Learn Any Computer Program in 5 Easy Steps -- Step 2
Yesterday, we discussed what to look for when looking at the box before purchasing/downloading a program. Today, we'll look at the next step.
Step 2: The Quickstart Guide
The great thing about programs today is that many of the ones that come in a box now contain a quickstart guide. These guides are designed to be easy to read and will usually highlight the key features of the program. The quickstart guide will also give you instructions on how to install the program. For games, the quickstart guide may also have the commonly used controls on keyboard, mouse, and joysticks, though this may sometimes be on a separate card.
Follow the instructions in the quickstart guide to start the install. While the install is running, you can browse through the rest of the quickstart guide to see what the key features of the program are and how to access them. One of the best things about the quickstart guide is that the features common to most programs (which we will discuss tomorrow) are glossed over or mentioned briefly and more time is spent on features that actually perform tasks specific to the program you are installing. Remember to check your computer occasionally to see if it is prompting you for input.
Another reason I really like the quickstart guides is that most of them are full of screenshots that show the program in action. This can be helpful not only for the features noted in the guide, but can also give you clues of more advanced features that may be of use down the road. Some quickstart guides may even have a quick tutorial designed to show the most commonly used, basic features.
If you have downloaded the program, you may, or may not, get a quickstart file. Either way, another helpful file to read, whether you are installing from a box or from a download, is the README file, usually called README.TXT (or something close to this). This file may have notes that did not make it into the manual or quickstart guide, and will often contain information about how this version of a program may differ from earlier versions. It will usually have some tips on what to try if the program does not work properly, or can warn you of issues that might be encountered when trying to use certain computer configurations.
Both the quickstart guide and the readme file will give you a foundation of what to look at as we go into the next step. Tomorrow, we'll discuss what to look for as you navigate the menu to explore the new program.
Step 2: The Quickstart Guide
The great thing about programs today is that many of the ones that come in a box now contain a quickstart guide. These guides are designed to be easy to read and will usually highlight the key features of the program. The quickstart guide will also give you instructions on how to install the program. For games, the quickstart guide may also have the commonly used controls on keyboard, mouse, and joysticks, though this may sometimes be on a separate card.
Follow the instructions in the quickstart guide to start the install. While the install is running, you can browse through the rest of the quickstart guide to see what the key features of the program are and how to access them. One of the best things about the quickstart guide is that the features common to most programs (which we will discuss tomorrow) are glossed over or mentioned briefly and more time is spent on features that actually perform tasks specific to the program you are installing. Remember to check your computer occasionally to see if it is prompting you for input.
Another reason I really like the quickstart guides is that most of them are full of screenshots that show the program in action. This can be helpful not only for the features noted in the guide, but can also give you clues of more advanced features that may be of use down the road. Some quickstart guides may even have a quick tutorial designed to show the most commonly used, basic features.
If you have downloaded the program, you may, or may not, get a quickstart file. Either way, another helpful file to read, whether you are installing from a box or from a download, is the README file, usually called README.TXT (or something close to this). This file may have notes that did not make it into the manual or quickstart guide, and will often contain information about how this version of a program may differ from earlier versions. It will usually have some tips on what to try if the program does not work properly, or can warn you of issues that might be encountered when trying to use certain computer configurations.
Both the quickstart guide and the readme file will give you a foundation of what to look at as we go into the next step. Tomorrow, we'll discuss what to look for as you navigate the menu to explore the new program.
posted by Grady @ 11:57 PM
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