You probably are not using it to its full potential - at least initially. Don't be put out. It takes time to fine tune all the options to your workflow - the more so the more fine tuning you aim for. Opus is a very powerful program, it can take some time to get to know the tasks that you want it to do, yet it is very usable from the initial installation for basic tasks.
The best single suggestion I would offer is to notice when you do anyting repeatedly - that's a candidate for fine tuning or automation. Automation is the combination of setting preferences, and creating buttons on toolbar(s) and context menu(s). Once you know you want to automate something, you can look at FAQs and search the forum for solutions. That said, my suggestions are just that, mine, a way not the way; they match my thinking and your workflow.
The opposite way to learn is to look at examples of buttons to see if it automates something you could use. To that end, look at my toolbars that organize Opus features functionally. Move through all the toolbars and buttons to see if you could use someting to automate something you do. See Source Menu for Directory Opus 13 - #3 by jinsight
There are some common things most people should do, regardless of any particular workflow:
- Put more frequent actions at always visible button and tabs. Put less frequent at two or at mouse three levels down.
- Use context menus for tasks more specific to your workflow.
- Develope a standard naming convention for folders and files.
- Most folks go to a handfill of drives, folders and files. My technic is putting all of these in the location bars of dual file displays in a standard lister. Hit a button on the left file display and that file display opens. Hit a button on the right file display and that file display opens. Others use multiple dedicated listers designed for specific purposes. e.g., three listers, one for New Clients/Projects, one for Active Clients/Projects and one for Archived Client/Projects. Working with graphics files or music files are other specialties.
- For less frequently accessed actions, you can use tabs and tab groups. See Tabs in my Source Menu.
- Make very accessible copy, move, delete files and folders See Copy, Paste, Move and Delete in my Source Menu.
Best of luck