Learning Process....
Usually, I like to write about the insanity of other Mad Scientists. Today, I give you a glimse into my own internal mad world.The Situation
I have to make a circuit diagram so that I can get the appropriate clearance for the diagram to leave my place of work and go to a contractor that will design a printed circuit board from my schematic. Originally we had taken an existing design someone else made, printed it off, and wrote in edits by hand in red pen. I sent this to Jose, who probably hates me (that is another story all together, maybe for tomorrow night), pleading with him to let this version go through. Poor Jose, he said he could put it through as a "sketch" but it would really be best for everyone if I redid the drawing for real. Which means I have to learn new software. Here is the ensuing internal mental dialog, broken down into rough sections.Getting Started
Okay, I'm smart. I can figure this out. Other people learn this program every day. Let's just find the right website.... great. Okay. Which version of the software do I want? Why are there so many choices? Where's the download button?! AAAHHHH!!!! Okay, okay, calm down.*reads the fine print really closely*
*click*
"Thirty-two minutes remaining?!"
Morgan: "Huh?"
"Whoops, that wasn't meant to be out loud, sorry!"
32 minutes later....
Installation
Which of these files is the right one? Hmmm... that one looks good, let's try it.*Error messaged!!*
Huh. That's funny. Let's try again.
*Error messaged!!*
Maybe I should read the error message before clicking >Enter< next time.
*Error messaged!!*
Oh! I should un-zip the folder and try again. Hey, that worked.
*5 minutes later*
Waiting, waiting, I hate waiting.... I know, I should go talk to Fernanda!
*30 minutes later*
What?! Only 12% completed?! ....Ugh.
Initial Panic
Where did the program go? Why isn't it showing up? It should be highlighted yellow for new programs? Where is it? Should I uninstall and try again? Wait, wait, no. It's got it's own folder, let me click that and.....WOW!!! That's a lot of sub-folders! Which one do I choose? Don't panic, you can figure this out, you're smart. Let's try that one. Hey, that looks right. Let's open the program and....OH NO THAT'S A LOT OF BUTTONS THAT MAKE NO SENSE AND A BIG BLACK EMPTY SPACE BEGGING ME TO FILL IT! EMPTY SPACE, I'M SO SORRY BUT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO!!!
Oh wait, I saw something about a tutorial in that folder. I should do a tutorial!
Tutorial
La dee la da da... this is a breeze, I'm a natural at this! Look at me picking up this new software like I OWN it! I'm just clicking away, putting stuff here and there and....WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! I DON'T WANT THAT!!
UN-DO!! UN-DO!! CTRL-Z, CTRL-Z!!
Ahhh, I'm glad CTRL-Z works the same way in this program as in all other Windows programs. Macs are so much harder - I still haven't figured out CTRL-Z on them.... yep, this is easy. Cruising along.... and it says the exact coordinates are supposed to show up in the status bar in the lower right-hand corner....
"NO THEY DON'T!!"
Morgan: "What?"
"It says the coordinates are supposed to show up in the status bar in the lower right-hand corner, and they're not. Wait, yeah they are, I was looking at the wrong right-hand."
You're an idiot, get back to work. Okay, so the next step is to build a new part. I just click here and here and....
*New complicated thing pops up on the screen.*
Ahhh!!! I'll never understand this! I'm such a failure..... The only option is to just keep going with the tutorial and maybe you'll be able to figure it out later. Ah, now I'm starting to get it. Oh, this is easy! Why was I so worried before? Wait. Why is that button greyed out? I need that button!! Do I have to select something? De-select something? Little button, please talk to me!! Hmm. Maybe there was an early part of this section of the tutorial I breezed over but I should have actually read. Let me scroll up.... yeah. I did something wrong. I have no clue how to fix it. Maybe I should close out of this, open a new document and try again. Hey, that worked! I have no clue why, but that's okay, I don't have a lot of experience with this program yet....
Okay, I think you're ready. Let's try making the circuit diagram you wanted to make from the start.
Starting from Scratch
Doo doo dooot... open new file...WOW THAT'S A LOT OF BLANK SPACE!! DON'T WORRY BLANK SPACE, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING NOW! YOU'LL HAVE FRIENDS SOON!!
Crap. I have no clue what I'm doing.
*Opens tutorial file again*
Oh yeah! That makes sense, I'll start there. Oh, this is easy, look at me go!! I'm filling up blank space like a bandit! Circuit designers, I'm going to put you out of business with my new skilz at design work. Wait. No. I don't want that there. What did I do wrong on that part? It doesn't look right. This is not at all what I wanted. Crap. I can't figure out what's wrong.
WHY DO YOU HATE ME, COMPUTER?!!
Oh, I think that's the problem. Is it? Did that fix it?
KHAAAANNNN!!!!!
Oh, wait, I think it did fix it. Ha ha, I'm so awesome at this! This is too much fun. I understand why people get addicted to video games. Speaking of which, what time is it?
OH MY GOSH, WHEN DID IT GET SO LATE?!
I should probably eat something, goodness. Hmmm.... it's going to take too much time to cook something and I'd rather be playing with my new toy. Dominos.com here I come!!
Mmmm.... pizza.
NO NO NO!! I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO DO THAT!! CTRL-Z, CTRL-Z!! WHY ISN'T CTRL-Z WORKING?!!
Oh. Whoops. That was stupid. Hmm, maybe I should go to bed.....
Wait, that suddenly makes sense!! I'll just fix that, it won't take long.
*Half an hour later*
I really should go to bed. Just another couple minutes and I'll have that part over there done and figured out....
*45 minutes later*
KHAAAAANNNNN!!!
*An hour later*
No, I can do this, I won't let this thing beat me that easily.... It'll only be a few more minutes and then I'll go to bed.
*2 hrs later*
For real... I really need to go to bed. But I'm so CLOSE now....
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