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Confessions of a Notes Instructor!
This Blog isn't about being a Domino geek. I'm going bask to basics.
Today I had the pleasure of being back in the classroom, facing a hostile "newbie" audience of end users, with a distinct antipathy to Notes. Not that I blame them, a group of older gentlemen who had literally been on the workshop floor and promoted to office duties, and thus, facing the prospect of leaving their old tools behind and learning a new trade. Management, and getting their heads around the Notes client.
At the introduction, most of the participants admitted to having a computer at home, and using that product from the Dark Side. They were sort-of used to email, and were expecting Notes to be the same as the product that they were familiar with.
They had been using Notes from a few days to a couple of weeks, and frankly - they were struggling. Bad mouse skills, chicken-scratching on the keyboard, straining to read the options on the screen in from of them.
So we started off with a couple of jokes to lighten the mood in the room, and then I introduced the biggest concept of the day.
"Notes is EASY software."
"Yeah Right!" was the general consensus.
"No, Really ... Notes is EASY software, you just have to stop thinking the M-------t way. OK " - I said - "try this..."
So we opened our Mail databases, and then I introduced the best keyboard shortcut in the world. "Now press the [Escape] key on the keyboard. Whenever you want to get rid of anything on the Notes screen, just press [Escape]".
A couple of nods, and all of a sudden, you can see the body language changing. The guy in the corner struggling with his mouse suddenly perks up.
"Now, if you do get a little excited with the escape key, and close something you don't want to, remember that you can just click the [Go Back] tool on the toolbar, or press the [Backward] button on your keyboard".
A couple more of the group loose the "grumpy faces". They're starting to get it.
"So now you've gone back to your mail databases, it's time to read some Notes. Just press the [Enter] key".
Peck, Peck, Peck...
The guy who gave the loudest "Yeah right" looks up and cries out, "why didn't anyone show us this before?"
"I've got another one, " I say "... press the [Backspace] key to go back to the last message."
"Oh - that's great" was the comeback. "But I've read all of these before!"
I am ready for him with this one - "well, if you press the [Tab] key, instead of just going to the next message it will go to the one's you haven't read yet!"
"Bug--r me, it even tells me I have read all my new messages and takes me back to the Inbox". At this point, I just agree, frankly this fellow is bigger than a line-backer and a little rough around the edges, I'm trying my best to make sure he isn't having any problems.
The guy with the mouse issues is suddenly very happy, he can't do the same thing as easily with his mail client and home "all this double-click, close, double-click, close pis--s me off. But this is good."
So we now launch full steam ahead into the session, a couple of simple Notes concepts and short-cuts later and we have a room full of happy campers.
The Minties are flying around the room, the guys are relaxed and actually enjoying what they're doing. We go through all the basic Notes stuff, Titles, Navigators, Views, Column Headings, Quick Searching, Selection Bars, Action Bars, and Bookmarks.
They all like the selection bar. "Yeah, I can never remember whether I'm supposed to hold down the [shift] key or the [Control] key while I'm clicking with o-----k, and I normally stuff it up, but these ticks are pretty simple."
"Right" - I say - "Notes is EASY software"
By this stage, I'm not getting grumbles in reply, the feedback is really positive.
Now it's time to go though a couple of their corporate apps. "I'm had real trouble with this one." Pipes up one participant.
"Well, here's the good news, all the stuff we just went through in your Mail Database is the same in this one. Remember, every database you open in Notes works the same, different databases just have different colour schemes and document content, but they ALL work the same way. So your mail database was Blue, and had what type of Notes?"
"Email" came the reply from everyone.
"And what type of documents are in this system?"
"Safety reports" says the guy having trouble with the app. "Spot on" I reply, throwing another Mintie. "So this Database is black, with yellow writing, but it still has all the same features of your mail database. The only real difference, besides the colour scheme, is that this one contains safety reports".
"So what's this part of the database?".
"The Title", Mintie for the Chicken scratcher.
"And this?"
"The View", Mintie for the mouse man.
"And this?"
"The selection bar", Mintie for the guy who started with crossed arms.
"And this?"
"The Navigator", Minties go everywhere.
"And this"
"The Action Bar", another Minties shower.
"And how do I quickly get to reports for this site?"
"Just start typing the name!" The big guy get's two Minties, because he goes on to explain that once you're there, you just click the Twistie to see the site's reports.
So four hours after coming face-to-face with a group of guys who really did not want to be there, complete change. Really positive atmosphere, questions flying around the room and one guy even asking how hard it was to create your own databases.
At the end of the session the big guy cornered me.
"Thanks Mate, that was really good. Look I just got broadband at home, can I download this from somewhere and ditch me other mail?"
So I told him the URL, and he left with a handshake and a smile.
It's day's like today that I really do enjoy this part of my chosen profession. My favourite software program, and sharing my knowledge to show another group of people just how powerful and EASY it is to use.
Writing this article, at the end of the day and a few hundred miles away from where I started this-morning, I have been able to relax and reflect on the day's events. And especially that last part.
Linebacker guy. Gruff and rough around the edges. ex Diesel fitter. Nice bloke.
And quite possibly, a Domino Geek in the making.
Notes Rulez!
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