8 Replies Latest reply: Oct 29, 2008 6:07 PM by (Marc_Sparks) RSS

    CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals

    Dave_Evanson Community Member
      Just installed the UK English boxed version of CS4 Design Premium and was disappointed to find there are no PDF format manuals/help files included with the suite. I have looked on the additional DVDs and the only files in the documentation section are readme PDFs for each program.

      I have now downloaded the online PDF files for each program but I feel they should have been included with the DVDs.
      I know its some time since Adobe stopped included printed manuals but they appear to have taken things to extremes now there wasnt even any written install instructions in the box.
        • 1. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
          Community Member
          I don't know how long it's been since they stopped shipping manuals....But I bought CS3 Production Premium in 2008 and I got a big box with all the nice manuals.

          Just got Creative Suite 4 Prodcution Premium....and a nice little box. No manuals. I called and was told the manuals were on the discs but it sounds like they were not in Design premium. I need to hunt around in production premium to see if there.

          I did call and we can buy hard copy manuals in December for I think $25 each!!!

          BJBBJB
          • 2. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
            Dave_Evanson Community Member
            The last suite I bought was CS2 Premium, but there were no printed manuals in that or the original CS.

            There is a documentation folder on the CS4 extras (content?) disk and a folder in it for each application but there is only a readme PDF in each one. I suspect that the intention was to put the help files there but maybe they were not ready in time.

            I suppose the idea is that having the default help online is that it can be changed as mistakes/bug are found or updates are released. Nothing can beat having a real book to browse through when learning new software but not at $25 each. I will have a look round for some good books in a few months time.
            • 3. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
              Community Member
              You know, I bought the printed manuals for CS3 Design Premium (which as it turned out, I never really used), and the price wasn't $25 per manual, it was $25 for the entire set.
              • 4. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
                P Spier CommunityMVP
                Maybe you haven't noticed, but paper and shipping costs have both gone up since CS3 was released. :)
                • 5. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
                  Community Member
                  Quite frankly, I was shocked when I received that big, heavy box. I thought I would get one big manual with all the software covered. I'm not sure how they could afford to sell them that cheaply then.
                  • 6. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
                    Dave_Evanson Community Member
                    It wouldnt have cost anything to put the PDFs on the content disk though, a bit disappointing that they didnt. Im not sure that an online help system with apparently no way of choosing to use it or not in the preferences is such a good idea as it can be a bit slow at times it would have been better to use local help files which offered links to online sources.
                    • 7. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
                      P Spier CommunityMVP
                      I thought that was the plan. I don't have disks to check, but my Downloaded InDesign seems to go straight to the web.

                      I did some more poking, and the help files are installed, but it looks like as long as you have an active connection you will be directed to the online help. If you disconnect, you'll get the local version, which is a subset of the online version, if Bob Bringhurst is to be believed.

                      The rationale is that the online version is easier to keep up-to-date or correct (and there are some errors), and of course there is the facility for adding user comments -- often as useful as the documentation itself.

                      Peter
                      • 8. Re: CS4 Design Premium  PDF Manuals
                        Community Member
                        Yes, with CS3, it was $25 for a SET of Web Premium manuals, and $50 for a SET of Production Premium manuals. Individual manuals were about $12 each. I expect about the same this time.

                        The problem is, they are never clear on whether the manuals are included or not. I have one machine that runs business operations stuff, and one for editing. The business operations machine had CS2 and Studio MX 2004 installed. The editing machine had individual components...I had never bought a Production suite.

                        I decided to sell my CS2 license and upGRADE off of Studio MX 2004 to Web Premium CS3. I ordered it online, and when it arrived I was mad to find that it contained NO manuals. So I ordered a set- well worth the $25.

                        When Production Premium came out it was unclear whether or not I would be able to get a straight upgrade. I had owned the "Video Bundle" way back when, but I had been upgrading individual pieces over the years at varying rates. I decided to sell all the pieces but one and do an upSELL to Production Premium CS3. I ordered it from a reseller, then remembered I would need manuals, so I placed a separate order from Adobe.

                        Yup...I wound up with TWO full sets of manuals.