Are there any free word processing programs that include text to speech?

Anyone know if open office includes it? Otherwise, there are “accessibility options” on PC’s that allow you to make all applications have text2speech. Look in the control panel under “accessibility”. As always, another options is to use Linux :P

Windows built-in Narrator should work with any word processor. By default it reads everything on screen, menus, keystrokes – but you can adust the settings to make it less obtrusive.

Windows 7
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Hear-text-read-aloud-with-Narrator

Vista
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsvista/narrator.aspx

XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/accessibility/narratorturnon.mspx

@jaytkay I found the Narrator, but it doesn’t make any sound when I select text to read.
I check out the troubleshooting tab, and it mentioned that I need a sound card.
In control panel, under sound, it says that I have a Realtek Digital Output
I’m not sure if Narrator works with this, or if I have to install a sound card.

It should work. That is basically a sound “card” that is built into the motherboard. THat sort of integrated sound lacks fancy features like Dolby Surround, but is more than sufficient for such basic things as Narrator.

Does your computer have sound when you do stuff like play back videos or music? If not, you need to install the drivers for it.

@jerv Yep, my computer plays videos and music with sound.

From the help section of Narrator:

I can’t hear any text read aloud

_There are three things you can try:

Make sure that your speakers are connected properly. If you’re not sure how to do this, check the information that came with your speakers._

Make sure that the speaker volume is turned up sufficiently and your speakers aren’t muted.

Make sure that your sound card is properly installed and the drivers are updated.

To check for a sound card
Click to open Sound.

Your sound card is listed on the Playback tab.

If you don’t have a sound card installed, you’ll have to get one for Narrator to work_

I checked out all of these, and it still doesn’t work. I’m wondering if it is the type of document I tested it in (Text document). Should it be reading what I am typing in this window too?

Narrator is reading nothing out loud, is that correct?

@jaytkay Yes.

@MrsDufresne One odd one I’ve occasionally had trouble with. See, there are differnet sources of sound and you can adjust the volumes on each of them separately through the advanced settings. There are times where my System volume is on max and most things make sound but somehow one of those bars is set to zero, causing some but not all of my programs to be silent.

Right-click the little speaker icon in the Taskbar and see if there is an Open volume Mixer or similar option there. That’s where it is on my system.

@jerv Yep, I found the Open Volume Mixer when I right click on the lil speaker icon. All the levels are set to medium. I even checked the settings on my keyboard, everything seems to be working correctly except there is no Narration.