Special Edition Using Corel WordPerfect 9

Rating:
Summary: Valuable insights from true power users!
Review: I don't normally buy computer books these days because many are lame. When a client asked me to use WordPerfect for a project, however, I thought a book would help me get reacquainted with the software.

But this book has done much more than that. The authors have provided an extremely well-written volume, filled with valuable insights. Instead of taking the standard "let's run down the menus" approach, they have given us a book filled with practical examples, excellent tips, and just plain good writing. I quickly picked up a handful of tricks that made my work easier and impressed my client!

The authors deserve praise for this excellent work, and computer book publishers everywhere should take notice. Hey guys, it IS possible to publish good stuff!!!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, comprehensive, user-friendly guide to WP9
Review: This book is written in a very understandable way for new WordPerfect users, yet has enough depth to provide quite a bit of "meat" for those having substantial experience with the program. Enough detail is provided so that users can learn how to turn out handsome and professional yet complex documents for desktop publishing, business, or personal use.

I particularly like the tear-out guide in the front, which includes great project-oriented information for those conducting a job search: using the provided templates, keeping contact information, and looking for a job on the Internet. (However, I suspect that anyone who learns to use WordPerfect as expertly as possible from using this book will not be out of a job-hunting for long!)

Once again, Laura & Read have pulled off a very easy-to-read yet comprehensive guide covering all of the program's basic features and quite a bit of advanced functionality too!

I recommended this book as a good reference to keep handy at your desk.

Rating:
Summary: Sure Beats Using the Help Screens!
Review: Two features make this book worth its sticker price: (1) it contains answers to your questions, and (2) it teaches you questions that you should have been asking. For example, I was having trouble using the WordPerfect CD to get Clip Art into my document. By reading parts of Chapter 12, "Adding Graphics to Documents", I quickly figured out what I needed to know. In the process, I also learned the details of how I could acquire additional Clip Art from the Corel Web site. Thus, Using Corel WordPerfect 9 taught me information about Clip Art that I hadn't thought to ask. Speaking of graphics and other glitzy things you can put in your documents, you also might want to check out the section on Organizational Charts ("org charts"). In case you didn't know (as was the case for me) WordPerfect can draw a variety of useful charts and boxes, connected in just about any manner you wish. How? Check out Chapter 16, "Inserting Charts". You'll find step-by-step instructions that quickly teach you how you can construct what you need.

Frankly, I've never used a book before to help me with a software package. I always figured that the Help Screens and/or the manual were more than enough. This book might convince me to change my mind.