PDA

View Full Version : Help files or Google?


eugenetyson
08-20-2007, 05:19 AM
Just wondering what you all think. Lately, I've been wondering if we all spend a little too much time Googling than reading the help files suppplied with the products we buy. I'm just as guilty as anyone. As soon as I need to do something I instantly just Google. Where all my answers, albeit short answers, are supplied right inside the Help files. There are so many things that are easily looked up, rather than emailing a Guru. Like, hidden characters, flowing text, nested styles etc. There seems to be a hunger and a thirst for just knowing what we need to know to get by, one step at a time. Rather than buying a book for 60 quid and sitting down and doing a project, looking up what you're not sure as you go along. I have several books beside me on CS2, CS2 for Dummies and Indesign CS2 Bible. I like having these books here, I like referring to them. I like that I've read them, applied the theory and understand it.

Are we spending too much time on-line trying suck the information out of other people? Is it good to talk to others? I like to talk to other people and see what way they do it and approach a problem. I think that aspect is great. But finding out basic functions of the application, the help files are there?

Why are you here? :D

Kind regards,
Eugene

AdobeAce
08-20-2007, 10:10 AM
Hi eugenetyson,

I find that the Help menu in Creative Suite applications is an incredible source of information, and usually the quickest way to find answers to questions. Does it cover everything you will ever need to know about CS2 or CS3? Absolutely not! But it touches on quite a bit.

In studying for Adobe Certified Expert tests, the Help menu has always been my major source of information in putting together my study guides. It also has become a resource in coming up with ideas for my Layers Tips of the Day. There's a lot of gems just waiting to be discovered in a Search of the Help menu.

Will a Google search work as well? Probably. Most of what's in the Help menu is available from Adobe on the web as well. The only downside is that you'll have to weed through a lot of other stuff as well.

Ace