Microsoft Publisher 2000 (MP2) is a desktop publisher that requires a Pentium CPU (or better), Win 95/NT, 16 M of RAM, 127 M of Hard Drive, and an Internet connection for updates and other Microsoft support information available at the MS web site. Its cost is about $ 80, after a $20 rebate.

A desktop publisher may be thought of as an expanded word processor. Most of the modern word processors can do almost all the things a desktop publisher can do. Thus, for letters and small, simple, publishing jobs, a processor serves the purpose. However, a publisher facilitates complex document formatting and outputs by providing numerous document templates, formatting functions and tools which allow one to: a) initiate any publishing job with more of it completed by its software at the start than is similarly completed by processor software; b) create outputs which are much more professional looking than those done with a processor.

MP2 is a full-fledged professional desktop publisher that is designed to be used not only by businesses, small and large, but by any organizations or home users that require producing business forms, catalogs, flyers, brochures, letterheads, banners, calendars, etc.; quoted are more than 2,000 professional publication templates, over 16,000 pieces of clip art, 1,700 photographs, 200 fonts, 90 sounds, and 600 animated .GIF's. As noted in its CD installation booklet, Microsoft offers unlimited phone support at no charge for all usability issues.

This software comes with a wealth to wizards that, for each type of output, lead a user (even a novice) through a series of steps from beginning to end. In the creation of a product, this software takes a user from the product's concept ... through a sequence of steps that produce the detailed elements comprising the particular product ... and finally through the elements required for color commercial or desktop printing. Choosing a multicolor design for a publication is greatly facilitated by more than 60 coordinated color-scheme suggestions that can be customized. The MP2 package even contains advice and full facilities for designing a web site.

Finally, not to be overlooked, MP2 comes with a 200 page manual, Microsoft Publisher 2000 Companion which, from cover to cover, is well written and full of tutorial information on all of the aspects for producing first-class publications. However, it has a dearth of information on operating the software itself; this information is left to the MP2 'Help' utility.

Installation from a CD was straightforward. However, on first bootup (and ever since) I've gotten the error message: ”The Tahoma.tff font is not present. To restore it, click Detect and Repair on the Help Menu”. MP2 has this self-repair utility supposedly for all troubles. I have tried this utility twice, but the same message still comes up. Curiously, the missing font file is in the Windows\Font folder (??). However, the message can be closed without any noticeable effect on software operation.

The 'Catalog', the initial window opened, is the gate for accessing any of the MP2 start templates for designing all publications. Access to any publication template-start is organized in a hierarchy of steps beginning with a three-tabbed category division: 1) Publications by Wizard; 2) Publications by Design; 2) Blank Publications. Under each category, there is a slew of publication types and subtypes that are listed on the left half of the screen, and that have graphic renditions of them (in miniature) shown on the right-half screen. For example, the 'Publications by Wizard' had 25 sub categories ranging from Quick Publications, Newsletters, Web Sites ... to Programs, Airplanes, Origami. In turn, sub programs like Postcards had 15 types under it.

Punching a graphic, on the right, brings the type of publication template-start into the MP2 desktop ready for one's creative revision. Design proceeds either under the guidance of 'Wizards' or by one's own template modification choices. To enhance publication design, MP2 has an extensive 'Design Gallery' containing objects (like Borders, Boxes, Marquees, Phone Tearoffs, etc.) that may be easily incorporated along the way.

Among other things, I punched one of the Business-Card graphics found under the Publications by Wizard. Up came the card choice in the 'Bluebird' coordinated color scheme. The card was already laid out with lines and places for logos, addresses, names, telephone and fax numbers, E-mail addresses, and other graphic additions to make an esthetic and striking card design. All the elements on the card could be changed either through the Wizard or directly. Designs of a letterhead, a News Letter, and an Advertisement were also tried and designs proceeded similarly.

In changing text, MP2 showed each text style directly, which tremendously facilitates one's choice of font. But during the design of a publication, when searching and trying various options available, it's a necessity to compare these options before a final decision is made. This requires X-number of Undo to go back to some of the previous options. MP2 has only one Undo ... not sufficient, I think. Another element I missed in MP2 was a hard copy of a clip art catalog. Any software with as many clip arts, as has MP2, REQUIRES such a catalog to make the clip arts truly user-friendly ... and useful.

The desktop comes with rulers and tool bars having a marginal number of tools for the editing of graphics and word-processing. But these are sufficient for the purposes of the MP2 rapid publishing methods.

All in all, MP2, with its large bundle of publication templates and design utilities, allows a self-trained designer to produce a professional publication of most any kind ... rather easily.