When composing a reply in HTML format in Thunderbird, or when editing in a rich-text area, expose indentation information if something is formated as a block quote, for example the cited text of the original message one replies to.

What does the DOM have for the quoted areas?

I just realized that we currently handle quotes in HTML by exposing custom roles that match the tag names for quotes: "q" for inline quote "blockquote" for larger quotes Screen readers use these objects when a user types Q/Shift+Q to move to next/previous quotation. We should test to see if that still works in a web page. It would be great if email apps already use q/blockquote. We need to check their DOM. I believe it's possible to install DOM Inspector for Thunderbird.

(In reply to comment #2) > Screen readers use these objects when a user types Q/Shift+Q to move to > next/previous quotation. We should test to see if that still works in a web > page. That definitely still works. > It would be great if email apps already use q/blockquote. We need to check > their DOM. I believe it's possible to install DOM Inspector for Thunderbird. Good news on that front: When I view a message that has a quote, regardless whether it is HTML or plain text, I get the quoted text rendered inside a blockquote.. I can therefore also navigate using Q/Shift+Q inside any e-mail message where Thunderbird recognizes quoted text.

> I can therefore also navigate using Q/Shift+Q inside any e-mail > message where Thunderbird recognizes quoted text. Marco, so does that mean this is WORKSFORME?

(In reply to comment #4) > > I can therefore also navigate using Q/Shift+Q inside any e-mail > > message where Thunderbird recognizes quoted text. > Marco, so does that mean this is WORKSFORME? No. The above only applies when *reading* a message. The original discussion in bug 345759 was about what happens when *composing* one, meaning when IA2 is in effect. Are blockquotes exposed then? or how can I test?

Hmm, you'd have to use accprobe, which may or may not work for you. It's time for you to try it. It's a new project up on Eclipse.org which can provide IAccessible2 info: http://www.eclipse.org/actf/downloads.php

I just checked a compose window and the accessible object with role="blockquote" is in there, which contains the quoted text. So, it's going to be the job of screen readers to incorporate this into their rich text editing code. We need to follow-up with screen reader vendors. Marco, can you do that?