Using+Computers

At some stage in your course you will need to use computers. Whether for doing assignments, drawing or costing or computer aided manufacturing (CAM) using a pointo point machine.

You will need to know the basics. Microsoft have a range of Turorials to help new users come to grips with using basic software such as:

Word Documents:

[|MS Word (2003) tutorial 1] (getting started)

[|MS Word (2003) tutorial 2] (tables 1)

[|MS Word (2003) tutorial 3] (tables 2)

and Spreadsheets:

[|MS Excel (2003) tutorial 1] (getting started)

[|MS Excel (2003) tutorial 2] (formulas)

[|MS Excel (2003) tutorial 3] (features)

Thanks to the Shopfitting staff at Riverina Institute for the links.

You will need: 1. a computer (laptop or desktop) 2. access to a printer 3. a memory stick (USB device)

Microsoft Office tools are not the only software packages you can get for you computer. Microsoft producst come at a cost There are many free alternatives such as [|OpenOffice.org 3]  is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. []

[|Lotus Symphony]from IBM is another free Office suite of programs

Other software can be obtained usuing a Google search on the internet: [|Google Search FREE software downloads]

Even ** Free drawing and panel optimizer **software is available: Please note that much 2D and 3D software comes with free trial perid only, after which you usually have to purchase the software. Some only comes with limited functionality Here's a few to check out:

DraftIT
DraftIT is available as a free download (Click here)

Autosketch
Autosketch is made by Autodesk - the same company who make AutoCAD etc. It does cost to purchase, but i have found it rather good as a starting CAD program, and a little less complicated than AutoCAD

Have a look on the [|Woodweb page]for suppliers:
 * Panel optimizer software:**


 * Compound angle calculator: ** visit the compound angle page for a link to the metric compound angle calculator: