When I first got the program it sat in the box for 2 weeks while I tried to devour the manual...this only led to confusion when I finally intalled the program. The manual is only effective as referance -- not suited well to learning. Read the forums on various sites, seek out tutorials, ask questions....Play with the basic figures that come with the program b4 getting caught up in the packrat syndrome of downloading everything in sight. Actually, go ahead and d/l to your heart's content...just save all that stuff until you feel comfortable with the basic learning process.