CompuServe Messages

1. Reference guides =9; Tutorial=2 I've always gotten a pretty good answer to my questions with the reference guides. I've tried at least a half dozen times to go through the tutorials but I just can't seem to stay awake beyond 4 pages. I think the whole tutorial should be replaced by a video. It wouldn't have to be a fancy production, maybe just a tad better than the Corel Draw video. The video should show a really noce logo treatment, then show , step by step how it was done. Then do an architectural walk through, Then do a character animation. Then do some IPAS ( a suttle approach to selling your IPAS routines.) The video tutorial could be indexed as to effects and features eg. Video layering and Video POST see the section on Logo treatments 32 minutes into the tape. On my Video Cave MapsTM I use a real time counter in the upper right corner of the video from beginning to end and then supply an index so the cave diving student can quickly fast forward to the indexed section of the video. 2. Online help is great for windows aps when they use hyper text but for something like 3DS I think I'd prefer the manuals. I prefer spiral bound manuals though. They lay flat on the table. I agree with Rachael on this. 3. I'd like a reference on line for hot keys, and definitions, short ones for some of the button terms that are new with a new release. I should think that a lengthy definition on how to save a file would be redundant waste in an on line help file but when a new release comes out and a new button shows up like "face map" it would be nice if I could just go to a hypertext and get a quick explanation. When you do a help file it should be able to be eliminated at a later date for those that consider having this help file an insult to their expertise with 3DS <G> 4. Don't waste time with the very basics of 3DS operation such as installation and file handling. For instance, if the one has already installed the package why put in a detailed description on how to install it. Keep computer basics out of it like file handling and memory management. Suggestion: You should do an informal survey on the tutorial: Find out just what percentage of people did go through the tutorials beginning to end. I tried several times and probably covered a third of it but I learned more from an instructor faster. Sure he missed a few important points but he wasn't a professional instructor but just one who had 6 months experience with 3DS. I learned Corel Draw very fast with their amateur video and if I were starting out I'd buy the videos on 3DS to learn it.