Digital Workshop

There are a few users on this forum who provide outstanding feedback and help to all users, Mackavi is one user who is always helpful.

Would the power users of Opus ever consider putting together a book or on-line site of resources and tutorials that they could sell to Opus users. Maybe Digital Workshop could get involved as these users enrich Opus and they must propel sales, a collection of small tutorials and resources would be a great addition to Opus and current users.

Ideally they could be divided up between Basic and Advance just like the forum.

Joe --

This subject has come up about once every two years. Several of us "non-DW" types started to add up the time it would take to build something with examples, and it was huge. Then we polled OPUS users to see the level of interest -- almost none. Bottomline: This would be great if you didn't need to pay bills to live. The video idea is even more expensive, so the loss would even be greater.

There is a small "critical mass" of OPUS knowledge which you need to learn, then it gets easier when you read the Help files and study the examples DW supplies. Once you think you know everything in OPUS, you'll find there's even more to learn. It is an amazing product.

I have taught OPUS classes with great success for the students. After two to three full days, "lightbulbs" start to light up in the students' eyes, then they take off, building amazing projects. As time goes on, they become even more knowledgeable IF they keep using OPUS. It's like anything else "new." The more you use it, the better you get at it. If you read something, do one project, then shelve it for a year, you'll probably not be as sharp as you'd like to be.

Reading this Forum is a great way to learn things. I've saved and used many ideas I have seen here. Many times I'll see an effect on an electric sign, something on the Internet, or while watching TV which I start to imagine how it could be done using OPUS. Usually my next paid project will include it. Imitation IS the most sincere form of flattery (right?).

Fire away with your questions. You've got some of the best teachers in the OPUS world ready to help you.

I agree entirely with everything that Fred says.

Over the years I have developed many learning tutorial for my own use because as an ex-teacher I find one of the more effective ways of learning is to teach myself.

On more than one occasion I have offered these tutorials to Opus users. Even at a charge ($20) which did not even cover my bandwidth and web storage costs, there were no takers. For a period of several months I offered a significant tutorial as a free download for which I required registration because I wanted to accurately measure any interest.

From memory 3 people registered, and the best of all was a fourth who stated that downloading was too costly and time consuming for her, and wanted me to cut a CD and post it to her. Some people are unbelievable! I no longer make my learning notes available.

I accept that what I offered might have been evaluated as crap. That's as good a reason as any for not being interested.

Fred alludes to this, but I'll come right out and say it. For about 12 months these has developed a tendency for some users to expect all their development work to be done for them. That's not the way to learn Opus. You have to first try and resolve your issues. If you can't, then ask for specific help and learn both from your mistakes and from the suggestions offered.

I see no possibility of any material (such as that proposed by Joe) ever being seeing the light of day. However, I wish anyone who tries, the very best.