Customer Reviews

The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a heavy user of the Chicago Manual of Style (I own multiple copies of the 15th edition in cloth), I've been eagerly awaiting this long-delayed CD-ROM version ever since it was first announced two or more years ago. When I saw that it was finally available, I quickly ordered a copy and loaded it onto my hard drive. Alas, the University of Chicago Press has botched a wonderful opportunity. The software implementation permits users to read only a single numbered paragraph of the book at a time: those who know the print edition will readily understand that having to click one's mouse repeatedly to move from paragraph 17:148 to 17:149 to 17:150, each occupying just a few lines on separate screens, is an unbelievably cumbersome way to use this essential reference tool (to say nothing of being an invitation to carpal tunnel syndrome!). The Press has essentially made it impossible to browse the book, or to read it continuously, probably because the designers were concerned not to undermine sales of the print version. By working so hard not to compete with their own book sales, though, they've virtually guaranteed that almost no one will want to purchase this extremely hobbled digital version, at least not once users have tried it for themselves or heard from colleagues how awful the implementation is. If you've been awaiting this CD-ROM version as long as I have, I'm afraid you'll be as unhappy as I am that we'll have to wait still longer for a usable digital version of one of the most important reference works in all of American publishing. I would strongly advise AGAINST purchasing this product until the Press does a better job of implementing the software so that users can read chapters continuously.

The previous reviewer's complaint about only being able to view one numbered topic at a time is a legitimate inconvenience. It's easy enough to click once to move to the next numbered topic, but it would be nicer to be able to view a screenful at a time. I also find the on-screen print to be much too small. You can change that in the View options, but the setting isn't sticky. It has to be reset every time you load the program. Dang!

But at least I can search-- and that's the main reason that I bought the CD. The printed CMS is a fantastic reference. Its table of contents and index are both well done. Still, there are times when I can't think of the correct index topic to find the answer to a question. With the CD version, I can search on a keyword or phrase and find the answer anyway. If, for example, you wanted to know if NBC should have periods after each letter, you wouldn't need to know to look under "broadcasting companies" or "call letters" in the index. Just type "NBC" and the answer is easy to find.

I have both a bound edition and CD-ROM and find plenty of use for both. I'd give the CD five stars for content, but only three for implementation. That averages to 4 stars.

I own the book, but as a freelance editor, I wanted something I could take on the road with me when I travel. I did the trial of the online membership, and it is nice, but not when you're sitting somewhere without internet access. The CD-ROM seemed like the perfect solution.

Unfortunately the implementation leaves much to be desired. When I first installed the software, it worked fine, but the next time I loaded it, the pane with the table of contents and search results had disappeared and I couldn't get it back. I tried reinstalling and it still didn't work, rendering the program essentially useless. I e-mailed CMS customer support and they never wrote back. Eventually about a month later I happened to check their site again and found that they had posted a CD-ROM update file (which wasn't originally up there when I first had the problem). Installing this update did fix the problem, but it would have been nice if they had responded to my e-mail.

Now the CD-ROM does basically fit my needs--I do like having that heavy reference volume in a portable format on my computer. However, the one thing that is really annoying is the searching capability. In the software, if you search for multiple words, it searches for that exact phrase in that order--it does not do an "and" search on the separate words. It gives you an option to do an advanced search on a word, which lets you do an "and," "or," or "not" search, but limits you to just two keywords--the one keyword and the modifier keyword. If you try to search by more than one word in either the search term or modifier box, it pops up an error message that says "Advanced Search does not accept phrases"! How annoying is that, to only be able to search by two single words.

When I'm online, I actually use CMS's web search interface--I like seeing the Q&A results, and I still find the online search easier to use and more comprehensive because it does a normal "and" web search by as many words as you want to enter. This makes it much easier to find what I am looking for. Then, to read an article, I go look it up by article number in the software!

Despite the annoyances, I would still recommend it to anyone who needs portable, offline access to this reference. Just be aware of the shortcomings.

Like the other 2 reviewers, I agree it would be better to see whole pages of the book at a time (I suppose I'd really rate it 4 1/2 stars). But does that flaw make the product a flop? Heck no! Not only can you do searches, but when you click on an item in the index and read the page you're sent to, you can get right back to the same entry in the index. That sure beats flipping around in the (heavy) printed volume. And if you take your laptop to the coffee shop to do your work, like I do, you'll appreciate having your CMS along without the added weight.

I found the interface very intuitive. Three features that will be quite useful are bookmarking, notes, and highlighting. It's nice to be able to "mark up" my CMS without actually writing in a book.

Is a required book for a class in grad school. Really, really, really wish I would've bought the book instead. Yes, the book is big...but e-version is so difficult and frustrating to use, (and I'm fairly technical,) that I end up going to their website instead. A disappointing waste of money.