Proofreading a Microsoft Excel worksheet can be
tedious, time-consuming work, especially when you are comparing your
worksheet against another document. With Microsoft Excel version
2002 (XP), you can have the computer read back selected data to you for
verification. Each selected cell value is spoken and when you hear
an error you can stop the playback to correct it.
NOTE: To use the Microsoft Excel 2002 (XP) Text
to Speech feature, your computer must have a sound card installed and
speakers attached.
Display the Text to Speech Toolbar
Menu Path
Click on the Tools menu
Click the Speech command
Select the Show Text to Speech Toolbar
sub-command
NOTE: If this is your first time
using Text to Speech you will need to install the feature
from your Microsoft Office 2002 (XP) installation CD.
Place your CD in the drive when prompted and follow the
instructions.
The Text to Speech toolbar will display on
the Excel screen.
Text to Speech Toolbar
Play Back a Group of Cells
Select a group of cells to be read
back by the computer
Choose How the Computer will Read Back the
Data
On the Text to Speech toolbar, click the By
Rowsbutton
On the Text to Speech toolbar, click the By
Columns
button
Begin Computer Read Back
Click the Speak Cells
button to begin the read back
To correct an error, click the Stop
Speaking
button then correct the error
Click the Speak Cells
button to resume the computer read back
Play Back after Every Cell Entry
On the Text to Speech toolbar, click on the Speak
On Enter
button
Enter data into a cell. When you
depress the <Enter> key, the computer will read back
the data in the cell.
When finished, click the Speak On Enter
button to turn it off
NOTE: If you hide the Text to Speech
toolbar and you have not turned off Speak On Enter, the computer
continues to read back each cell entry you make.
Change Speech Settings
You can change the voice and the speed of the
speech playback
Menu Path
Click the Microsoft Windows Start
button
Click on Settings
Click on Control Panel
Double click the Speech
icon
Speech Properties Dialog Box
Click the down arrow to select a voice
Move the slider to adjust the voice speed
Click the Preview Voice button to
listen to your selections
When finished, click the OK button
NOTE: You may need to close and then
reopen Microsoft Excel for the new settings to take effect.
button 
button to begin the read back
button then correct the error
button to resume the computer read back
button
button to turn it off
button
icon