Book
Review of: |
 This
colorful, easy to follow book by Nancy D. Warner covers all editions of
Microsoft Office 2000 including Standard, Small Business,
Professional
and the Premium Editions. This book is very visual and in full color.
Like most of the very visual books published by Macmillan subsidiaries,
the book lists Parts (chapters) with each part divided into specific tasks.
Part 1 deals with Office 2000 Basics. Three parts are devoted to Word, two parts to Excel and two more to Power Point with one part each devoted to 1) Outlook 2000, 2) Office 2000 and the Web, 3) Publisher 2000 and 4) FrontPage 2000 Basics. Each Part (chapter) covers multiple tasks that are listed under that part in a ‘second Table of Contents’. Each task occupies a single page or at most a double page laid out in such a way that you could sit in front of the monitor and keyboard with the book open in front of you and follow the specific task. The inside two-thirds of the page shows pictures and identifies the step by number with a short written statement. The number appears in front of the statement and beside the picture so that you can go directly to the correct picture. The outside one-third of the page has written text that tells you why you may want to use the attribute being explained in the task. Looking at the task of Changing Line Spacing the written text explains that you may need to write a document that fills a page and only have three quarters of page of information. (Where was this tool when I had to write two-page term papers on assigned subjects?) You would need to change the line spacing by widening the space between lines so that the text stretches out to satisfy the requirements. It then shows to
Finally it shows to The next task that I checked out was Setting Tabs with the Ruler. This followed the same format and showed how it is possible to select a paragraph and then click the Tab Alignment button to choose the tab that you want. You then choose the place on the ruler where you want the tab stop and click and then it is set. With this task, the book makes it easy to set paragraphs. After spot checking instructions on different tasks in Word, I decided it was time to go back to the beginning of Easy Office 2000 and learn the basics of Office 2000. The first task is Starting an Application, then there is a task on setting up and using the Office Shortcut Bar. The third task is using menus to which you will say ‘Oh, that is elementary’ but this one shows how to customize the menu bar. My favorite task is the one that tells how to get help with the Office Assistant. Of course, my favorite part of Office is that cute little paper clip that seems to go through contortions to get my attention and seems to wink at me when everything is going right. This task instructs on how I can get the attention of my little paper clip and how I can use him to help me through my day. Easy Microsoft Office 2000 covers 263 pages and will be most beneficial to the individual who is new to Office or who has used only limited applications of Office. I really like the ‘visual-in-color’ books that are available for a wide variety of applications in computing. Most are easy to follow with enough pictures to visually enhance the instructions. They are so much easier when a program or software is totally new to a person. If you are looking for a book to refine your skills or if you consider yourself a novice when using Office, then this book would be a comfortable, easy, visual, method of learning. To quote the publisher,
Easy Microsoft Office 2000can be found at office supply stores, computer stores and bookstores. I checked the web for prices on the Internet and found a range of $13.39 at Alphacraze up to the list price of $19.99. Barnes and Noble, Borders and Amazon all have Easy Office for $15.99 on the Internet. Amazon customer reviews give this book a five star rating. I have found that Barnes and Noble and Borders will order the book for you and let you pick it up in their store if that is more convenient; although the price may be slightly higher than on the Internet. This also enables you to examine the book and make the decision not to take it if that works better for you.
Rose Lynn Saenger frequently finds it hard to choose between computing and reading; so sometimes a book review combines both interests. |