How to get started

[Jim Peterson]

Hi everyone and thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
I'm using XP Pro with Office Pro 2003.

I have been using Word for some time, and while I'm not great at it, I am
pretty comfortable in most things I do.
Now I also have Publisher, and I have received Publisher documents that
others have emailed to me.

My questions are what is the main "concept" behind Publisher that makes it
different than Word, and what can it do (or not do) differently than Word? In
other words, I'm trying to determine when I would want to use Publisher
instead of Word to create a document.

After I learn that information, what is the best way to learn how to get
started in Publisher. Is there an MVP site similar to Word, or any web site
that can walk a beginner through the initial steps?

Again, thanks for any feedback anyone can offer.

Jim

 

[Mary Sauer]

There is good help here
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/FX100649121033.aspx

Word is a far better for long documents. If you are dealing with images,
Publisher is much easier to work with.

 

[S]

I print a 15 brochure for renting my property abroad. I initialy used word
but as I had pictures and had to update certain areas from time to time I
found word a bit of a headache in terms of getting a good layout, bits would
pop off on to the next page etc, probably due to lack of `word` skills. It
was then suggested I try publisher it was a nightmare for me for the first
few days but now its a dream and would not go back to using `word` for this
brochure. It allows me to edit sections as required without changing the
format/layout.
I find that publisher gives me much more flexibility for this type of thing.
..
I would suggest for you to try it and decide for yourself.

I am not an expert in any of the office programmes but I use publisher for
the brochure and excel for the `booking form` and letters to the renters, it
is rare for me to use word any more.

Just my opinion.

 

[Kate G.]

When I work with students -- I describe the difference between Word and
Publisher like this:

1) with Word you are writing directly on the paper -- you can create one or
two or... more columns... and with enough skill you can use column breads
and continuous section breaks and text boxes to achieve the layout you want.
It takes above average skill to do this (at least from the average person's
perspective).

2) working with Publisher is very different. You are basically creating a
collage of text and images that you can resize and reposition by merely
dragging them around. With the click of a button you can "carry" or
"connect" text from one page to another like they do in the newspaper
(headlines and intro on page 1... story continues on page 6). If you have
basic word processing skills -- you use those WITHIN each text frame. But
creating the "Look" on the page is much easier to achieve... if you can
resize boxes and drag them around... Much easier than in Word.

Does that help?