RE: Blind Programmers
- From: "Cowle, Jodi" <JCowle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:06:04 -0500
Hi Gerry,
Thanks for your information.
As for Progress:
I have found that it really depends upon how the Progress applications are
written. We started with Progress Version 6, and most of our apps were written
then. So even though we migrated to V7, 8, and 9 most of our apps are based on
V6, which is non-gui. They have been mostly accessible to me. It helps to
look at the code to find out what some of them are doing. We purchased some
tools created in Progress to make the various apps similar, and I found them
difficult to navigate. The developer of the tools used Pprogress code to
simulate objects.
I wrote one app in V7 with objects, mostly buttons. The logic was quite
different, as it was event-driven. I could access that, but I wrote it myself
and it was quite simple.
Then when V8 came along it had something they called an AppBuilder which
included objects, smart objects, a section editor, and perhaps more things I'm
forgetting. I found all of this hard to use, and the couple applications we
have developed with these smart objects I have not been able to navigate.
Fortunately for me, we only have one I can think of for Health Referrals. We
took a class in V8 programming several years ago, and the system was written
recently, so it may not be a good example in that the developer of that app had
to try to remember how to use the environment, and this was quickly written.
I use JAWS, and found the tooltips somewhat helpful in dealing with the smart
objects; but this was having to do with using them to create applications in
that long ago class..
So, if your applications are written with smart objects I don't know much about
this. Some scripting may help.
Let me know if I can give you further information that would be of help.
Thanks.
Jodi
Jodi Cowle
City of Madison, Information Technology
(608) 267-4911
-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Aubertin, Gerry
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 8:49 AM
To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Blind Programmers
Hello Jodi and Others:
I too am a blind programmer in transition. My background is in BASIC, COBOL,
SQL and RPG. I currently develop on an I-Series (AS/400) using SQL and some
RPG. I am currently trying to teach myself Visual Basic for .NET.
As far as Progress is concerned, not only have I heard of it, but over the
last year Progress has become the bain of my existence. Here is the reason I
say that:
My company is in the process of migrating from an AS/400 based ERP to a
Progress based ERP. Although, I am told, we will not be developing anything in
Progress per se, all of our users will be using a Windows based client that
serves up the execution of Progress processes. This client has been written in
C#. I have found that Jaws interacts very poorly with the client that our ERP
provider has implemented. When I approached the ERP provider with my concern I
was told that the client that serves up the Progress aps is built in C# using
the latest .NET technology, with the unstated sub-text of "So what's your
problem". I would be acutely interested in hearing your experiences in
interacting with Progress developed applications from the perspective of a
blind person.
Thank your for your indulgence in hearing my predicament and possibly
hearing any advice you may be able to provide in the erea of interacting with
Progress applications.
Gerry Aubertin
Programmer/Analyst
Phone: (519) 271-4840 Ext. 8807
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________________________________________
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cowle, Jodi
[JCowle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 3:58 PM
To: 'programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: Blind Programmers
Hi,
I am a blind programmer for the City of Madison, Wisconsin. Currently I
program in Progress - which most people haven't heard of. I started out using
COBOL in 1985 on a mainframe. Then I programmed in LINC for several years.
Our applications are now developed on PC's with Windows XP OS and spread over
various servers.
I use JAWS as my primary screen reader, and am slowly trying to learn and use
Window-Eyes.
Over the years my IT department has changed direction. We no longer develop
systems in one language and database environment. We mostly help agencies of
the city select packages rather than develop applications for them. I still
work on old Progress applications, but they are slowly going away. A while ago
I created a list of things I'd learned from reading these lists - what people
were working with, etc. But this is outdated.
I am trying to find a place to stay busy and useful in my department, and also
get back some work hours I gave up after my baby was born.
The programming environment is always changing, and is very different from the
way it was when I started working here.
Hence, my appeal.
Would some blind programmers be willing to write to me off list and let me know
what programming languages and development tools you use? I'd also be
interested in the screen reader or screen readers you use. This would help me
with my meeting with management.
I appreciate any input you are willing to give me.
Thank you.
Jodi
Jodi Cowle
Information Technology
City of Madison, WI
(608) 267-4911
jcowle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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