Using built in text to speech function

[DRV]

I would like to use the text to speech function built in to Windows 7 to have my computer read Word and PDF files aloud. I can find the place to select the voice and reading speed, but can not figure out how to activate the text to speech function to read my documents. I should mention that I don't have a visual impairment so am not using the narrarator option. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[OEM]

You need to use "Narrator" to read the documents. Once Narrator Opens click on the header of the document you want to read. Give it a second or two and it will start reading aloud the document.

Narrator can be found in Control Panel\Ease of Access\...

 

[OEM]

Ohh, and Welcome to the sevenforums DRV, the best place for posting questions about Windows7, tips & tricks, and has an extensive tutorial section with tons of "how to's". It's one of the first places to look for how to make changes that are not always easy to find otherwise.

Many members have spent countless hours making them for all to use and share. Find something a friend or family member might like or need, send them a link. This truly is one of the nicest forums I've ever seen, and thats due to its members, moderators, and administrators. Even the Admin's look to help out directly when they can. What more could one ask for!

Tutorials - Windows 7 Forums

Enjoy, and I hope I've helped with text-to-speech, just click on "Start Narrator" from Ease of Access then click on the windows header of that you wish to have read aloud.

You might find this tutorial helpfull,...
Text to Speech Shortcut - Create

And here's search results for "text to speech"...
Windows 7 Forums - Search Results

-0EM

 

[kerrymurphy]

i started narrator and it cycled reading the ease of access window. i opened a word document and clicked on the header but it kept reading the same?

 

[Callender]

Text To Speech

i started narrator and it cycled reading the ease of access window. i opened a word document and clicked on the header but it kept reading the same?

Try the portable version of this as you can run it without installing it:

Balabolka

It's the best free text to speech software that I've used.

 

[kerrymurphy]

Thank you, and thank you for your prompt response.

i have it installed and it works fine. it is a pity Microsoft cannot approach the simplicity and quality of apple text to speech on the ipad

 

[adanino]

TEXT to speech FREE software

Awesome TEXT to Speech software FREE to dowload.

Check it out !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WqaDf4Hv4E