Apologies to all for sending in my 2 cents on this a year later, but I just
stumbled across it!
I am no where near the skill level of word hater or anyone else who wrote
in, but I must agree with Word Haters basic point, of why should one have to
spend time with outside resources to learn how to do something that should be
explained within Word's help section to begin with?
Having to do that does make me crazy! Aside from taking the time in advance
to learn how to use Word correctly, as was said, I suspect to get that
learning would take a significant block of time, that most workers
(especially under a deadline) don't have the time to spend. And even if they
did, what is the likelihood that the particular problem they are having would
be addressed? And still, IF that topic is addressed, does it allow for any
type of troubleshooting? Everyone knows that you can follow the "how to's"
perfectly and still have errors.
In my current work using Word a lot, I have run across several instances
where my formatting (as example) does not work the way WORD instructs and
says what the results will be. This makes me extremely exasperated as I waste
too much time trying to figure out on my own what I did wrong. When I finally
give up and consult outside sources, such as this site, I HAVE been able to
progress with the answers I have received. (MOST of the time.) Still, I
can't help but reflect on what Word Hater's point is. The responses received
tell you the "unspoken" detail that is needed to accomplish your work. If
WORD cannot provide those little "oh by the way - in order to do what you
really want, you have to do this" then how is one to use WORD without
reaching a point of hating it, simply because of the frustration?
In honesty, I love WORD and will use this only. BUT - when I am needing to
crank out some serious docs, the problems I come across, page numbering,
styles, headers and footers, etc. just trigger my buttons. Not to mention not
being able to submit my work in the pre-set time frame, as I did not
anticipate having these dumb problems to begin with. Many times I have spent
more time in finding the answer to my problem than I have spent in doing the
entire job to begin with!
Of recent, I have created a doc using what I consider to be the standard
typical headers and footers, and everytime I make a change in one place,
unwanted changes appear in others. This makes me nuts! As an FYI; I have
copied and pasted every reply I have been given from this site as well as
about 3 other sites whose purpose is to help with WORD issues. A solution
that worked one day, suddenly doesn't work the next time. Like my current
situation! I have modified the styles, done this and done that, and still,
my page numbers are not consecutive, no matter what I do. As example. And
believe me, I have done everything I have been told to do. It seems that
frequently when I enter a change for a style and then hit the old "enter" key
to apply the change, the change itself works, but all of a sudden, the font
in my entire doc has changed! It seems to be is always something.
My point is simply that it is extremely frustrating to try and do something
that is not a big deal and then it doesn't work and you have no idea why not.
I will go to the office assistant and I swear, my problem stated, there is
never an answer to my problem. They provide pat answers of information you
can read when you originally read the how to. It's as if you didn't read it
to begin with, so you are directed back to what you already know. But if that
doesn't solve it, you end up resorting to sites like this to get your problem
actually solved.
Thank Heavens this site exists or I would be looney tunes by now!
So okay, I have rambled much too long with my frustrations, and now I am
over it. This topic just hit a button of mine and I simply HAD to submit my
woes, and agreement and understanding of word haters situation. As to the
way he/she came across, which hit some folks rather harshly, I have to still
agree with word hater. It seems to me that simply by virtue of your answer,
that being to spend the time to learn how to use WORD, her frustration over
the problem itself AND the answer given - SHOULD allow you to understand the
exasperation. We are all big people, even if you don't agree with her
methods, you need not fuel the fire by replying the same way. That makes you
no better. If you came across professionally and replying to each issue
clearly, with no sarcastic jabs, I would bet that she would have calmed down
as the issues were discussed. Instead, the responses received only made the
whole thing worse.
I know I am still rambling (apologies again) but I am not able to even
entertain the thought of writing software. But when I buy a program, a
reputable expensive program, and the 1st thing I am hit with is to buy the
support package, that sends me into the ozone right off the bat. I interpret
that to mean, "yes, there will be problems and issues and if you want them
cleared up, you are going to have to pay for getting the answer." WHAT?!?!
If the software WAS written correctly, and written for the typical average
(majority) of users, then there should not be any problems other than
probably a hardware issue. Believe me when I said I am not even in the same
ball park as you whiz folks, so the issues I have - I suspect are equal to
mosquito bites to you folks. We are the people that need to be respected. It
doesn't seem right to me that you (the software writers) assume that we would
know how to do ..... what isn't told in the help sections. So there in lies
the frustrations.
Okay, now I really am done.
Thanks for this opportunity. And please know, that I have been very
satisfied and relieved with the help I have gotten from this site to my
problems. I would've shot my pc by now had I not been able to get this help.
"Word Hater" wrote:
Im a software developer and the hardest part of my job is using MS Word to
write all my documentation. Im CONSTANTLY battling with indentations,
numbering and tables that have a mind of their own and are so
counter-intuitive it makes me want to eat my computer. I have handed in
documents to my projects managers in the past which they returned to me
complaining about the formatting. I have simply replied to them that I refuse
to waste my time using such a badly written bit of software and they can do
the bloody indentations themselves. Youd think after a million versions MS
would have fixed it. Oh no.
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