Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Writers, Beware the Ribbon
I don't want to whine too much about Microsoft Vista or Office 2007...I have come to learn that these software upgrades are part of computing life. But I have a word or warning for hard-core writers out there who delve into all the nooks and crannies of MS Word. The warning is: Set aside some time for a learning curve on all the new navigation.
If you're accustomed to the toolbars in all Office applications, brace yourself for change, because they are all gone. The new multi-tabbed "Ribbon" takes its place. The tabs and the groupings on the ribbon are somewhat logical, but the ribbon isn't customizable like the toolbars were. Many of the dialogs and interfaces "beyond" the ribbon are familiar, but you have to hunt and peck to find them, and then re-commit to memory all the clicks you need to make to perform your most basic functions.
There is one customizable toolbar, the "Quick Access Toolbar," and if you were a MS Office Power User before, you'll be able to customize it relatively easily...but if you weren't, it will probably be challenging to set up anything that resembles the toolbars you were used to.
Here's a good article that covers the pros and cons of the Ribbon, with plenty of user feedback:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6142596.html
Or, if you like to drink the Microsoft Kool-Aid, here's their rah-rah description of the changes:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679411033.aspx
If you're accustomed to the toolbars in all Office applications, brace yourself for change, because they are all gone. The new multi-tabbed "Ribbon" takes its place. The tabs and the groupings on the ribbon are somewhat logical, but the ribbon isn't customizable like the toolbars were. Many of the dialogs and interfaces "beyond" the ribbon are familiar, but you have to hunt and peck to find them, and then re-commit to memory all the clicks you need to make to perform your most basic functions.
There is one customizable toolbar, the "Quick Access Toolbar," and if you were a MS Office Power User before, you'll be able to customize it relatively easily...but if you weren't, it will probably be challenging to set up anything that resembles the toolbars you were used to.
Here's a good article that covers the pros and cons of the Ribbon, with plenty of user feedback:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6142596.html
Or, if you like to drink the Microsoft Kool-Aid, here's their rah-rah description of the changes:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679411033.aspx
Labels: writing tools
Monday, October 22, 2007
How To Write a Book--The Easy Way
We recently finished a year long series of white papers that eventually became a book. This is really an ingenious way to accomplish an otherwise daunting task. The project took more than a year, but the client had the marketing benefit of each completed white paper throughout the year. With a little editing at the end of the project, the white papers became chapters and the chapters became a book.
Many people don't realize what great marketing vehicles books can be. In this particular client's case, his salespeople are reporting increased sales due to this book. It's not necessarily because people are reading the book cover-to-cover, but because they believe (and it's true) the company really is an expert in its field.
Many people don't realize what great marketing vehicles books can be. In this particular client's case, his salespeople are reporting increased sales due to this book. It's not necessarily because people are reading the book cover-to-cover, but because they believe (and it's true) the company really is an expert in its field.
