything.

Most muds allow you to put a newline after your prompt, or turn it off entirely. help prompt will usually say how.

In character creation where this is usually an issue, you'll just have to review the screen in order to read the last line of output that may have come in.

Troubleshooting

If you are using JAWS and the plugin does not speak, you might need to install JFWAPICtrl.dll. This automatic installer should do it for you. To do this manually:

  1. unzip the jaws api file, and put the jfwapictrl.dll file in a place where it'll be safe from deletion, for example in the windows directory.
  2. Open a command prompt to that directory and run: regsvr32 /s jfwapictrl.dll

Other Plugins