Not so easy to learn / use ?

[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.

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

[pauland]

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?

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.

[gwpriester]

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.

[Acorn]

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

[ernie-f]

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

[Frolin]

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

[cmpan1]

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

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

[ArchMed1]

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.

[Egg Bramhill]

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

[gwpriester]

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

+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.