User/Owner  Manuals User/owner  manuals  will  tell  you  about  the hardware  and  how  to  install  and  configure  it.  Each device will probably have its own owner’s manual. For example:  the  printer’s  manual  will  tell  you  how  to connect the printer to the system, how to insert the paper and  change  a  ribbon,  how  to  use  the  tractor  feed  for continuous-form  paper,  what  the  lights  mean,  what settings  you  can  change  from  the  front  operating  panel, and so on. The owner’s manual for the monitor will tell you  whether  the  monitor  is  monochrome  or  color,  what buttons and dials you can use to adjust the display, and so  on.  The  system  owner’s  manual   will  provide  a system overview. It will tell you how to unpack and set up the system, how to power up the system, how to get the  software  running,  and  so  on.   Disk  operating system and applications soft ware user manuals will tell you how to install and use the programs. They will also  specify  the  hardware  requirements:  processor  type, memory size, hard disk needed, and so on. Most   manuals   that   come   with   the   system   and software will include sections with names like Getting Started,   Installation,   Using   the   Software/ System/Commands,  Reference,  Error  Messages,  and Troubleshooting. A learning or self-study section may also   be   included.   When   you   first   begin,   take   the appropriate manual and look at the headings in the table of  contents. Then  browse  through  the  appendices, glossary, and index to become familiar with what they contain.  This  will  give  you  an  idea  of  what  information you can find in the manual and how the information is organized. For example, are the commands listed in a reference   section   in   alphabetic   order,   or   are   they grouped by function in several sections? The more you know about where to find information when you need it, the more professional and confident you will be. One of the  most  frequently  used  sections  in  the  operators manual is the section that covers the parameters. This section includes the factory settings, the other settings available, and how to change the settings. Training Materials and Aides Software packages often include an online tutorial on disk. If the package you are using has one, take time to go through it. It will give you at least an overview of what the software can do and how it works. The system may also have hypertext. Hypertext is an online information system that can be incorporated into a software package, such as WordPerfect®. It is a data  management  program  that  allows  you  to  very quickly  navigate  through  all  sorts  of  information  in connection   with   the   applications   program   you   are using. In this example, it would be WordPerfect®. An entire user’s manual and applicable documentation is readily  available  to  you  with  a  couple  of  keystrokes. Hypertext, which can include text, graphics, video, and audio, is especially useful for users who do not have access to manuals or when documentation is stored out of  reach. Video,   audio,   or   other   online   tutorial   training materials may be available at your command. For disk operating systems that are in general use and for many software packages, you can obtain text books, training manuals,  and  supplementary  manuals  written  by  people other than the vendor. Local bookstores and libraries may have them. Help Aides Other   help   aides   are   help   screens,   keyboard templates, and quick reference cards. Help  screens  are  part  of  the  program  and  can usually be called on to the display screen at any time while the program is running. This means if you get stuck or confused about how to do some function when you are in the middle of a task, you can call the help screen function and have it display information relating to your problem. Reference cards  usually list the features and the keystrokes that activate each feature. Keyboard  templates  fit over or above the keys. They  identify  each  feature  and  its  associated keystrokes. These aides are very helpful, especially when you are   jumping   back   and   forth   between   a   number   of different   programs   that   have   assigned   different meanings  to  the  function  keys.  A  quick  look  at  a template or a reference card, or a call for a help screen, may be all you need to remind you of how something works. This is especially true once you have become an experienced user on a particular software package. In-House User Manuals To  implement  your  own  command’s  policy  and procedures, you may have one or more in-house user manuals.   These   will   generally   cover   the   use   of microcomputers,   what   software   is   to   be   used,   any specially  designed  routines  and  programs  authorized for   use,   standards   for   labeling   diskettes   and   files, 1-25