Adequate Program, But You Can Do Better
Written: Aug 04 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, lots of wizards, Good integration with MS Office
Cons: Doesn't make the best web pages, tricky printing, pricey in comparison
The Bottom Line: Other DTP tools have more powerful options at a cheaper price. It's good for producing quick projects, but if you are creative, you could do better elsewhere.
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| ginger136's Full Review: Microsoft Publisher 2000 |
I first started using this software when Publisher 97 came out. The 2000 release is an improvement, but for what it does, I think you can do better. You don't have to be a power user to benefit from this software, but if you are a Microsoft Word power user (or even a power user in general), I don't think you would need it.
Ease of Use and Advantages
Publisher has the capability to render quick and professional looking documents. This version has over 2,000 templates with 20 new options. The program can store your personal information and incorporate it into the appropriate places in your documents. It has an extensive range of clipart, and through the use of color schemes, it is painless to change the appearance of a document. The new-fashioned quick document wizard is the item of choice if you need to crank out a single page document in a hurry.
Publisher closely integrates with Microsoft Word. Need to check your spelling or use Wordart? You use the same spell checker, Autocorrect features, and Wordart editor.
The "Pack and Go" feature is something Microsoft borrowed from Powerpoint. This feature allows you to gather all the elements of your project (the document, fonts, graphics, photos, etc.) and archive it on a portable storage device such as a floppy diskette. The document formatting is saved along with your fonts. If you saved a presentation without packing it and tried using a different computer to resume work, you might get a headache because in the absence of specified fonts, Microsoft Windows will always choose a similar font as a substitute.
Disadvantages
Importing graphics is a snap, but once you have done that, the photo editing tools are not sophisticated at all although you can now flip graphics. The only consolation is the large volume of clipart which is generally more aesthetically pleasing than most others.
The programs graphical interface closely resembles the 97 version, but the help features regressed. The help window used to pop up and place itself neatly at the edge of the screen. Now, when you call the help function, it responds as a new window covering up about half the screen. It used to be a cinch to call for help, read it, and work on your project without having to minimize windows or flip back and forth which is annoying.
Publisher has the capability to produce web pages, but I do not recommend it for this purpose. Web pages can be produced quickly in a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) environment, but I know several people who have had problems. Moreover, when in the actual publishing stage, your pages can be altered and may look quite different on separate web browsers. I have used several freeware and shareware tools which provide better results. (On a separate note, I don't recommend Word as a webpage design tool either because it will parse the code and distort the webpage).
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ginger136
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Member: Chuck
Location: Orlando, Florida
Reviews written: 47
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
Corporate HR Director for 4 companies. In 2003, I completed an enjoyable military career.
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