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Magnifying Everything in Gnome

Step-by-step instructions to magnify the screen in Gnome.

Instructions
The magnifier can be set to switch on automatically everytime you log in to your machine or you can choose to switch on the magnifier only when you choose:

• Switch on magnifier automatically every time you log in
• Switch magnifier 'on' or 'off' from the menu

Switch on magnifier automatically every time you log in

Gnome versions before 2.1:

1. Click on the 'Applications' menu and then click on 'Preferences' or press 'Alt' + 'F1' and then use the 'down' arrow key to highlight 'Preferences'.
2. Click on or hover the mouse over 'Accessibility' and then click on 'Assistive Technology support' or use the 'right' arrow key to highlight 'Accessibility' and then the 'right' arrow key again to bring up the 'Accessibility' sub menu and then press the 'down' arrow until 'Assistive Technology support' is selected and then press 'Enter'. See Fig 1.
   
   
   Fig 1
   
3. This will open the 'Assistive Technology Preferences' property box(see Fig 2).
   
   
   Fig 2
   
4. If is not already checked, click on the checkbox next to 'Enable assistive technologies' or press 'Tab' until it is highlighted and press the 'Spacebar' to check it.
5. Click on the 'Magnifier' checkbox or press 'Tab' until it is highlighted and press the 'Spacebar' to check it.
6. Click 'Close' or press 'Enter' to return to the Gnome desktop. You will need to logout and then log-in again for the magnifier to start.

For Gnome versions 2.1 or newer

1. Click on the 'System' menu and then click on 'Preferences' or press 'Alt' + 'F1' to access the application menu and then press the 'right' arrow until 'System' menu is highlighted and then press the 'down' arrow until 'Preferences' is highlighted.
2. Click on 'Assistive Technology support' or press the 'right' arrow key (and if necessary the 'down' arrow key) to highlight 'Assistive Technology support' and then press 'Enter'.
3. This will open the 'Assistive Technology Preferences' property box. If is not already checked, click on the checkbox next to 'Enable assistive technologies' or press 'Tab' until it is highlighted and press the 'Spacebar' to check it.
4. Click on the 'Magnifier' checkbox or press 'Tab' until it is highlighted and press the 'Spacebar' to check it.
5. Click 'Close' or press 'Enter' to return to the Gnome desktop. You will need to logoff and then log-in again for the magnifier to start.

Switch magnifier 'on' or 'off' from the menu
Once you have set up the magnifier as detailed in the previous section you can now switch the magnifier on or off everytime you log-in.

1. When you log-in a menu window should appear (see Fig 3). Click on '1 Start Up Mode' or use 'Tab' to highlight '1 Start Up Mode' and then press 'Enter' to select it.
   
   
   Fig 3
   
2. if you want the magnifier to start make sure the 'Magnifier' checkbox it is checked as shown in Fig 4 by clicking on the checkbox or press 'Tab' until the 'Magnifier' checkbox is highlighted and press the 'Spacebar' to check it.
   
   
   Fig 4
   
3. If you do not want the magnifier to start click on the checkbox to uncheck the box or press 'Tab' until the 'Magnifier' checkbox is highlighted and press the 'Spacebar' to uncheck it.
4. Click the 'Apply' button or press 'Alt' + 'A' to confirm.
5. Click 'OK' or press 'Enter' to continue with your log-in.
   

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.

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