Pricing

Accessibility

This page covers the SmartPLS 4 desktop application, version 4.1.1.9. It has the accessibility reports that universities and organizations ask for in procurement, a summary of the accessibility features, and a keyboard guide. The reports describe in detail what works today and where limitations remain.

Accessibility reports

VPAT® (WCAG edition)

PDF
Accessibility Conformance Report for the SmartPLS 4 desktop application, based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Version
SmartPLS 4.1.1.9
Date
12 October 2026
Template
VPAT 2.5, WCAG 2.1
Download VPAT (PDF)

HECVAT

XLSX
The Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit, covering security, privacy and accessibility.
Version
SmartPLS 4.1.1.9
Date
12 October 2026
Template
HECVAT 4.1.6
Download HECVAT (XLSX)
Need a different questionnaire or more information? Email support@smartpls.com.

Accessibility features

  • Keyboard operation. The core workflows, including building path models, can be done without a mouse. See the keyboard guide.
  • Screen readers. Many controls, dialogs and tables provide accessible names and roles for assistive technologies. We check key workflows with VoiceOver.
  • Focus indicator. Nearly all controls show a clear focus indicator. You can turn it off in the preferences.
  • Themes. A normal theme, a dark mode, and separate themes for color-blind users.
  • Zoom. Enlarge models with the zoom slider or with Ctrl + scroll wheel (⌘ + scroll wheel on macOS).
  • Keyboard layouts. Shortcuts adapt to the layout chosen in the preferences (QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY).
Improvements in each version are listed in the release notes.

Keyboard guide

Shortcuts for the core workflows in SmartPLS 4, for Windows and macOS. On macOS, ⌘ replaces Ctrl and ⌥ replaces Alt.

General navigation

  • Tab and Shift + Tab move between controls. The focused element is highlighted in the theme's focus color.
  • Space toggles switches and check boxes.
  • The menu bar is part of the SmartPLS window, also on macOS. The menus shown depend on the active area:
AreaMenus
AlwaysSmartPLS, Themes
Project ExplorerFiles
Model editorEdit, Calculate, Accessibility
Data editorEdit
ReportExport

Project Explorer

The Project Explorer shows your projects and files as a tree. The shortcuts are also shown next to the entries in the "Files" menu.
ActionWindowsmacOS
Open the selected file or projectEnterEnter
RenameF2F2
DeleteDelfn + ⌫
CopyCtrl + C⌘ + C
PasteCtrl + V⌘ + V
Move through the tree, expand/collapse foldersArrow keysArrow keys
Select several entriesShift + arrow keysShift + arrow keys
To prevent selecting all projects by accident, Ctrl + A (⌘ + A) is disabled in the Project Explorer. When choosing sample projects on first start, Space turns a sample project on or off.

Model editor

In the model editor, you can select, move, create and connect elements with the keyboard. Model elements are selected with dedicated keys instead of Tab.
ActionWindowsmacOS
Select next constructN or Ctrl + NN or ⌘ + N
Select next connectionAlt + N⌥ + N
Select allCtrl + A⌘ + A
Move selection (large step)Arrow keysArrow keys
Move selection (fine step)Ctrl + arrow keys⌘ + arrow keys
Click the selectionSpaceSpace
Double-click the selection (e.g. open settings)EnterEnter
RenameF2F2
DeleteDelfn + ⌫
Undo / RedoCtrl + Z / Ctrl + Y⌘ + Z / ⌘ + Y
Align indicators top / bottom / left / rightAlt + W / S / A / D⌥ + W / S / A / D
Hide / show indicatorsAlt + X / Alt + C⌥ + X / ⌥ + C
Invert measurement modelAlt + Q⌥ + Q
Invert connectionAlt + R⌥ + R
Restore default label positionsEscEsc
Switch tool (see numbers below)Alt / Ctrl + 1–8⌥ / ⌘ + 1–8
To zoom with the keyboard, move the focus to the zoom slider with Tab and use the arrow keys.

Tool numbers

No.PLS-SEMCB-SEMGSCAPROCESSRegression
1SelectSelectSelectSelectSelect
2Latent variableConstructLatent variableControl variableIntercept
3ConnectConnectQuadratic effectLatent variableGaussian copula
4Quadratic effectCorrelationGaussian copulaConnectComment
5Gaussian copulaCommentConnectQuadratic effectDelete
6CommentDeleteCommentGaussian copula
7DeleteDeleteComment
8Delete

Building a model without a mouse

The Accessibility menu in the model editor lets you create constructs and connections through dialogs.
  1. Select the indicators in the indicator list on the left.
  2. Choose Accessibility → New construct. Enter the name and position in the dialog. SmartPLS creates the construct with the selected indicators.
  3. Press N to select the construct you want to start the connection from.
  4. Choose Accessibility → New connection and pick the target in the dialog. The connection uses the active connection tool, or a regular connection if none is active.
The Edit menu also offers alignment, matching width and height, and image export.

Tables, data editor and reports

ActionWindowsmacOS
Move between cellsArrow keysArrow keys
Copy the selectionCtrl + C⌘ + C
Clear the row filter (in the filter field)EscEsc
Move into the filter field and backTab / Shift + TabTab / Shift + Tab
In the data import, Space toggles the selected indicator rows. The data editor and reports are operated through their menus ("Edit" and "Export") and the toolbar.

Dialogs

When a dialog opens, the first usable control receives the focus. In multi-line text fields in the element settings, Tab moves to the next field instead of inserting a tab character.
WhereKeyEffect
All dialogs and messagesEnterTrigger the default button
All dialogs and messagesEscCancel or close
Renaming in the model (F2)EnterConfirm
Renaming in the model (F2)Ctrl / Alt + Enter (macOS: ⌃ / ⌥ + Enter)Insert a line break
Renaming in the model (F2)EscCancel
Documentation windowEscClose
Report comparison, file selectionEnterApply the selection

Report a barrier

If something in SmartPLS doesn't work with your keyboard, screen reader or other assistive technology, email support@smartpls.com with "Accessibility" in the subject. Please include your operating system, your SmartPLS version and, if applicable, the assistive technology you use.
We reproduce the issue and get back to you, with a workaround if there is one. Confirmed issues go into release planning, and issues that block essential tasks come first. Fixes are listed in the release notes, and we update the VPAT and HECVAT to match.