Following tips help you to learn a software in lesser time and in an efficient manner:
1. After installing a software package, look for any README file in the installed folder. Besides company and product details, it may give an overview of features, usages and limitations of the software.
2. Next run the software and have a feel of the look of the software. Identify the different parts of its main screen.
3. Look for the information shown in the TITLE-BAR of the main screen. Usually, it shows the product name. If the application is SDI (Single Document Interface like Notepad) or MDI (Multiple Document Interface like MS Word) then title-bar will also contain name of the opened file. Similarly, there may be STATUS-BAR at the bottom that shows the operation being performed.
4. Then comes the main MENU-BAR. Most of the GUI based software have common menu-items. So its better to learn once-for-all. Some of the common menu-items are:
FILE, EDIT, VIEW, TOOLS, WINDOWS, HELP.
Each of these names are intuitive itself.
-The FILE menu will have operations NEW, OPEN, SAVE, SAVE AS, PAGE SETUP, PRINT,CLOSE and EXIT.
-Similarly, EDIT menu contains editing operations like CUT, COPY, PASTE, FIND AND REPLACE.
-The VIEW menu helps in controlling the view of the software GUI. You can switch on-off various toolbars.
-The TOOLS menu usually have options to customize the software you like and also other supporting functionalities like Read-Aloud function in a word processor package.
-The HELP menu may contain GETTING STARTED tutorial, detailed indexed and searchable help and ofcourse, a popup dialog-box that shows information about the software. It may also contain a link to website of the product.
5. Once acquainted with different menu and their menu-items, look at each menu again to find shortcuts to them. For example, Alt+F will take you to File menu. Some common shortcuts are:
Ctrl+N - New
Ctrl+O - Open
Ctrl+S - Save
Ctrl+Shift+S - Save As
Ctrl+P - Print
Ctrl+X - Cut
Ctrl+C - Copy
Ctrl+V - Paste
Ctrl+F - Find
6. Next have a look on various tool-bars that are present below menu-bars. They provide a visual shortcut to the desired operation. Examples are a paper folder on top right corner for NEW, an opened folder for OPEN, a scissor for CUT, two papers for COPY, a paper on clamp-pad for PASTE, floppy icon for SAVE and printer ICON for PRINT. A book or question mark icon represents HELP.
7. If the package is a development tool then start with the sample applications provided with it. It will help you understand what functionality level the package can provide. Also, you may need not start your application from scratch; it can be dervied from one of the sample application (provided source code is available).
8. Mostly, the menu-item name will tell its functionality. Even if it does then also try each operation available in the package.
9. You can master a software with its usage and little study. The best place for getting some help is the in-built help provided in the package itself.
10. Remember Internet is always there to solve your problem. Use a search-engine with appropriate phrase to get the best material available as solution to your query. You can visit my website: http://www.geocities.com/zainvi_sf for Tips and Tricks for various softwares, programming langauages and links to ther useful material available on the Internet.
Syed Feroz Zainvi has obtained M.Tech. (Comp Sc & Engg) degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (INDIA). His areas of interests are distributed computing, computer graphics and Internet Technologies. Currently, he is involved in Software Project Planning, Development and Management. His other interests include writing for magazines and contributing utility softwares on Magazine's CDs. He also have flair for teaching computer science with new teaching methodologies.
Benton shuttle to Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIn part III of this ISDN primer, we learned that... Read More
The stakes are high when considering security, privacy, and savings,... Read More
Words we choose to describe things and phenomena often show... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions ? Great Plains has captured the US... Read More
Should one use Windows Update?This topic has good and valid... Read More
The Microsoft system preparation utility for Windows 2000 is a... Read More
Programming Help for BeginnersWe write programs to instruct computers. When... Read More
In 2004 Oracle, Inc. made its new step toward J2EE... Read More
One of the main reasons business owners and entrepreneurs use... Read More
If you are to buy a HelpDesk & Asset Management... Read More
Software development is a risky business.Many software developers are barely... Read More
Let us give you - developer some hints in the... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, former Great Plains Software Dynamics... Read More
Our hosted solution allow you to run your own search... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains and MS CRM (client relation... Read More
I completed an experiment recently. I wanted to find out... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More
Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft and attempt to... Read More
Microsoft CRM is CRM application, maintained and supported by Microsoft... Read More
If you have Microsoft Great Plains and support it for... Read More
It???s easy to understand why you might be drawn to... Read More
Most people understand that the "hardware" part of their computer... Read More
Once upon a time not so long ago, there was... Read More
How do you run a program on a remote server... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was designed back in the... Read More
limousine Chicago airport Arthur ..Usually workflow & messaging is realized in CRM and then... Read More
What is Tripwire?Tripwire is a form intrusion detection system (IDS)... Read More
The Windows Indexing Service provides you with the ability to... Read More
Stop the Runaway MouseWhat's the "runaway mouse?" You've seen it...you... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains ? ERM from Microsoft Business Solutions and... Read More
So, why should you use any O/R mapping tool? I... Read More
In order to meet regulatory and corporate compliance requirements reporting... Read More
Viruses and spyware usually show up on your computer one... Read More
Before September of 1995, Microsoft ignored the Internet because their... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Navision is main ERP application for European,... Read More
Icons are used everywhere; right from software applications, to internet... Read More
When you double-click a layer in the Layer Palette, you... Read More
We all take the computer for granted. I mean, all... Read More
MSN messenger is a pretty cool invention. I mean I'm... Read More
Case study: A secretary using Corel WordPerfect 7 is often... Read More
What is Snort?Snort is an open source network intrusion detection... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains version 8.5, 8.0, 7.5, Great... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is now standard mid-market ERP application, serving... Read More
I have recently created my first Php program. I wanted... Read More
"Pfishing", sometimes spelled "Phishing", is a word that's used to... Read More
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular,... Read More
Many reasons made GBM a unanimous choice for experts, one... Read More
Are you a whiz at calculating financial information? Not the... Read More
Microsoft CRM ? Client Relationship Management package from Microsoft Business... Read More
There are so many different programs that clutter up your... Read More
Software |