TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I think Jim brings up a good point. If I'm using one product to produce
most of my writing then I'll bother to learn more of the shortcuts to
complete repetitive tasks. However, I find that if I switch tools for
awhile, I forget many of the shortcuts learned for the other product.
Word's shortcuts tend to stick because I'm usually using it for team
documents in conjunction with whatever doc tool I'm using. I've also
discovered that the longer I work with computers, the fewer shortcuts I
learn, and those I do learn tend to be navigational because I'm moving
all over in the docs or between ten different windows. They just change
too often from program to program. Ctrl-Tab shifts you from open doc to
open doc in Frame but in Word it inserts a tab. Sheesh!
I don't waste brain power trying to learn them for things like Outlook.
Yes, I'm constantly attaching files to e-mails to send them out, but
I've got nice visuals and menus so that I don't have to remember the
shortcuts specific to Outlook. I will take advantage of Alt-key combos
more frequently than shortcuts. As far as dragging and dropping files, I
avoid it because I've too often accidentally *moved* something that I
intended to *copy.*
No idea if I qualify more right- than left-brained!
Lisa
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-53104 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-53104 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com] On Behalf Of Jim
Shaeffer
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 12:37 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: Wheel mouse/track ball/keyboard/left brain-right brain/zone
Dick,
<snip>
The different shortcuts available in different programs are just
jarring enough to introduce uncertainty and cognitive dissonance.
</snip>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Free copy of ARTS PDF Tools when you register for the PDF
Conference by May 15. Leading-Edge Practices for Enterprise
& Government, June 3-5, Bethesda,MD. www.PDFConference.com
Check out RoboDemo for tutorials! It makes creating full-motion software
demonstrations and other onscreen support materials easy and intuitive.
Need RoboHelp? Save $100 on RoboHelp Office in May with our mail-in rebate.
Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
