LeaseyCuts.

Introduction.

Have you ever created a Microsoft Word document at your place of work and needed to save it in a specific folder which is located on a network drive several sub-folders deep? Is there a folder which you need to access regularly and you do not have the skills to create a Windows Shortcut on your desktop pointing to that folder? Have you created a thesis, essay, novel or document template which you need to access on a regular basis? Are there web sites you would like to access quickly but you don’t necessarily want to launch your preferred web browser to get there?

These are all very typical examples of situations for which LeaseyCuts can be used. We are sure you can think of many others. LeaseyCuts allow you to:

• Create convenient keyboard access to folders stored on your computer (or perhaps an external source such as a USB flash or network drive).
• Instantly open any file (again stored on your computer or externally).
• Launch web pages within your favourite web browser.
• Save documents (or files) in the folders to which LeaseyCuts have been assigned.
• Get instant access to folders when wishing to attach a document to an Email message.

Storing a LeaseyCut.

LeaseyCuts Pointing to Files and Folders.

Before you can assign a LeaseyCut to a file or folder, you need to learn about one of the most essential tools on your computer, File Explorer.

What is File Explorer?

Each computer contains a number of “drives”. These are the main storage areas which house your computer's files and folders. Each drive has a letter associated with it. You can store material in, and retrieve items from, a computer drive or any folders you create on the chosen drive.

Typically, the drive which has a letter of “C” associated with it contains important data necessary for your computer to run. However, it is possible to store folders located on this lettered drive into which you may decide to place documents or other files.

Another way of looking at this would be to envisage that each lettered drive is like a filing cabinet. You may use at least one of the filing cabinets into which to place folders. In a folder, you could place some documents, audio files or any other content.

The vehicle for the creation and examination of your folders is called “File Explorer”.

If you are already familiar with the concept of creating (and browsing through) folders on your computer you do not need to work through this exercise and you can skip to the next section.

To create a folder on drive “C” of your computer entitled “Letters” please follow these steps.

1. Press the Windows Key+E to enter File Explorer.
2. You should now be focused upon a vertical list of drives, with each one being denoted by a specific letter. Press the Up or Down Arrow keys to locate a drive. We are looking for drive "C".
3. When the chosen drive has been located, press Enter to move into it.
4. Now use the Up or Down Arrow keys to explore all the folders currently present on drive "C". There will be quite a number of them. You can also use first letter navigation to locate something more quickly. For example, on drive "C", if you press the letter "L" repeatedly, you will locate a folder called "LeaseyData". This is where a good deal of Leasey functionality lives. You do not need to be concerned with the content of this folder, but it will help you to understand the concept.
5. When a folder is located that you wish to examine, press Enter to move into it. You may then see a number of further folders or files. You will know the difference because, when you find a file, the name will be announced followed by what is known as a file extension. A good example would be "My First Document.txt", indicating that the title is "My First Document" and the extension for it is ".txt", meaning a text file. There are many such extensions which go way beyond the scope of this document.
6. To return to the previous folder, press the Backspace key. Focus will return to the folder list and the one you just entered will be selected.
7. To create a folder, press ALT+2 or Control+Shift+N. Into the Edit Field provided, type a name for the folder, such as "Letters" and press Enter.

Creating a LeaseyCut Pointing to a File or Folder.

Now we know a little about File Explorer, we can describe the process of creating a LeaseyCut pointing to a file or folder. Any file can be accessed through a LeaseyCut, such as a Microsoft Word document, Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or a simple text file created in Microsoft Notepad, which is a very basic word processor. So if you always have a shopping list you need to refer to, or maybe a form you need to complete at work, storing a LeaseyCut pointing to it is quick and easy.

Similarly, if you wish to attach a LeaseyCut pointing to a folder, such as that containing frequently used documents, this too is easily achieved. Once created, LeaseyCuts provide a highly efficient way of locating these items.

To store a LeaseyCut pointing to a file or folder:

1. Using File Explorer, locate the item to which you wish to attach the LeaseyCut. In summary, please find the file or folder, but do not open it.
2. Press the Leasey Key then Control+S. A Dialog Box will appear requesting that you type the name of the LeaseyCut. In time, this title will be reflected in a convenient List Box from which you will access your LeaseyCuts and so the object of this exercise is to ensure that a short name is given. You can either type a name into the Edit Field or accept the default text which is displayed, since Leasey has usefully captured the title of the file or folder. But in summary, this text is highlighted so you can type a new name immediately over the top of the old one. Tip: When you have typed the new name, press Insert+Up Arrow to have it spoken back to you. If it is not what you intended, you can always edit the text at this stage.
3. When the new LeaseyCut title has been entered, press the Enter key to move to the next stage.
4. An Edit Field will now be displayed containing the full path as to where the folder or file is located. Please review this with the Left and Right Arrow keys to ensure it is as you intended. When you are satisfied with the location, press Enter and the LeaseyCut will be saved. You will be advised of this.

Creating a LeaseyCut Pointing to a Webpage.

Now we will create a LeaseyCut pointing to a webpage. Please follow these steps:

1. Using your web browser in which you prefer to access the site, browse to the webpage to which you wish to attach the LeaseyCut. Please consider this step carefully. Some web sites are more responsive and usable with specific web browsers. For example, a page on YouTube is likely to respond more favourably with JAWS when used in conjunction with Google Chrome. Therefore, you should consider this before creating the LeaseyCut. When you launch the page in the future using the LeaseyCut you are about to create, the site will be opened in the browser you specify.
2. Press the Leasey Key then Control+S. A Dialog Box will appear requesting that you type the name of the LeaseyCut. In time, this title will be reflected in a convenient List Box from which you will access your LeaseyCuts and so the object of this exercise is to ensure that a short name is given. The edit field should contain no text so you must give the LeaseyCut a title. Tip: When you have typed the new name, press Insert+Up Arrow to have it spoken back to you. If it is not what you intended, you can always edit the text at this stage.
3. When the new LeaseyCut title has been entered, press the Enter key and the LeaseyCut will be created. You will be advised of this.

Using LeaseyCuts.

There are two distinct ways in which LeaseyCuts can be used. They can either be used to launch an item or to type the path of a folder.

Launching a LeaseyCut.

In order to launch the folder or document from any application using the LeaseyCut please follow these steps:

1. Press the Leasey key followed by Control+L for List of LeaseyCuts pointing to files or folders, or alternatively, the Leasey Key followed by Control+Semicolon to access a list of LeaseyCuts pointing to web pages.
2. A List Box appears containing all the LeaseyCuts you have previously assigned. Use the Up or Down Arrow keys to move through the List Box or, if you know the name of the item you wish to view, press its first letter. You will note that, if accessing the list of LeaseyCuts pointing to files or folders, alongside each item in the List Box is a description of what the LeaseyCut points to. This can be a document or folder.
3. When the desired item has been located, press Enter to launch it. You will hear the announcement “please wait” and after a short pause the required item will be launched.

When within a LeaseyCut in any of the two lists mentioned above, when focused on an item you can press Control+C to copy the path or web page URL to the Windows Clipboard.

Entering a LeaseyCut Folder Path.

There will be situations where you wish Leasey to type the path of a folder to which a LeaseyCut is pointing. We will provide two examples of where you may use such an approach:

Example 1: Microsoft Word “Save As” Dialog Box

1. Create a document in Microsoft Word.
2. Press Control+S to enter the Microsoft Word “Save As” Dialog Box.
3. Press the Leasey key then Control+P (for “Path”).
4. A List Box of your LeaseyCuts will appear. Locate the correct LeaseyCut which will have the word “Folder” next to it. This is where the document will be saved.
5. Press Enter. The required path is inserted into the Microsoft Word “Save As” Dialog Box followed by a further “Backslash” character.
6. Type the file name and press Enter. The file is now saved in the correct folder.

Example 2: Browsing to a Folder within Microsoft Outlook

1. Create a new message in Microsoft Outlook.
2. Move to the “Attach File” Dialog Box. For example this should be achieved by pressing ALT+N, then A, then F.
3. When focused within the “File Name” Edit Field, press the Leasey key then Control+P (for “Path”).
4. A List Box of your LeaseyCuts will appear. Locate the correct LeaseyCut which will have the word “Folder” next to it. This is the title of the folder you will be browsing for a file to attach to your message.
5. Press Enter. The required path is inserted into the Edit Field.
6. Press Enter again and then Shift+Tab twice in order to start browsing the list of files within the folder you have selected.
7. When you locate the file you wish to attach to the message, press Enter to do so.

Deleting and Renaming a LeaseyCut.

You may decide at a later date that you would like to rename one of your LeaseyCuts. This can be done in the "Renaming and Moving Centre", activated with the Leasey Key then Control+R.

Activating this keystroke presents you with a List Box. Each item in the list relates to a Leasey component you can name or move from one place to another. Go ahead and press Down Arrow, or the letter "C", to reach the item labelled "Cuts". Then press Enter.

You are now presented with a list of LeaseyCuts which you can rename. Select one of them with the Up or Down Arrow keys, or by typing the first few letters of its name, then press Enter.

Finally, when prompted, type the new name for the LeaseyCut and press Enter. You will hear the old name followed by the new one.

To delete a LeaseyCut:

1. Press the Leasey key then Control+L to bring into view a list of LeaseyCuts. If you would like to delete a LeaseyCut for web pages, press the Leasey Key followed by Control+Semicolon instead
2. Navigate to the LeaseyCut you wish to delete.
3. Press the Leasey key followed by the Delete key. The LeaseyCut will be removed from the list and you will be advised of this.