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Message |
David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI
Junior Member
Username: David_axt
Post Number: 27
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:53 pm: |    |
The specifiers at my firm have decided to switch from writing specifications in WordPerfect 9 and go to Microsoft Word 2000. The reason for the switch is not that Word is a better product but compatibility with consultants, reps and other architects. (I was actually a Word user but was quickly convinced that WordPerfect was more suited for writing specs.)
Any advice or helpful websites would be appreciated. I am specifically looking for tricks of the trade. John and I alreay know how to use Word but are interested in any thing that will help increase our production....and keep us from pulling out our hair.
Thanks!
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John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA
New member
Username: Bunzick
Post Number: 12
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 09:18 am: | |
Are you using ARCOM Masterspec? If so, they have a good suite of tools called Masterworks. We maintain our office masters in a compatible format (which primarily means keeping the same style names and format for options) so we can use Masterworks with our office masters. Their support is very good, too.
One of the biggest challanges with Word is the use of built in number styles. (I don't know how Word Perfect handles that, so I have no basis for comparison.) It is a very complex feature, and poorly documented by MS. If you want to fool around with that, do some research first on the web about the feature - that will save you a lot of time and headaches. I did this so I could change Masterspec's 1.1, 1.2 article numbering scheme to 1.01, 1.02. It wasn't easy. (Though now that I've figured it out and created a macro, it's easy to do!)
Of course, Visual Basic for Applications is the Word "macro engine", so if you aren't familiar with that, you have a bit of a learning curve ahead of you. The power is substantial, though.
If anyone else out there has been tinkering and writing macros for manipulating specs, maybe there's an interest in exchanging tips and ideas. Anyone? |
Heather Huisinga, CDT
New member
Username: Huisinga
Post Number: 3
Registered: 05-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 12:55 pm: | |
There are several tips and tricks for getting around Word's high walls. I agree with David in that Word Perfect is much better suited to technical use than Word; however, with these days and everyone using word processing...most people do opt for Word as it is more user friendly and compatability is a big issue. I have used both versions quite extensively (WP 6, 7, 8, 9 and all versions of Word).
My best way of getting around more efficiently has been to "re-program" my keyboard with short cuts to often used functions. I also add my own "re-programmed" toolbar to offer those lesser used functions that are typically buried three levels down off the main toolbar.
I agree that Masteworks has some very nice editing tools as well.
So if anyone has any word processing application questions, I'll be happy to take a stab at answering. |
Sheldon Wolfe
New member
Username: Swolfearch
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 04:02 pm: | |
I've used both Word and WordPerfect, several versions of each, and though each has its advantages, I get along with either, and I don't see that one is clearly better than the other. Many "problems" are merely the result of the fact that the programs often do the same thing in different ways. Most problems are due to the lack of training. Everyone seems to think that if you can type you can also use a word processor. And a lot of people never get beyond the thrill of word wrap. Today's word processor is a versatile, highly capable program, and that means that occasionally you have to do a little work to make use of its potential.
I don't think any program has ever had really useful help. There are things that I know can be done, but I can't find them in the help files! People complain about the lack of manuals, but the ones I remember weren't much good. They spent a lot of time telling you how to do things like find and open a file, and they might even give you very basic information about how to record a macro - but not how to create a complex macro. I don't miss them at all.
For new users and old-time Word users alike, there are some good sources for information on the web. One of the most important things to know is how styles work. Used properly they can make your life easy; used incorrectly, they can make it hell. Here are some of the better resources I've found:
www.mvps.org/word/index.html
www.wordsite.com/
www.microsystems.com/dearteresatoc.htm
www.addbalance.com/word/index.htm
One of the frustrating things common to all Office apps is the fixed, limited number of choices on the file dialog box. A useful add-in that expands the usefulness of this dialog box is at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q260190.
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Anonymous
| | Posted on Sunday, November 24, 2002 - 09:05 pm: | |
I have a few tips for transitioning to Word. First, take a short 2-day course on "advanced" Word features. The videotapes that Microsoft sells are only for the beginner level, although they label them as if for advanced training.
In many large cities there is a company called Executrain and they have a good program for teaching Word at the advanced level.
Word looks deceptively simple, but it is not. If you don't learn how to control it at an advanced level, it will cause you many subtle problems.
Also there is a good series of books by author Woody Leonhard (or similar). He also has a free e-mail magazine that reports Word and Microsoft problems and solutions. I bought 2 books and that one was the best for me. |
Bob Johnson
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 09:22 am: | |
There is a good article on using Word by Dave Lorenzini in March 2002 issue of The Construction Specifier - "Unlock the Power of Word." |
Phil Kabza
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 08:12 pm: | |
ARCOM may be willing to convert your existing office masters to MASTERSPEC-compatible Word format documents, which would enable full use of MASTERWORKS single-file and multi-file macros. Give them a call.
Using Word's funky macro recording features, I've been able to reformat specifications to just about any page format I want to. A programmer could do it much more elegantly, but it works. |
Helaine K. Robinson CCS
Senior Member
Username: hollyrob
Post Number: 11
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 10:36 am: | |
Here is a current link to David Lorenzini's article "Unlock the Power of Word" in the online archives of The Construction Specifier:
http://old.csinet.org/xp/p-cs/i-2002030101/a-1018966289/article.view |
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