Title -
PagePlus 11 Author - Linda Webb, GCPCUG Member Category - Software Subject - Desktop Publishing for consumers,
entrepreneurs, and business users Date - May 2006
The screen consists of dockable toolbars and
workspace tabs. Several context sensitive toolbars change depending upon what
you’re doing, and at the bottom a hint line provides task-specific aid. To get
started, you can use one of the many design templates, opt for a wizard, or
simply dive in and create a publication from scratch.
A master page controls general publication
attributes (headers, footers, margins, borders etc.) that can be applied to the
facing pages. The program takes advantage of layers to provide flexible object
handling.
Eleven learning labs teach you the program’s
basics. Each tutorial built new skills and reflected previous learning. By the
fourth one, I was beginning to zip around in the buttons, toolbars and tabs,
getting comfortable designing simple publications.
The software is loaded with image creation
features and manipulation tools for adjusting attributes such as levels,
balance, hue and saturation, and for adding special effects such as glow and
shadows. A Quick Shape button provides many pre-set objects which you can
manipulate just about forever. Most users probably won't need separate image
editing software.
With a design in place, I used the themed
color swatches, letting the software choose the best complementary colors for
both images and text in my project.
The text handling capabilities in PagePlus
are predictably extensive. A built-in text editor called WritePlus is included,
providing a separate window with its own formatting capabilities. Tiny icons
below the frames allow you to make specific decisions about how your text flows
or links to other frames. New paragraph styles are easy to add on the fly, and
like a word processor, there's an AutoCorrect feature. Long document support is
also provided.
The insert object option requires only a few
clicks to add bitmap, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and numerous other types of
files into existing or new publications. Notable in object insertion is the
software’s ability to automatically interpret PDF files, placing text and image
objects in individual frames. The software will also save your publication as a
PDF file, in addition to the native PPP format.
If you are a more advanced user or a business
with a need to create fillable PDF forms, the form tool allows you to insert
various types of fields such as combo boxes or radio buttons and publish your
form for data entry by others. Serif maintains a free Form Redirect service to
collect the input and send it to your designated e-mail address.
There are extensive table handling functions
similar to those found in Microsoft Office, making for an easier learning
transition. You can also perform formula calculations within table cells.
The extras are refreshing. The software
includes a resource CD with an extensive library of wizards, 200 fonts, the
tutorials, and numerous design projects. A well-written user guide supplements
the tutorials, yet is small enough to tuck into a purse or briefcase. Serif is
headquartered in Great Britain, however free technical support is provided
during normal business hours for registered users willing to make a domestic
toll phone call.
On the “little challenges” side, I initially
found it difficult to discern from several icons when features were turned on,
and it took a while to locate several of the buttons and tabs referenced in the
tutorial. But just as it’s tough to put down a great book, I found it difficult
to step away from my computer as I continued to explore the many capabilities
of PagePlus software.
PagePlus 11
Serif
Price: $129.99 at www.serif.com