Not so easy to learn / use ?

Just wondering, has anyone else who is NOT a seasoned user of XARA,
found themselves fumbling around trying to find options, features, to edit buttons or content,
and feel like things in XARA work different than you would expect ?

It seems like every time I try to come back to using XARA after being away for a couple months, I am starting from scratch and wasting 50 minutes of each hour, trying to figure out how to make it work. Just had trouble setting up the 'Navigation Bar' because I forgot you have to go 'import' a button to then trigger the Nav Bar. And last 15 minutes trying to edit the fonts and colors of the text in the buttons.

Makes me feel like I am new to the concepts of web design, every time I start a new project.

Maybe its the European software flow conflicting with old school American software clash.
Maybe it was 10 years of using another (American) web design program, and this program is more modern and different.
Or have others found it not so easy to learn or just use?

Just curious, not complaining, but I upgraded in June and now have to re-install a newer version (what - no upgrade geek in the programmers group). Lacking a clear "version number", I thought I needed to upgrade again and have started wondering, maybe time to change software instead.

Frolin

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Originally Posted by Frolin

Maybe its the European software flow conflicting with old school American software clash.
Maybe it was 10 years of using another (American) web design program, and this program is more modern and different.
Or have others found it not so easy to learn or just use?

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The software has evolved a workflow from what was originally a fantastic illustration program and has a quirky workflow unlike any other web design software.

This has nothing to do with USA vs European software. These days a lot of "USA-based" software is actually developed in India!

Any software you are new to has a learning curve. If all software worked the same way, we'd all be using the same program.

I think it is very common for new users to expect a software program to work in certain ways and when it does not we find this counter intuitive.

As Paul point out, every software program has a learning curve.

My advice is take your time and learn the "flow and logic" of Xara. It does make sense and once it clicks it will make all the sense in the world.

Many years ago, I compiled a group of short explanatory tutorials in what I called the XaraXone Workbook http://archive.xaraxone.com/html/workbook.html Have a look at some of these and it may help you learn. Most of these techniques are very basic and still work with the latest version.

Juggling is an art that has to be built up. In Xara, you need a few solid techniques and practice.

I would never jump into a web design with a template without tearing it down and poking around.
When i find a new part, I work on it, or even ask in TG. No shame necessary.

Xara's great UI failing is having so many dialog boxes for options, none are that intuitive.
Xara has a fantastic tree structure in its Page and Layer gallery. The options should be accessible there and flow outwards, not a hunt and peck.

Xara has done an excellent job at leveraging a vector graphic package into a website generator; there is no other comparable application out there so bear with it if web is your thing.

Acorn

Hi, I'm a printig guy and come from Macs and Adobe. I the early 1990ies I worked as a print-administrator in the Czech Republik. They all worked on PC and mostly CorelDraw.

So I had to spring in the PC-adventure. Over Corel I find Xara.

The first testing and feeling was amazing. Since this time is Xara, now XDP v16, my daily bread-design-software for all work I need. My compotences are print but I do with Xara websites too. The learnig curve was smal, in one week I do printwork for all purposes, in this times I start with XaraXtrem v5.

Sometimes I forgot some web things too. In Xara is a great help-function that helps to remember how. If not here is the right place to ask.

An other link is XaraXhris video tutorials on YouTube. Verry rich on things I haven't know and I'm working with Xara a long time. Here is the Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_3M...jVXGQeQjVvmLWS

Folks,
Thanks for the replies... and Gary for the link to training material.
It sounds like you folks have been using XARA for some time and gotten comfortable with it.

Per my opening line... "Just wondering, has anyone else who is NOT a seasoned user of XARA,"
I was wondering if others WHO HAVE NOT used XARA for some time, felt the variables I was feeling.

Any change in software requires relearning, that is true. Changes from older programs to modern, will increase this.
I was curious if others who are NOT regular users, now after time experienced users, were finding hassles and hurdles as well in the early days.

I have been trying to utilize XARA for two years, but not on a daily or regular basis. So when I start a new web project, after being out of XARA for say 3-4 months, it seems I spend the lots of time having relearn and refind basic options. Sometimes its a change in 'wording' (which makes the Help feature not so helpful when using different search words).

So was just asking what other 'newer users' were finding.
Frolin

New users? Any comments.

Frolin - I think the best way to learn is to start simple. Create something like a business card. Make a logo. Add some type. Print it on your printer.

The Workbooks are filled with simple quick tutorials. Find one or two that look interesting and work through them.

And of course us old folk are here to help you when you have questions and to applaud your efforts when you succeed. :)

Hi, I am one of those users Frolin refers to.
I came across from Serif a couple of years ago, along with many on here. I run two websites for our family business, and use Xara maybe every six months, and yes, every time I have forgotten how things work.
Of course the simple answer is to use it more, update websites more often, and the learning curve gets smoothed out. I will do this one day I promise!

Here is a list of my current problems, maybe I never learned the answers before...
1) I want to publish just the mobile version, not the desktop, as I have made changes to the mobile version I want to get live, how can I do this?
2) The saving convention drives me nuts, I save my site, lets call it WEBSITE 1, then I open a new untitled site and it gets added to my original one even if I rename it something else like WEBSITE 2, then opening WEBSITE 2 also shows my original again!
I guess many of you are now saying DUH! but I am missing something I know.

I read the help files etc, but like a lot of people I am always in a hurry to get it done, not enough time to truly absorb, nobody can have a cure for that, but maybe software with AI which I am sure is coming will help solve these issues.
Good luck Frolin, you are NOT alone!

Starmo - These are good questions. Please start a new thread so we can keep this topic focused.

Here are some great tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtl...NT_ulniX7gOKxA

Thanks Behzad, I have opened another thread with my questions as requested by our kindly mod, but staying on topic here, the You Tube vids are great, but more often than not you only want the answer to one bit and you end trying to search through the video to find it, so once again you are using time you don't have right now, and so it goes on, that's the problem.

When I have time, I do watch some of these vids so I can learn, but then, yes you have guessed it, when I next need to remember how to do it, I have forgotten...

Now what did I come in here for?.........

People like me need a sub forum called Meeting Place for members who are old as dirt.

@Starmo, the latest XDPXv16 (and possibly the other Xara Desktop applications) include a full PDF Manual (Help > PDF Manual). PDFs can be annotated.
It is a hefty 710 pages. I even imported it back into Xara so you could change and update content to personalise your own copy.

I dip in and out of it and use a purchased manual of an earlier version. The Help file is similar.

Acorn

P.S. "old dirt" is very fertile.

Hi Acorn, Thanks for the help, I cannot see the PDF Manual under Help>PDF Manual. I am running Web Designer Pro X, not sure if it applies, looks like I may be behind on updates, are these free?

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Originally Posted by Starmo

Hi Acorn, Thanks for the help, I cannot see the PDF Manual under Help>PDF Manual. I am running Web Designer Pro X, not sure if it applies, looks like I may be behind on updates, are these free?

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Starmo, press Help > About and copy and paste back the second line with your version.
We will be able to advise from there.

Acorn

Thanks Acorn, here it is: Xara Designer Pro X 15.0.0.52427 DL x64 Dec 8 2017

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Originally Posted by Starmo

Thanks Acorn, here it is: Xara Designer Pro X 15.0.0.52427 DL x64 Dec 8 2017

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So you should be still in cover for the Update Service free download of version 16.0.

Use http://www.xara.com/uk/designer-pro/download/.

In v15, press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+1 to get a Debug dialog with your Serial Number. Copy that down as you use the same one for v16.0; you will need your purchase email as well.

No need to uninstall v15.0 either. In fact, in v15.0, press Help > Check for update as you should get the download for v15.1.

Acorn

Since you have no time, maybe hire someone on this forum and get the job done. When all is done and well then take your time

Acorn, I am confused, the link you provided points to a free trial of Pro X and option to unlock from an earlier version, but there is no mention of v16
And if I go to Help> Check for updates, then it gives the option of extending the update service which I do not want to do?

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Originally Posted by Starmo

Acorn, I am confused, the link you provided points to a free trial of Pro X and option to unlock from an earlier version, but there is no mention of v16
And if I go to Help> Check for updates, then it gives the option of extending the update service which I do not want to do?

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Starmo, I thought you were still covered by the Update Service. When did you buy v15?

The download is for v16.

Acorn

Without checking back through our accounts I cannot say when I purchased, my best guess would be around 14 months ago.
So if I am on v15 are there big changes that are going to affect me in v16?

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Originally Posted by Starmo

Without checking back through our accounts I cannot say when I purchased, my best guess would be around 14 months ago.
So if I am on v15 are there big changes that are going to affect me in v16?

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Starmo, you are unfortunately out of cover to get v16.

I would email Magix and ask if you could get a link to Xara Designer Pro X 15.1.0.53605 DL x64 May 3 2018 as you were not aware that the download was available while you were in Update Service cover.

v16 has some interesting new features: https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...Designer-Pro-X.
Whether the $129 update cost is worth it is for you to decide.

Acorn

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Originally Posted by Frolin

Just wondering, has anyone else who is NOT a seasoned user of XARA,
found themselves fumbling around trying to find options, features, to edit buttons or content,
and feel like things in XARA work different than you would expect ?

It seems like every time I try to come back to using XARA after being away for a couple months, I am starting from scratch and wasting 50 minutes of each hour, trying to figure out how to make it work. Just had trouble setting up the 'Navigation Bar' because I forgot you have to go 'import' a button to then trigger the Nav Bar. And last 15 minutes trying to edit the fonts and colors of the text in the buttons.

Makes me feel like I am new to the concepts of web design, every time I start a new project.


Frolin

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Frolin. I would think like any other skill or knowledge, if one only sporadically indulges, how would a person master the skills.

• If you're learning a language and study hard for a month or two and then stop "for a couple months" as you say.... you will be weak on what you have studied...
• I play piano... and can you guess what happens if I don't touch it "for a couple months?"
• Ask an athlete of ANY type what happens when they sit on the couch and eat "for a couple months", rather than train.

I guess we could go on for a very long list. But you get the point... no one (I believe) had more problems with software and learning curves them me. It took a while to reach a 'desired' level of proficiency with Xara.
Many problems.... many major screw-ups etc. But slowly over time, and consistently using the software brought me a level that I'm satisfied with... not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. But I have what I need.

When I decided to make the commitment, I practiced a few hours a week just making all sorts of websites and documents and drawings... playing in essence... asking around here, reading a lot in here... etc...

Bottom line... it's not the XARA software... it's the time put in to learn it... Apparently you were never an ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD users... you want a software learning curve??????? WOW!!! If you were an ADOBE user, you'd find yourself back here thinking that XARA software is the easiest, and most productive software on the planet...

Just some thoughts.... and good luck.... and commit so a little time each week to USING the software.

Cliff

I find Web Designer Premium 18 DL x64 not to difficult to learn, I started with the Web Designer 16 and it took trial and error to get around the controls. There's also many video tutorials on Youtube. I came up from Serif.

!!!!!!! FFS !!!!

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!!!!!!! FFS !!!!

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+1

ArchMed1 - Life is not a contest to see who can respond is every old thread in this forum. Please control yourself and concentrate on the current threads.