NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article
Microsoft Publisher 97 by Design
A Book Review by Bob Frye - October 97

Luisa Simone takes a different approach in her book on Microsoft's Publisher 97. She discusses various features of Publisher 97 in the first half of this book, then shows how to use Publisher to make a dozen design projects in the other half. The design projects take you step-by-step through creating a particular type of publication, such as a newsletter, a web site, a business form and more. Perhaps more importantly for new desktop publishing (DTP) users like myself, Luisa discusses the uses of different styles, fonts, colors and other DTP features that can turn your design from ho-hum to first class.

I liked the two-column style of this book. The description of each tool or feature is the right column while the left column contains pertinent tips, shortcuts and cross-references. The black-and-white illustrations used throughout are clear and well laid out. In most cases, illustrations are on the same or facing page as the discussion text, which minimized flipping pages. I found this book's landscape page layout makes it easy to keep open while working. I can lay it open between my monitor and keyboard so it only takes a small head movement to read the text then look back at the monitor.

The first fourteen chapters of the features section is organized in the approximate order that you would use Publisher's various tools -- i.e., start with the layout, add text and graphics, and finish with printing. Since I'm a Microsoft Word user, I found the tool descriptions easy to follow, since many functions are similar to those found in the newer versions of MS Word. Although you could use a word processor to accomplish some DTP tasks, dedicated programs like Publisher offer a broader range of options and ease of use. For first-time DTP users, the numbered step-by- step procedures are keyed to illustrations that lead you through the use of each tool. Pertinent tips and cross-references in the left column serve as reminders when you need a quick refresher.

The last fourteen chapters take you through the design process for specific projects. Subjects range from simple projects like flyers and invitations to more complex designs like newsletters, mail order catalogs, or a web site. Since Publisher 97 is primarily designed to produce printed materials, only one project chapter covers electronic publishing design issues. However, this one chapter does a thorough job of explaining how to get the most of Publisher's HTML tools. For example, Luisa discusses Publisher 97 design choices that can slow download time or cause problems for older browser software.

Microsoft Publisher 97 by Design, 543 pages, lists for $27.95 and is distributed by Microsoft Press.

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