Use a screen reader with Microsoft Foundry

Note

This document refers to the Microsoft Foundry (classic) portal.

🔄 Switch to the Microsoft Foundry (new) documentation if you're using the new portal.

This article is for people who use screen readers such as Microsoft's Narrator, JAWS, NVDA, or Apple's VoiceOver. In this quickstart, you learn about the basic structure of Microsoft Foundry and how to navigate around efficiently.

Get oriented in Foundry portal

Most Microsoft Foundry pages have the following landmark structure:

• Banner (has Foundry app title, settings, and profile information)
  • Sometimes has a breadcrumb navigation element
• Navigation - Three different states:
  • Outside a project - there's no left navigation until you're in a project. The page is divided into sections. Once you have projects, the top section is a list of recent projects.
  • In a project - the left navigation is the same for all parts of a project until you move to the Management center.
  • The Management center left navigation has two sections. In a Foundry project, the sections are for the resource the project is in, then a section for the project itself. In a hub-based project, the sections are for the hub the project is in, then a section for the project itself.

For efficient navigation, navigating by landmarks can help you move between these sections on the page.

Navigation

The navigation is a list of links divided into different sections.

If you don't have a project, you can still explore models listed on the home page. This action takes you to the Model catalog.

• When you ask to use a model, you are prompted to create a project.
• Once you select a project:
  • You can access more capabilities such as Model catalog, Playgrounds, and Foundry Tools.
  • You can also use the Recent resource picker button within the navigation breadcrumbs to change to a different project or resource at any time.

Customize the navigation

After you select a project, you can access more capabilities such as Model catalog, Playgrounds, and Foundry Tools.

You can customize the left pane for each project or resource.

• Collapsible sections contain different content depending on what resource you have open.
• At the bottom of the list is a ...More link that lets you pin and unpin items onto the navigation.
• At the top of the More list is a shortcut to Pin all. If all items are already pinned, the option changes to Unpin all.
• The Management center is always available at the bottom of the left pane and can't be unpinned.

For more information about the navigation, see What is Foundry.

Projects

To work in the Foundry portal, first create a project:

1. In Microsoft Foundry, select Foundry from the top breadcrumbs.
2. Press Tab until you hear Create an agent, and then select this button. This action creates a project for use with an agent.
3. Enter the information requested in the Create a project dialog.
4. When the project is ready, you're prompted to select a model to use for your agent.
5. Once the model is deployed, you are in the agent playground for that project.

If you already have some projects, you can also create a new project without also creating an agent.

1. In Microsoft Foundry, select Foundry from the top breadcrumbs.
2. Press Tab until you hear Create new. This path creates a project but doesn't deploy a model.
3. When the project is created, you are in the project home page.

Using the playground

The playground is where you can interact with models and experiment with different prompts and parameters. Different playgrounds are available depending on which model you would like to interact with.

Once you select a project, go to the navigation landmark. Press the down arrow until you hear Playgrounds.

Chat playground structure

In this mode, the playground is composed of the command toolbar and two main sections: one for configuring your system message and other parameters, and the other for chatting to the model. If you added your own data in the playground, the Add your data pane also appears.

Chat session pane

The chat session pane is where you can chat to the model and test out your assistant.

• After you send a message, the model might take some time to respond, especially if the response is long. You hear a screen reader announcement "Message received from the chatbot" when the model finishes composing a response.

Distinguishing project types

Foundry has two different project types—see What is Foundry?. The type appears in the Type column in the All resources view. In the recent resources picker, the type is in a second line under the project name.

• Look for either (Foundry) or Foundry project for a Foundry project.
• Look for (Hub) for a hub-based project.

Using prompt flow

Prompt flow is available only in a hub-based project.

Prompt flow is a tool that creates executable flows by linking LLMs, prompts, and Python tools through a visualized graph. You can use prompt flow to prototype, experiment, and iterate on your AI applications before you deploy them.

After you select a project, go to the navigation landmark. Press the Down arrow until you hear Prompt flow, and then select this link.

The prompt flow UI in Foundry portal is composed of the following main sections: the command toolbar, flow (includes list of the flow nodes), files, and graph view. The flow, files, and graph sections each have their own H2 headings that can be used for navigation.

Flow section

• This section is the main working area where you can edit your flow. For example, you can add a new node, edit the prompt, or select input data.
• You can also work in code instead of the editor. To view the flow in code, select the Raw file mode toggle button.
• Each node has its own H3 heading, which can be used for navigation.

Files section

• This section contains the file structure of the flow. Each flow has a folder that contains a flow.dag.yaml file, source code files, and system folders.
• You can export or import a flow easily for testing, deployment, or collaborative purposes by navigating to the Add and Zip and download all files buttons.

Graph view section

• The graph is a visual representation of the flow. This view isn't editable or interactive.
• You hear the following alt text to describe the graph: "Graph view of [flow name]—for visualization only." We don't currently provide a full screen reader description for this graphical chart. To get all equivalent information, you can read and edit the flow by going to the Flow section or by selecting the Raw file mode toggle button. 

Evaluations

Evaluation is a tool to help you evaluate the performance of your generative AI application. Use it to prototype, experiment, and iterate on your applications before deploying.

Create an evaluation

To review evaluation metrics, first create an evaluation.

1. After you select a project, go to the navigation landmark. Press the down arrow until you hear Evaluation and select this link.
2. Press the Tab key until you hear new evaluation and select this button.
3. Enter the information requested in the Create a new evaluation dialog. After you complete this step, your focus returns to the evaluations list.

View evaluations

After you create an evaluation, access it from the list of evaluations.

Evaluation runs are listed as links within the Evaluations grid. Selecting a link takes you to a dashboard view with information about your specific evaluation run.

To export the data from your evaluation run so you can view it in an application of your choosing, select your evaluation run link, and then go to the Export result button and select it.

You can also use a dashboard view to compare evaluation runs. From the main Evaluations list page, go to the Switch to dashboard view button.

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all customers. If you have a disability or have questions related to accessibility, contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies. They can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find the contact details for your region.

If you're a government, commercial, or enterprise customer, contact the Enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

Related content

• Learn how to build generative AI applications in the Foundry.
• Get answers to frequently asked questions in the Azure AI FAQ article.