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Here are a few words about softwaretutor.net and each of the
software tools covered by courses in this site.
Q. Do I have to take the course at one sitting?
A. No, we prefer that you work though the modules in a
course at a pace which suits you. Your enrolment stays
active for at least 12 months.
AutoCAD:
AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, Inventor, Land Development
Desktop, etc. AutoCAD is an industry standard CAD
program used by architects, engineers, surveyors,
planners, landscape architects and other design
professionals. We have been teaching the use of AutoCAD
since 1985 and have developed a series of four
courses which lead to basic CAD competency. The series of
courses is: QuickStart CAD>
Basic CAD 1> Basic CAD
2> Paper Space & Model
Space. QuickStart CAD provides an overview of
the CAD process, while the other three courses provide
in-depth instruction and take you to a professional
level. We estimate that 30-50 hours of study is
required for each course. The figure below shows a
typical AutoCAD drawing (instrument loop), but please
note that the software is generic and used to prepare
technical drawings in many different fields.
In addition to the series of four courses which lead to
CAD competency, we also offer courses at intermediate and
advanced level. These feature 3D CAD modelling using
AutoCAD and IntelliCAD.
Additional special purpose CAD courses have been
developed in drafting electrical schematics viz.
Electrial CAD 1, Electrical CAD 2 and
Electrical CAD 3. We also have a course
which teaches process engineers how to use
AutoCAD to create Process and Instrumentation
(P&ID) drawings.
Various CAD workshops are also offered, witha special
emphasis on the use of AutoCAD for land development
professionals.
IntelliCAD:
This software is a low cost alternative to AutoCAD with
direct file compatibility. All of the courses set out
above can be completed using IntelliCAD. The image
below shows a design for a courtyard modelled and
rendered in IntelliCAD.
You can download a free trial version of IntelliCAD from
http://www.siacad.com
** We have a series of courses on the use of CAD software
for landscape professionals at a companion eLearning site
- http://www.landscapetutor.net **
GardenCAD:
This is our own easy-to-use AutoCAD/intelliCAD clone. We
have created a series of courses for garden designers
using this tool. We do not sell GardenCAD software, but
provide it free of charge if you purchase one of our
landscape design courses.
Here is a link for you to
download a copy of GardenCAD to try out.
The course to teach the use of GardenCAD has moved to
http://www.landscapetutor.net
SketchUp:
Google now offer a free (non commercial) version of this
easy to use 3D modelling software. We offer a simple
introduction to the tool and show how models created in
CAD software such as AutoCAD and IntelliCAD can be
imported to the SketchUp environment for fly throughs,
sun shadowing and materials application. The figure below
shows one of the models developed by students in our
SketchUp course.
InDesign:
InDesign is Adobe's premier desk top publishing tool. It
is used to create superior marketing materials -
menus, flyers, catalogues, point of sale, reports etc.
InDesign is now becoming a serious tool for professionals
in the print industry and runs both on Windows computers
and on Macintosh computers. The figure below shows a page
from a menu produced usingInDesign. 
We have provided a link to one of the modules on inDesign
in the sections 'Sampling Softwaretutor.net'
Photoshop:
This is the premier image editing software from Adobe.
Photoshop can be used to edit existing images (adjusting
colour balance, pplyigfileters etc.) or to create
composite images such as that shown below.
Illustrator:
Illustrator is vector drawing software from Adobe and
forms part of the Adobe Creative suite. It is used to
create logos similar to that shown in the figure below.
The key issue is that files created with Illustrator can
be 'dropped' into Indesign files and scaled up or
down without losing resolution.
Microsoft Visio:
Business graphics and illustrative software from
Microsoft.
Microsoft Word:
Microsoft's premier word
processing application.
Microsoft Excel:
Microsoft's premier spreadsheet
application.
Our thesis is that many business processes can be
accommodated using Excel. In many cases, there is no
need to purchase other software - the tool you need is
already on your desktop. It is our role to help you use it more effectively.
Excel can be used to manage customer lists, price
catalogues, build formulae with relative and absolute
cell references, show how to build charts, use Excel's
built-in functions, examine the database facilities in
Excel and finally the use of macros to speed up
spreadsheet use.
Microsoft Access:
Access is a database application and can be a little
tricky for beginners to use. Our courses show you how to
build successful database applications and demonstrate
that learning Access can be a straightforward and
enjoyable process.
Microsoft Powerpoint:
This course provides you with a wide ranging look at
PowerPoint, Microsoft's premier presentation tool. We
survey some different types of presentations, introduce
the program's Interface (using both PowerPoint 2003 and
PowerPoint 2007), and show you how the program works
using real world examples. We cover such things as
normal, outline and slide show views, indenting and out
denting text, inserting new slides with different themes,
insert mages, rearrange slides, insert speaker notes,
work on transitions between slides etc. etc. We encourage
you to develop presentations of your own and submit them
in for comment. At softwaretutor.net, we offer a Q&A
forum, quizzes and a glossary of terms.
Microsoft FrontPage:
Companies have traditionally used graphic designers or
computer programmers to develop Internet and Intranet web
sites. Often these people are not part of the
organization and are hired as outsiders to complete a
'one off' job. Although this approach can result in web
sites which are very 'professional' in appearance, sites
created by outsiders tend to be very static, because
managers are not prepared to pay the very high costs
incurred when pages need to be updated. It is easy to
learn FrontPage (or Microsoft Expression and save on
costs).
Gimp:
A free image editing software tool. This course is moving
to http://www.landscapetutor.net
Filemaker Pro:
softwaretutor.net is a Design Cad company site. Our other
web sites are listed below
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