Chapter 3 Software Interfaces

USER INTERFACES The combination of menu options, icons, and commands you use when working with a computer program is called the user interface.

COMMON USER INTERFACES Command-driven Interfaces Shell Interfaces Graphical Interfaces Natural Languages Interfaces

COMMAND DRIVEN INTERFACES A screen prompt is used by most command-driven interfaces to indicate when the system is ready to accept a new command A blinking curser highlights where the computer is going to display what the user is typing. Specific key combinations entered through the keyboard allow the user to control the cursor location on-screen.

SHELLS A software shell helps avoid memorizing different command syntaxes. A shell interfaces application programs with DOS. Menus are often used in application software as well. Examples: Haunted House , Linux, Unix

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES A mouse is used to control the location of a screen pointer within a (GUI) User execute or launch programs by double clicking on the associated icon. Using system software with (GUI) also involves dragging & dropping icons into new screen locations.

NATURAL LANGUAGE INTERFACES These interfaces recognize the syntax of a language such as English for increased user-friendliness.

EVALUATING SOFTWARE FEATURES When evaluating different application packages, you should ask yourself these questions. Are the program & associated procedures easy to use On which computers does the software work Does the software come with help features, manuals, & other easy to use docs Is there a helpline No. Can this software access data stored by other programs & vice versa How flexible is the program & can it be used for more than one application Does the software require special input or output hardware How much memory does the program require How much disk storage space is required to save it

SYSTEM SOFTWARE Operating Systems Utilities Language Translators Three types of system software can be identified Operating Systems Utilities Language Translators

OPERATING SYSTEMS OS is collection of programs that oversees all computer operations Once the supervisor program is loaded into memory. It activates other programs from the OS to oversee Resources Management, File Management & Task Management. Windows (XP, Vista, 7 ) Linux (Redhat, 7, 8,9,10) Unix Sun Solaris Free BSD Macintosh

UTILITIES Utility software performs jobs the OS does not automatically handle. Backup & Restore Data communication within a network Data compression/decompression Disk Optimization Emulation of other equipment File Conversions Screen Savers Software Guides Spool data b/w computer & peripherals Text Editors Miscellaneous (mergers, sorts, searches)

LANGUAGE TRANSLATROS A computer program indicates which switches inside the computer are on & off, which circuits flow with electricity, & which do not. Popular high-level languages are BASIC, COBOL, C++, and Visual BAISC

Exercise How do you display the root directory of the floppy disk in drive A? How do you make a file folder called projects on the default disk’s root directory? How do you copy the document file named homework from the default disk to the projects subdirectory (folder) on disk A? How do you change the homework filename in Projects to old work? How do you delete the file old work from disk?