I was delighted when I saw the box for Microsoft Publisher 2002 on the Program Review Table. I have been using a 1995 version of Publisher, and I love it, so I thought, "Doing a program review for the 2002 version would be a cinch!" Wrong. Well, maybe only at first.

I tried to install the program (after the usual computer preparations), but it wouldn't let me because it said I first had to update Windows (had never done it in 3 years - shame on me). I guess it needs the latest data to work with on your computer. I had problems with that, but Sean McCarthy helped me out with it after I found out that Microsoft "doesn't like" Netscape (which I was using). So I had to change to Internet Explorer, and of course that version was 3 years old, so I had to update that, too.

I had a heck of a time just PREPARING my computer to install this program. Finally got my computer to accept Publisher (or rather, got Publisher to accept my computer!) - installed it, and BOOM! it knocked my American Greetings program out of whack, so I couldn't use it. It also deleted my 1995 version of Publisher. (Maybe it doesn't like competition.) This is not funny.

By this time, I was beginning to get a little apprehensive about what this program was doing to me and my 3-year-old computer. Guess Microsoft figured it was about time we both got updated, because I sure learned a lot during this whole episode.

Now, let's see - with trepidation, I tried opening one of my old files from my 1995 program. I opened the file and made some changes, but when I tried to save the new changes, that was where I ran into trouble. 2002 doesn't want to save the old version (changed). It wants to convert it and save it in its own format; and it tells you that if it converts, you won't be able to use the file if you decide to go back to the 1995 version. Sounds like complete divorce to me! Off with its head!

Next, I tried the greeting card wizard, but selected my own saying. There are the usual buttons for desktop publishing: Word art, Text box, line, arrow, rectangle, and some things I wasn't familiar with, such as Auto shapes, Hot spot, Form control, HTML code fragment, and Design gallery object.

As I was working, Clip Organizer was creating a catalog clip file for me, then adding clue words so I could find them later using the Keyword Search feature. Good thing, too, because there are 2400 pieces of clip art! Now if I can only get to them. My machine was working feverishly, I suppose organizing all that art. But in a few minutes I was back at the drawing board. The 2002 version is more complicated to insert clip art than the old version because there are many more options offered, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

I found a button for "Font Schemes". Interesting - they group three different fonts in 25 different categories that "go together". For instance, in one scheme there would be one font for the body, one for captions, and another for headings and subheadings - all different, but compatible. Supposedly, Font Schemes make it easy to change all the fonts in a publication to give it a new look. I had a heck of a time with this one, and need more practice.

One good thing is that WordArt is displayed in picture format instead of just designs, making it easier to see how your words will look with a particular design. For instance:

OK, so now I want to type a paragraph on a blank page. Publisher is supposed to have all kinds of fonts, but when I clicked on the font selection arrow, the only one shown in the toolbar was Times New Roman. I had lots of blank lines where a True Type font is indicated. But there were no names, no styles, no indication of what each font looked like. Funny thing is, when I clicked on one at random, and then started typing in the document, I got a particular style, and its name was indicated in the font selection. Except there was no way of telling which font I clicked on until I started typing. I tried the help wizard, and he was no help at all. Tech support - that's what I need for this one. In the morning.

Being a "semi-expert" (Ha!) with a previous version of Publisher, I expected to just ease right in and create a document. Not on your life. (At first, I couldn't even find the text box button.) After much frustration over several days, I decided it was about time I read the book. The first thing I looked for was an Index to look up "Fonts". No such luck. No index. Oh well, let's look for the "How to" chapter. Chapter I, right? It is entitled, "Creating Professional Flyers, Brochures, and Newsletters". It turned out that this is the chapter I needed, but I just didn't recognize it. I wanted something that said, "This is how you work Publisher."

So I read Chapter I anyway, and as I read, the light bulb in my head got brighter and brighter. Oh - so this is how you do it. Seems nearly the same as before, so why was I having so much trouble? Simple - Number 1, all the buttons are in different places except for the Standard Toolbar at the very top. And some of the buttons are redesigned with icons I didn't recognize. Second, Publisher 2002 controls many more options, leaving very little to the individual imagination. There are wizards and templates for most everything you do. All you have to do is click on the publication template you want, overtype the wording that comes with it, and presto! You've got your publication. This is like ordering a hot fudge sundae, but substituting butterscotch for the hot fudge.

Well, enough criticism, let's get on with this review of the program. After reading the first chapter, I found out that Publisher 2002 is more like MS Word than ever before. It even automatically selected the same kitty-cat assistant that I had chosen for my Word program! When I had the two programs running at the same time, and clicked from one to the other, the same smiling kitty was in both programs. Amazing!

The biggest difference is that in Word, you simply bring up a "new" document and start typing. In Publisher, because it's a desktop publishing program, every part has to have a frame around it. To insert text, you create a text frame, then type inside that frame. If you want a picture, you first need a picture frame; the same with graphics and WordArt. There is also an area outside the boundaries of the page (called a "scratch" area), where you can store objects while you work on that page. This is really handy. There are other differences but these are the most obvious.

Chapter I also takes you step-by-step through Designing a Flyer, Creating a Three-Fold Brochure, and Creating a Newsletter. There is a neat feature called Design Checker, which checks for embarrassing errors in your document such as an empty frame or text in the scratch area before you go to print. Cool.

The rest of the chapters include specific, easy-to-understand directions and tips on Design Strategy, Elements of Design, Designing for Print, and Designing for the Internet: how to design, test, maintain, and market an effective Web site.

All-in-all, Microsoft Publisher 2002 was created solely to promote and market your business by developing and building your "identity", customizing your "look", and coordinating various aspects of promotion, as in flyers, brochures, office stationery, and even your Web site.

In conclusion, the best advice I have is to not assume you know how to work this program just because you have used a previous MS Publisher version (or any other desktop publishing program). Take the time to read the book, practice, and then advance from there. The title of the manual is, "Discovering Microsoft Publisher", and that is just what you will be doing: discovering it.

Microsoft Publisher 2002 requires a PC with Pentium 133 MHz or higher; Pentium III recommended (I have a Pentium II and it works just fine), Windows 98, 98 2^nd edition, ME, NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6 or later, Windows 2000 Pro, or Windows XP or later operating system. You also need a CD-ROM drive, a Super VGA monitor, and of course a Microsoft Mouse or Microsoft IntelliMouse®.

Happy Computing!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*ADDENDUM: Microsoft Tech Support solved the "missing font" problem. I only had to go into "customize" on the tools menu and uncheck one of the options. Why did they send it out with that option checked in the first place, so you can't see what font you want to use? Strange.