Extract text from JAWS key map files (JKM)
To convert JKM key maps to another format, you need JAWS or other Settings software.
To convert other file formats to the "Keyboard Mapping Configuration" file type, you need software like JAWS or a similar tool.
A .jkm file is a proprietary JAWS Key Map File used by the JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reader developed by Freedom Scientific. These files store custom keyboard shortcuts and mapping configurations that allow visually impaired users to quickly navigate the Windows operating system and interact with specific software applications.
The primary disadvantage of the .JKM format is its strict vendor lock-in. It is completely proprietary and tied to a costly software ecosystem. If you do not have an active, expensive JAWS license, you cannot natively open, read, or apply these settings. Furthermore, standard web browsers and general text editors do not officially support reading the structured or proprietary syntax of these files. This makes it highly frustrating to audit, backup, or share keystroke mappings with developers, IT support, or users of alternative screen readers.
Because .jkm is a closed, application-specific format, standard online document converters fail entirely when attempting to process it. Usually, only the original JAWS software can properly read, export, or modify this data. We can inspect the file's internal structure and extract raw text or embedded formats, giving you visibility into the keystroke logic without needing a $1,000+ software license.
If you need to document your mappings or migrate them, the best conversion targets are readable text formats like TXT, CSV, or XML. While you cannot directly convert a .JKM file into a working configuration file for another screen reader like NVDA, extracting the underlying text allows you to manually recreate your setup or archive your configurations safely.
Convert.Guru analyzes your JKM file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted JSH, EHI and EMV files.
If you want to convert JKM file to INI, CFG, CONF, CONFIG, JSON, XML, YAML, YML, TOML, ENV, PROPERTIES or RC, you can use JAWS or similar software from the "Screen Reader Key Mapping" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert ZSHRC, CONF, RCFILE, GITCONFIG, RC, PLIST, BASHRC, CONFIG, PROFILE, INI, PREFS or CFG files to JKM, try JAWS or another comparable tool in the "Screen Reader Key Mapping" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our JKM converter.