Hello there. I am totally blind and I use a text to speech synthesiser which reads out loud what is on the screen. I upgraded to the latest version of boinc just today, and I find I'm unable to use the new interface because you need to click on pictures and graphics and such in order to get to the various areas of the program. I'd really, really really really like to get the old interface back. How do I do this? I do not currently have any sighted assistance who can help me. I really wana be able to continue participating in boinc project, but I fear that boinc's interface will become more unfriendlier to blind users. Please Please help if you can.

There is a text button called "Advanced View" at the very bottom right of the new interface, in the same row as Messages, Pause and Preferences. As it is text your synthesiser should not have a problem with it and by clicking that button the BOINC manager should permanently switch to the advanced interface.

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I dont know why, but my speech synthesiser won't read the text you're talking about. it thinks there's just a blank spot, so I'm stuck.

Both Jord and I have reported this to the developers.

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Kathryn :o)

While the developers are working on the problem, you could uninstall the new version and then re-install the old version into the same location. You can download the old version from : http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php (look for 5.4.11, it should be the third download from top assuming that you're using Windows)

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For an update, I got a message back from one of the developers, David Anderson.

He has asked Rom Walton to add a keyboard command that always goes to Advanced View.

In the mean time, you may want to join the BOINC Alpha testers group.
We don't have any blind people testing, that I know. If you are interested, please pass by on http://boinc.berkeley.edu/alpha/test_instructions.php which explains what you must do to become a tester.

Is there anything you want us to do on these forums as well to make your navigation easier?

(not trying to be condescending, if it sounds like that, please forgive me.)

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Another invitation, but now from Pirates@Home. http://pirates.spy-hill.net/

This project primarily tests the forum software at this moment, for integration into a software for students all over the USA to use on schools and universities. Eric Myers (Wormholio) would be very happy if you could tell him what you do and don't see on his forums, or indeed, the whole site.

You do need to make an account there to be able to post on the forums.
Just attach http://pirates.spy-hill.net/ to BOINC as you would always do. It's possible you need to fill in an invitation code. Like blunderbuss (all lower case) or !grog4U (exclamation point, lower case grog, number 4, capital U).

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Hi guys. thank you very much for all your help so far.
I find with the advanced view however that there is an option missing, EG I can't get in to the preferences, I mean the project preferences. Can this be fixed too?
Thanks

The 'general' preferences can be set via the web sites (just change it on any project, and click that project's update button on the manager). At the moment the preferences dialogue in the manager is only a subset of the options available. Hopefully it'll be implemented in the 'advanced view' sooner or later.

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As it is text your synthesiser should not have a problem with it and by clicking that button the BOINC manager should permanently switch to the advanced interface.

Well, that's the problem. "It's not text, it's just a picture of some text".

Just a suggestion: While I'm sure WhoCrazy wouldn't mind participating in some of the testing, it may be better for the developers to install whatever software he is running so they can "see" what he is. This would probably lead to faster development and fixing.

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Pulling this thread up from the bottom.

I have put it as a ticket into the new BOINC Trac system at: http://boinc.berkeley.edu/trac/ticket/147

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Hi there. I'm testing the latest boinc version released on may 3 2007, and I must say it's an improvement over the last version. I do have a few suggestions though. including an option in the system tray where you can switch views, I accidentally switched to simple view and now can't get back, I'm scared if I do a ctrl-alt-del and ending all the boinc tasks, it might ruine the current work unit I'm doing. I've heard of this happening to a few people. I'm doing the climateprediction project which means I can't afford to wreck a work unit, it's gonna take me 3 months to finish this one and I just can't afford to lose it.
Also, could you please do away with the grid view and bring back the old list view interface? I found it much easier. thanks.
ps: good to see the preferences options can be accessed from the advanced view as well.

Hi whocrazy.

I added your post to the ticket. Can you follow the ticket yourself and even add things there? Or is even that confusing to you and your speech software?

Rom is busy with it but he needs some testers. I understand if you can't read the BOINCTrac site, it is even confusing to me who can see. :-(

Else let him know on romw@romwnet.org

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Hi there.
Yea I should be able to follow the boinc ticket and add things, if you could just tell me the right links to click on. Thanks
I've sent an email to rom with the details of what I'd like done.
btw signing up to be an alpha tester does seem a little pointless because it's mainly testing out boinc work units. My issues aren't with boinc work units, only the boinc manager's interface.
Once again I'd really like to thank you for all your help so far, thanks guys

Hi there. Well I downloaded boinc version 5.9.10, but I still am having trouble, if there is a way to turn off the grid view, I haven't found it. Are any of you able to let me know or keep me informed of any of the interface changes, IE when they'll be put back to what they once were?
Thanks.

You want an option to have the Grid view disabled? I can ask that.
Although lots and lots of people have asked for this option for a long time. So I guess it's here to stay. I take it it interferes with your speech program as well?

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You want an option to have the Grid view disabled? I can ask that.

Well, or no need to ask that. There's a ticket on it already and it'll be an option for 5.10 (as far as I can see): http://boinc.berkeley.edu/trac/ticket/85

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Hi guys. Yes the grid view is interfering with my speech synthesiser, I am not able to arrow up and down the list of projects and tasks like I used to be able to.
I know you'll get a bit of whining coming from the sighted users who like the prettier interface, and for that I'm sorry. perhaps you can make it a toggle?
Here are my proposed changes.
You can have an option in the system tray right click context menu to switch from advanced view to simple view, that would probably make it easier for the boinc programmers rather than trying to put a keyboard shortcut which may or may not work in all situations.
Note that the item should appear when ever you right click the boinc icon
In the options and configuration screen, you could have the toggle to switch the grid view on or off.
I hope this doesn't inconvenience the boinc developers too much.
Thanks

There is a new accessibility option in 5.9.12 (which was released about 12 hours ago). It's the same as the old list view and can be got to via the drop down "view" menu.

From Rom's email to the alpha list...

We now include both the Grid views and the List views so that people using screen readers and other adaptive equipment can still use BOINC Manager.

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Kathryn :o)