|
||
| |
|
|
|
||
 “Publisher is a desktop publishing program software you can use to combine text, graphics, and original drawings with sophis- ticated formatting, all in one easy-to-use package.”1
“Publisher combines the fundamental power of a word processor and the creativity of a graphic’s program that is flexible and easy to use.”1 “MS PUB 2000 is designed to create newsletters, flyers, brochures, postcards, websites, advertisements, forms, letterhead, business cards, envelopes, signs, greeting cards, invitations, calendars, programs, posters, bookmarks, banners, labels, awards, gift certificates, and more” 2 As Interface Editor I use MS PUB 2000 to edit the newsletter. Although I have used word processors in the past to create documents, and some other desk top publishing (DTP) programs to create signs, business cards, and other items mentioned in the above program, they are minor league in comparison to what PUB 2000 can do. Although targeted/marketed to the business user, its features can easily be incorporated into any small office-home office (SOHO) needs: such as a home- based business, churches, schools, daycare, etc. The results can make you look as professional as the big guys who spend big bucks for design consultants, yet this program is very easy to learn and use. And the price is low in comparison to other ‘big’ package graphics studios. MS PUB 2000 is part of the MS Office 2000 family of programs. Which means it's integrated into MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint, FrontPage, and PhotoDraw. In other words-if you have any other of these programs, you can exchange information within PUB 2000 with a mouse click. MS PUB 2000 is easy to use as long as you learn a few of the basics. “Each of the elements you work with or create in Publisher is called an object. There are text objects, picture objects, draw objects for shapes you create, table objects for tables, and so on. Each object is stored in a frame. A frame surrounds an object and allows you to move and size the object in it. As a result, your actions can affect the elements in your publication in two ways. You can make changes to the object itself, such as when you change the font of a text object. And you can change the object’s frame. For example, the background color in the frame can be changed” 1 |
The text on the page where this article appears, as well as on all Interface pages, is a text object. The picture on the left is a picture object holding a graphic. The officers listing, treasurers report, calendar, sponsor listing, and table of contents are all table objects (the calendar and table of contents were created using specific easy to use wizards). On this page (of Interface)are 6 frames of various types. The title header is 2 frames, this column and the one the left are two frames with the graphic overlaid. The ad on this page is a collection of 5 objects in 5 frames, joined into one, although it wasn’t created using the Ad wizard, it could have be done so quite easily.
Although this publication is created in black and white, you have the ability to use preformatted color schemes (or modify one to your likes) to use in all your publications, such as brochures, signs, invites, thank you cards, announcements. This gives an all over cohesive professional look to your organization. With the use of various wizards you can create and edit a whole professional look/style. If you were at the demonstration in July, you heard me mention a publication that I found quite useful-in addition to the Companion you get with the software. This publication is called: Microsoft Publisher 2000 At a Glance, from Microsoft Press, list price $19.99. It has loads of screen shots and walks you through the program in an easy-to-follow manner with the least amount of time and effort, rather like a Dummies book but with screen shots and without the cute stuff. Although I purchased it from Best Buy (I heard they ran out), you can find it on line at: mspress.microsoft.com System requirements:
from Interface, August 2000 
|
| Articles | Home |