----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Just a followup to my complaint of late last fall about how
much _work_ GIS was proving to be.
 
Since that time, the Systems folks here have installed
something called Direct Access, a program that allows users
to get directly to each of our several kinds of mapping
software--without having to know the right DOS command or
Windows icon, much less how to use DOS or Windows. It's the
same software that's used upstairs on the social science and
humanities work stations, so it looks familiar, at least to
local users. Direct Access even comes with help screens that
can be used to provide instructions on what to do _after_
logging in. Mostly though it's been useful in eliminating
"how to get started"-type questions. In fact it's worked
wonderfully well at just about eliminating these.
 
This is not an advertisement! I'm sure there must be
analogous (or better) arrangements--in fact, I'd be grateful
to hear about them.
 
Chris Winters
U. of Chicago Library
 
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