- Software Manuals
Admittedly not all software manuals are created equal but some have hidden gems and others are downright excellent resources.Look for useful charts of keyboard shortcuts and explanations for some of the more obscure icons and buttons. Get explanations for basic features and some technical advice.
- On-line Help Files/PDF Manuals
Many publishers seem to moving away from printed manuals for their software and have added extensive and often interactive help files and tutorials. Some of those tutorials can be surprisingly useful, even for more experienced users. Having a large monitor can be helpful because you can open the program and the manual side-by-side. - Third-party Books
Traditionally third-party books have been much more useful and popular than the user's manuals that accompany some software. You also have a huge variety to choose from. How do you find the one that you need — not too technical or not too basic or not too focused on just one aspect of the program? Read this FAQ on How do I choose a desktop publishing or software book? - Classes/Seminars/Workshops
Whether it's a class at your local community college or traveling series of workshops from a major training company, look at class size, supplied textbooks or handouts, and access to a computer when determining if it will meet your needs.In addition to the interaction with others, a big benefit of many such workshops is the expert instructors. Some instructors may also be authors so if you enjoyed their book, it may make the conference more enjoyable — or vice versa.
Talk to others who have attended the same course (especially if it's a course with a hefty price tag). Some companies also offer virtual classroom instruction. Through email, message boards, or scheduled chats you meet with instructors or other users online. This may be an attractive alternative for those who live in out-of-the-way locations or small towns where the major companies don't hold workshops.
If it's not a free class, do check out the company thoroughly before sending in your money and investigate refund policies if you must cancel or if the class doesn't meet your needs.
Your local Computer User's Group may provide the interaction you need with a more flexible schedule and better price tag so don't overlook that option.
- Video Training
These can be a cost-effective alternative to classroom instruction if you like to be able to see someone demonstrating tasks. Although you lose the interaction with the instructor, you also gain the ability to stop the action and head to the restroom without fear of missing vital information. Videos are often comparable in price to some of the big book/CD-ROM titles now offered for the major software packages. - Free Tips and Tutorials Online
One of the major draws at some Web sites is the promise of super tips, hidden tricks, and step-by-step tutorials. Our desktop publishing software resource library has many such sites listed. If you use the more popular programs, tips and tutorials are more plentiful.Software publisher's sites often have pages of tips and some, such as Adobe, even run their own message boards where users can share information with others that use that product.
Are you just starting out, have more time on your hands than real clients? Now's the perfect time to delve into the inner workings of your software while building up a portfolio at the same time.
Read a book. Take a class. Do some makeovers. Make up logos or newsletters for fictional clients. Do some freebies for a friend or relative. Use those projects to explore and learn more about the desktop publishing software tools you'll be using every day when the clients start knocking down your door.
