What to do when discussion groups are not enough?

[patagoniadave]

Hi, let me please make sure that you are all aware that I am aware that the discussion groups are peer to peer, and that getting help is a privilege, not a right and that I really appreciate all help I get here and at other sites.

My question is, what should I do when I can't get an answer that solves my problem? I have a few posts here and at AUGI that I have no responses to, or a response that doesn't fully answer (again I am NOT complaining, although I would prefer a "that's a stupid question" or "no one knows" than no response at all). My usual train of events when I am stuck is to refer to my printed out help file that adesk shipped to me, check one of my two training/reference books (one of which is Paul's book) search old posts (which I am terrible at because I usually get dozens of posts that have nothing to do with what I am talking about) and then finally posting my question. Sometimes when I am pressed for time I may skip one or two of those steps, and have a premature posting. So when all that fails, should I be calling my reseller, or logging into the subscription site? I am not really familiar with how all that works. It's also embarrassing because I know my questions are stupid and obvious and people are rolling their eyes. Maybe I am phrasing my questions wrong, or looking in the wrong places for them? I have been perusing blogs lately, and have found some neat things. Anyway, thanks for any advice, and again, thanks for all the help!

[Anonymous]

That's not really a fair comparison as all cars are basically the same. You
don't have to take different training classes for everyone you buy. Every
CAD software is completely different. Now if cars suddenly started flying,
you would expect a dvd. Also, last I heard BMW's come with a DVD. Plus you
are a little biased. If the software comes with better tutorials/manuals
then you would be out of business.



wrote in message news:5450102@discussion.autodesk.com...
..
Here's an interesting comparison to contemplate.

When you buy a car ($25,000) from GM are they responsible to teach you how
to drive? Does the car come with a DVD of videos on driving and maintenance
? (perhaps it should...)

But No. You take the training, you practice alot and you go to your dealer
for maintenance and information.

How is CAD software any different? The software works. It comes with a
manual. It's up to you to get busy and learn it.

Sorry but I think (and see proof) that people now a day are getting lazy.
They want it now and they want it fast. If you want a CAD software that is
learned in a week(end) use Sketchup. Then see how far that gets you on your
resume.

When a welder buys a bunch of welding equipment do the equipment suppliers
have to train you. I don't think so. You have to go to college for 2 years
and study.

I went to a few $$ seminars a while back on 'Break through Thinking'. The
overall message was > In order to make serious change and advancement you
MUST embrace frustration and aquish. Becasue if there is no frustration and
anguish there isn't going to be much change or advancemnt. Bottom line.

A little rant from a guy who knows the meaning of frustration and anguish.

DG Message was edited by: Discussion Admin

[dgcad]

.
You are correct. A 'car' is not the perfect comparison as you have made clear. Perhaps the welding equip. is more applicable. But the fact remains. The supplier of any skilled equipment is not 'responsible' to teach you how to use it. They may choose to do so as an added value but 98% choose not to..

Here's a much better example.
i just bought a new snow board. Is 'Burton' going to teach me how to use it ? Absolutely not. Did it come with a DVD of training. No. (hmmm...now there's an Idea)
Now I can either a) fall down alot and miss my friends or b) take some lessons from a pro, practice and then get back to hanging out in the bar.....were my skilled friends will be...

Yes. I am biased. Everything should come with training videos !! Message was edited by: Discussion Admin

[Anonymous]

I see CAD software being a different case then welding equipment or even
snowboards. Every CAD software is completely different and requires new or
updated training. When you buy a snowboard you can buy one from any company
and they will all work the same.

However, if I buy Microstation, it is not the same as AutoCAD and requires
that I buy all kinds of new materials in order to learn it. So I do not
agree that a company is not responsible to teach you how to use their
product. If a car company came out with a new type of car that flew, are
you saying that they would not be required to teach you how to use it or
give you any type of information? I don't agree at all. However, I see
your point that you are someone who makes a living teaching people a program
for a company does not provide adequate learning material to there
customers.

Please don't take me wrong, I'm not someone who opens a brand new program
and gets frustrated b/c I can't figure out how to use it. I open the help
file, I read the manual, work through the tutorials, buy books and look for
forums/newsgroups/blogs/websites in order to learn everything I need to
know. I find that people that teach the software know less about it then
the people who actually use it. I've had better success reading books then
attending training classes, but maybe I've just been to bad ones. Now if
that's lazy fine, but I hardly think so.

I wasn't going to touch this but now I'm interested, what is your proof that
"people now a day are getting lazy"? It's gotta be something you heard on
tv or read in a newspaper out of context. I can't imagine a intelligent
person like yourself making such an uniformed poor generalization about our
society.


wrote in message news:5450252@discussion.autodesk.com...
..
You are correct. A 'car' is not the perfect comparison as you have made
clear. Perhaps the welding equip. is more applicable. But the fact remains.
The supplier of any skilled equipment is not 'responsible' to teach you how
to use it. They may choose to do so as an added value but 98% choose not
to..

Here's a much better example.
i just bought a new snow board. Is 'Burton' going to teach me how to use it
? Absolutely not. Did it come with a DVD of training. No. (hmmm...now
there's an Idea)
Now I can either a) fall down alot and miss my friends or b) take some
lessons from a pro, practice and then get back to hanging out in the
bar.....were my skilled friends will be...

Yes. I am biased. Everything should come with training videos !!

Message was edited by: Discussion Admin

[Steve_Stafford]

I think software companies recognize the need for training and help documentation. They provide quite a bit for Revit. Can it be better? Sure!

SketchUP provides some pretty nice tutorials and in video format at that. But SketchUP's entire toolset doesn't get quite as deep as Revit does it?

Provide customer feedback to Autodesk telling them what would make it easier for you to learn it. Keep in mind that eveybody learns a little differently.