CorelDRAW/Vista Classes @ LVS Online
LVS Online ~ Where Learning is Fun!

Vista virtual folders - great for asset management

July 24th, 2008 Val

Once you’ve gotten started with CorelDRAW or any other graphics program, you quickly end up with hundreds or thousands of files on your hard drive. Even if you are very organized in your file structure, there will be times when you know you have a picture of a fire truck somewhere, but just can’t find it. There are two tools in Vista and somewhat less so in XP to help you.

1. Whenever you save a file, take the extra moment or two to add keywords or tags to your file. These could be descriptions of the image, the client’s name, or what city the photo was taken in. Add as many as you can think of that might give you a clue what is in that image.

2. Once you have tags or keywords, you can search on those terms in either Windows XP or Vista. Vista takes it one step farther by allowing you to save searches. These saved searches then become “virtual folders” and are marked by blue folders rather than the normal yellow ones. Our firetruck image might be saved in a virtual folder called “vehicles” and one called “rescue” and one called “Jones Trucks”, but the file in those virtual folders is really just a shortcut to the real file you saved originally. These extra folders don’t use a whole bunch of memory. Even better, when you save a new file that has one of those tags or matches the search in some other way, it gets added automatically to the corresponding virtual folders. You don’t have to do anything more besides giving your files reasonable tags.

If you’d like more information on Virtual Folders, there’s an article that just came out today from CNET.

http://help.cnet.com/9602-12576_39-0.html?messageID=2510953&tag=nl.e410

I apologize for my lack of posts lately. I’ve been moving my belongings across town to a new home and have been just a bit tied up.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in Windows Vista | No Comments »

Vista Open/Save dialog images

May 17th, 2008 Val

Thank goodness - and the good techie folks, especially Becky and Kat at LVS - the comments link has been fixed. Yesterday I posted a note about the Open dialog in Vista. Folks using CorelDRAW X4 need to take note of this since much of the functionality that used to be in the CorelDRAW interface has now been left to Vista.

I did get the details to stick by simply saving a file and closing the program. Next time I opened it, all the details were there for that FOLDER. Unfortunately, I don’t think you can customize per program. There are some details that make more sense with a photo program like PhotoPaint (various exif info) and some that make more sense with CorelDRAW. You can customize the details you see for these in Explorer for each FOLDER, so if you keep your photo projects separate from your vector projects, you’ll get the details you need. If you make the customizations in Explorer outside of the Open/Save dialog, you can even apply your details preferences to any subfolders.

Here are some screen shots of the open dialog. I’ve added a BUNCH of details to the dialog, more than what most folks would want, but you should go through the list and decide what makes the most sense for you and how you work. Take a look at the details (More) list by right clicking in the headings line. You’d be amazed at some of the things you can add. For CorelDRAW folks, you can get a list of embedded fonts, see if there are external bitmaps, make all sorts of project notes, see word counts and object counts. It’s a pretty amazing list and worth the time to take a gander.

I’ll apologize for the image quality here on the blog. It seems to automatically resize things strangely. If you right click on an image and choose “View Image” or something like that in your browser, you’ll get a much clearer picture.

Left side of Open dialog:

Right side of Open dialog:

Save As dialog showing where to click to add Tags to your file:

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW, Windows Vista | 1 Comment »

Getting details in the Vista “Open” dialog

May 15th, 2008 Val

Say you have four versions of an image in four sizes, all with similar file names and want to be able to see the dimensions before you open it. Or you want a list of embedded fonts in a file. Or you want to know if the file is RGB or CMYK… or a whole bunch of other details that are kept in little bits of information in the files you create.

Try this:
Open the File/Open dialog by whatever method you normally use. Now on the ribbon where it says “Organize / Views / New Folder” choose Organize. Click Layout and make sure all three panes are active. That will give you your preview, even in details mode, and an extra details strip along the bottom.

Now set Views to Details. Right click on the line where it says “Name”. You’ll get a preliminary list of attributes you can add to the details columns. The fun starts when you click the MORE button, though. At that point, you get to choose all the details you want. There are gobs of details you can add, including all the “missing” attributes. Try not to get too carried away or you’ll need a much bigger monitor to see them all without scolling! Check the ones you want and click OK.

The real drawback is that so far I haven’t been able to get this to stick once you’ve closed the “Open” dialog. You’ve got to redo it every time you want to see the details, but they are there - and searchable. If I figure out how to make the settings “stick”, I’ll post that here, too.

Have fun!

Posted in CorelDRAW, Windows Vista | 1 Comment »

Time to register for May classes at LVS

April 28th, 2008 Val

My apologies for being absent so long from the blogosphere. I was out of town for a while, then came down with a nasty stomach virus. Fortunately, I’m starting to feel more human again. Meanwhile, I’m trying to get my house ready for sale so we can move in June AND write a new Introduction to CorelDRAW X4 class for September. Meanwhile, here’s a reminder that the May session is coming at LVS!

Registration for the May LVS session is closing soon, but there is still time to register for the Intro to CorelDRAW classes at LVS. We have self study intro classes for CorelDRAW 9-12 and an instructor led
class for CorelDRAW X3. I wrote the version 12 and X3 classes and can promise you’ll get your money’s worth.
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=186

If you’ve already taken that class and want more, try the CorelDRAW - Continuing the Adventure class. It’s always a small class, so you get lots of individual attention.
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=208

I’ll have a class on the new CorelDRAW X4 coming in September for anyone who has upgraded!

Also, new last session I’ve created a new Intro to Windows Vista class. It’s aimed at those who are brand new to computing, but just about anyone who has used Windows, even for years, can benefit from
the class.
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=255

And don’t forget the FREE Intro to Windows class for Windows 98,ME, and XP. It’s a bit outdated, but if your first computer (or your mother’s first computer) is an older model, you certainly can’t beat
the price.
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=68

All instructor led classes are $25 US, $20 for returning students. This includes all instructional materials, (not the CorelDRAW or Windows software, of course) a message board to ask questions and post
assignments to, free webhosting for your class assignments if needed, and the ability to ask the instructor any questions you want for six weeks plus a little.

Self study classes are $11.50 US and are just as good, but you don’t get the instructor. The exception is the Intro to Windows 98-XP class which is not only FREE but I also pop in to answer any questions
you may have.

All contain six downloadable lessons jammed packed with information you can save or print out for you to use after the class is over.

Of course, if you’ve taken all of my classes, do check out the other classes offered by LVS. There is sure to be something you’ll want to learn!
http://www.lvsonline.com/schedule.shtml

Have fun!

Val P.
Instructor, LVS Associates - Where Learning Is Fun!
Authorized Corel Training Partner

Posted in CorelDRAW, CorelDRAW Continued, CorelDRAW Intro, Windows Vista | No Comments »

Spring is coming! (and so is the Spring session of LVS!)

February 22nd, 2008 Val

This is just a friendly reminder that registration for the March session of LVS will be coming to a close on March 3. That’s right around the corner!

LVS has some great new courses this session, including my own Intro to Windows Vista. http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=255

And of course, many of the oldies but goodies are back again, including CorelDRAW X3 Intro

http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?cPath=1_12&products_id=186

and CorelDRAW - Continuing the Adventure.

http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?cPath=1_12&products_id=208

Every course is six weeks long. You download one lesson each week, then use a discussion board for questions and participation in class and there’s a free webhosting service for students to upload their assignments each week. Work at your own pace and log into the message board at any time of day or night to get help. (OK, I won’t be checking the boards 24/7, but I usually do check them several times a day.) You get six PDF lessons to download and use on your computer or print out as you wish. Each lesson is between 20 and 40 pages with plenty of screenshots to help you through. All of this is only $25 US - a bargain at twice the price! Returning students get a discount.

Be sure and tell all your friends to check out http://www.lvsonline.com for all sorts of great courses. We have over 200 courses and our excellent instructors and students are from all over the world and span all age brackets. Besides our full instructor led courses, we also have self study courses and a good handful of free tutorials.

Hope to see you in the “halls” of LVS, Where Learning Is Fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »

New Intro to Vista Course

February 18th, 2008 Val

Right now I’m madly finishing up the new Introduction to Vista course for LVS. If you’ve just upgraded to Vista from XP or if you or someone you know is just getting started with a computer running Vista, this course is for you and your friends and family. The lessons are written specifically for the first time computer user - like your mother or aunt. For instance, I explain all those strange computer terms, and go into detail on how to use a mouse. However, even if you’re a long time Windows user, you’ll more than likely learn something you didn’t know in the first couple of lessons.

Check it out here:

http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=255

What? You haven’t upgraded to Vista and don’t know anyone who’s using it but still need help with Windows XP? LVS has a FREE Introduction to Windows course that covers Windows 98, ME, and XP. Even though that course is a bit outdated and TOTALLY FREE, I’ll still be there to help in the friendly class discussion boards.

Sign up for the free class here:

http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=68

Registration is open right now for the LVS six week session starting March 3. Don’t wait!

Remember, one of these two classes is a prerequisite for taking any of the CorelDRAW classes and most of the other classes at LVS. Now, what are you waiting for???

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in Windows Vista | No Comments »

Registration is open at LVS Online Classes!

February 6th, 2008 Val

Registration for the March 2008 session is open at LVS Online ~ Where Learning Is Fun!

For more information, go to http://www.lvsonline.com/update.shtml

For a complete list of all available classes at LVS Online go to
http://www.lvsonline.com/schedule.shtml

Instructor-led classes begin March 8th so head on over to LVS Online Classes to enroll now! http://www.lvsassociates.com/register

Posted in CorelDRAW, CorelDRAW Continued, CorelDRAW Intro, Windows Vista | No Comments »