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[Al Geist]

Mike Schmidt wrote:

>I've recently been commanded to abandon all the tools I've been using
>for years (and know intimately) in favor of the Adobe Suite. (...) In my case,
>it's the Corel suite (Ventura Publisher, Corel Draw, Corel Photo Paint)
>and Microsoft Front Page, into Adobe stuff including Robohelp and who
>knows what else.
>  
>
You'll hate Illustrator, but love Photoshop.  (CorelDraw beats 
Illustrator for ease of use, but Illustrator is the "industry 
standard.")  Haven't worked with Ventura Publisher since the old days 
when it sucked, but, if you could slog through Ventura, InDesign and 
FrameMaker shouldn't be too difficult to master.  If you understand HTML 
and web page development, RoboHelp won't be too difficult either and 
DreamWeaver is SOOOOO much better than Front Page.  (If you aren't 
moving away from FrontPage, my condolences.)

>If you detect a hint of negativity in this... you're right. I am totally
>at home with the programs I've been using for, in some cases, my entire
>career, and I'm not thrilled about dumping it. I'm sure Adobe stuff is
>great, but it's the learning curve and tons of busy work I'm not
>terribly happy about.
>  
>
Times change, tools change, and end products change.   Sometimes it's a 
good thing to move out of what is comfortable because it opens up the 
creative doors.  Look at this as a positive instead of a negative.  You 
have an employer who is willing to help you learn new programs.  Many of 
us have had to do it on our own.  Nobody is happy about change, but 
change is a good thing.

>At any rate, I expect I'll need some training and lots of time to
>convert existing material, without even thinking of the constant stream
>of new material being created.
>
>  
>
Now you have a great excuse for slipping deadlines.

-- 

Al Geist
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