ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Read the manuals, training, online webinars

Clarisa Moraña — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 04:39:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Clarisa Moraña
Post title: Read the manuals, training, online webinars

I also read the manuals (I have read most of the Trados SDL manuals: I started reading them when Trados and SDL were two different companies), and follow their exercises. And I've done the same for Wordfast, Transit, memoQ and DejaVu.
I do attend specialized training, both online and in-house. Even for those tools that I already know. I always learn something.
Sometimes I download specialized papers covering some features of the software, and study them. And occasionally I browse the forums, read the blogs, and all that stuff.
The bad news is that there is always something new to learn, and that I don't necessarily learn to do everything I study. But I do enjoy a lot!

Regards

Clarisa

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | A combination

Helen Hagon — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 21:46:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Helen Hagon
Post title: A combination

First of all I panic, then swear a lot at the computer, then decide I really need some kind of formal training or manual if my computer and I are to survive. I love translating, but tinkering around with software is not my idea of fun. Eventually I end up compiling my own user manual - every time I figure out how to do something I write it down in a notebook so that I don't forget it.

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Take a deep breath...

Elvira Alves Barry — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:59:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Elvira Alves Barry
Post title: Take a deep breath...

It never fails that every time I need to learn something new invariably seems to coincide with someone else's emergency. So I pretty much learn software the same way I learned to drive - a quick lesson for the basics and then get in there and do it. Eventually, after a lot of gnashing of teeth, it comes automatically.

I've been known to browse forum entries and you tube videos, Mats Linder's manual has a lot of useful information, and my clients have gotten used to my asking "You want me to do WHAT??!!"

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Combination

Allison Wright (X) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 14:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Allison Wright (X)
Post title: Combination

Mostly, I have simply dived in and explored items on all the menus to discover how the software "thinks".

If that is not effectively, I will pay a cursory glance at the Help files.
Trados Studio 2011 has the most ghastly Help files of any software I have ever encountered in my view. I watched a few videos online for the basics, and picked up some useful tips from Emma Goldsmith's blog. Learning by doing has resulted in some pleasing revelations, too.

I am currently learning via video how to use a corpus analysis tool, AntConc. But then, both the activity and the software tool are new to me. This is quite pleasurable. I look forward to my next lesson. Having said that, I had already explored the options in the last three lessons. The video helped to clarify concepts I had not articulated yet, but understood, from my exploration.

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Play with the software? Are you kidding?

Filipa Plant dos Santos — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 14:10:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Filipa Plant dos Santos
Post title: Play with the software? Are you kidding?

[quote]Julian Holmes wrote:

Like inkweaver, I prefer to look around and tinker with the software, and go through the menus to figure out how it works.

If I need to acquire new software skills to get a job done, I'll jump in at the deep end - as I did with Studio 2011 - and use it right away on a job that has a relatively long delivery date. A healthy bit of adrenalin does shorten the learning curve. :grin: [/quote]

Just reading this makes me feel anxious!!

I need a simple manual to guide me through the steps until I know how to do it.

The online courses and manuals that you can buy for Studio (the ones they make themselves) have suited me down to the ground.

I still get the manual out each time I want to start a new termbase - who can remember all those strange and meaningless steps!

My worst fear is something going wrong with the software - no time no time no time!!! and no knowledge either!!

Oh for an IT husband!!

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | I get help

Christine Andersen — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:31:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Christine Andersen
Post title: I get help

I cannot do it intuitively and haven't the patience for most manuals...

If I go for trial and error, and suddenly it works, I cannot remember which keys I pressed or where I clicked, so I have to start all over again, getting more confused and frustrated all the time.

However, my husband can understand IT, and knows how to take a deep breath and guide me through. We write down the steps, compiling a personal manual. He finds it a bore, but at least he does not have to listen to me ranting and fuming, or come and help me out at midnight when I still have three hours' work to do before next morning... I let him know I appreciate it!

He does not mess with Trados, but I found an equally patient independent instructor who was very happy to give courses and a week's support afterwards - and thanks to him, I can now work my way through new functions one by one and see whether they will be useful to me.

[Edited at 2014-02-26 12:33 GMT]

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Same here, with a slight variation

Reed James — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:15:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Reed James
Post title: Same here, with a slight variation

[quote]Steven Segaert wrote:

Trial and error :-).

Some software works quite good like that, and that is the kind of software I like. [/quote]

I build up basic competence by just playing with the software. Only after extended use do I use the manual to get to the fine-tuned features. As I heard someone say once, "If you play with hardware, it breaks. If you play with software, it works."

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Self-teaching WITHOUT the manual

Steven Segaert — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Steven Segaert
Post title: Self-teaching WITHOUT the manual

Trial and error :-).

Some software works quite good like that, and that is the kind of software I like.

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Good morning from Argentina!

Susana Magnani — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Susana Magnani
Post title: Good morning from Argentina!

Hello everybody and thanks a lot for your feedback!

I was curious about what other colleagues do regarding software. I am a self-learner also. When I use the forums (on this site or anywhere else) I tend to feel guilty for not being more methodic in learning certain tools, but I don't seem to have enough time to follow any training webinars and, honestly, the few times I did, I found myself pretty bored until the trainer addressed my specific points of interest.

Thanks again for the feedback and good day to all!

Susana

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | I just start :)

Wouter van Kampen — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:14:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Wouter van Kampen
Post title: I just start :)

By clicking around and an occasional look at online resources I just learn by doing.

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Intuitively

The Shredder — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 10:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: The Shredder
Post title: Intuitively

Click on open, type for a while, click on save :-)

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Ask somebody

neilmac — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 10:31:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: neilmac
Post title: Ask somebody

I'm usually too busy to spend much time on learning curves, so I usually just ask the "need to know" basics from someone who knows how it works: How do I do X? What if X happens? And can I do Y? ...
That's probably why I tend to get annoyed when I can't find out something quickly from the manufacturer's instructions, and I really appreciate the proz forums for this kind of thing.
It's also why I still haven't got round to using many features of SW that I do have, for example WF, which I've used in my own fashion for a few years now, but still can't get the glossary function (and other features) to work. I gave up on Systran too... I'd used an old version for years and it was useful, then invested in the new version and found it too clunky and fiddly compared to the older version.
Luckily enough, I have some good tech people I can consult when necessary.

PS: I can't even get NitroPro to work properly for me, so I always end up using SolidConverter, which I find more user-friendly, or in my case, idiot-proof...

[Edited at 2014-02-26 10:32 GMT]

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | On-the-job training

Julian Holmes — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 10:18:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Julian Holmes
Post title: On-the-job training

Like inkweaver, I prefer to look around and tinker with the software, and go through the menus to figure out how it works.

If I need to acquire new software skills to get a job done, I'll jump in at the deep end - as I did with Studio 2011 - and use it right away on a job that has a relatively long delivery date. A healthy bit of adrenalin does shorten the learning curve. :grin:

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Learning by doing

LingoKat — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 10:04:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: LingoKat
Post title: Learning by doing

Learning by doing works best for me. I don't have the patience to sit through taught courses or whatever, I need to be able to proceed at my own pace and consult manuals/help functions if/when I need them.

I don't bother with details I don't need since I tend to forget them if I don't ever use them again. And should I ever need them at some point I can always look them up somewhere.

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software? | Self-teaching

Michael Harris — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 08:46:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: Michael Harris
Post title: Self-teaching

Learning by doing, and the occasional call at the hotline / browse through forums.

Dont normally have the time to go into detail.

But has always proven to work, although a course in the one or two CAT tools would probably help me with some of the "tricky" things

Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?

ProZ.com Staff — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 08:10:01 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you usually learn to use new software?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you usually learn to use new software?".

This poll was originally submitted by Susana Magnani. View the poll results »