Basic tasks of generic software Chapter 3

Contents This presentation covers the following: – The basic tasks of standard/generic software including: Word Processors Desktop Publishing Spreadsheet Database Web Authoring Presentation

Word Processing Probably the most common used application Allows the creating of publications such as: – Letters – Reports – Memos The definition of a word processor could be: – An application which allows you to create, edit, store and print documents.

Word Processing These have revolutionised the way organisations and people work with computers. In the old days, computers were used for number crunching. People still used to write letters using pen and paper and good old fashioned type writers! If a mistake was made you’d probably have to start again...especially if it was an important legal document! Now, word processors have changed all that...with easy editing tools and the ability to print multiple copies at the push of a button!

WYSIWYG What You See Is What You Get Pronounced “Wizzy-Wig” Users can see what their final version will look like before printing it off!

Finding out more... Look at the website. Search for Word Processing... See what information it provides. For the lazy ones...click here.here – Be warned...direct links may not always work if the website decides to move things around!

Desktop Publishing Often referred to as “DTP applications”. Allows the user to combine text and images to produce a publication. Word processors focus on the creation of text-based applications. DTP focuses on allowing the users to manipulate the position of text and images to create a composite publication.

Desktop Publishing They are designed to allow the user to create high quality publications such as: – Flyers – Brochures – Posters – Business Cards Although some of the tools are similar, there are other tools available which help produce a DTP product more easily... – Can you work out what they might be?

Finding out more... Look at the website. Search for Desktop Publishing... See what information it provides. For the lazy ones...click here.here – Be warned...direct links may not always work if the website decides to move things around!

Spreadsheet Allow users to create mathematical and financial models. Users can create complex formulas which can update automatically when the contents of a related cell changes. This means that users only have to spend time working out the formulas and not the calculations. Spreadsheets also provide the user with tools which allow them to present data in different ways (i.e. Graphs).

Spreadsheets They are brilliant at answering “What If” questions. Many models are created to answer these type of questions. Other functions include: – Goal Seek – Forecasting – Number manipulation

Finding out more... Look at the website. Search for Spreadsheet... See what information it provides. For the lazy ones...click here.here – Be warned...direct links may not always work if the website decides to move things around!

Database Databases are the backbone of many organisations. They allow data to be saved and sorted in many different ways. Some databases uses more than one table which are related to one another. – The benefit of these will be discussed in later sub-units (Relational Database Concepts). A database can be linked to other applications (usually word processors) to create mail merged documents.

Finding out more... Look at the website. Search for Database... See what information it provides. For the lazy ones...click here.here – Be warned...direct links may not always work if the website decides to move things around!

Web Authoring These applications allow users to create and edit web pages. Other generic applications, such as word processors, also allow web pages to be created. However, some functions and features of web authoring software do not feature in other generic applications. – For example, viewing the code behind the WYSIWYG interface.

Web Authoring Some additional training may be required to use this type of software. Basic knowledge of how web pages are created is useful to understand how to tidy up code that web authoring software creates. – This would help make web pages more efficient.

Web Authoring This type of application often allows users to edit images in terms of its size and shape. They allow the user to easily position images and text in much the same was a DTP package does. What is noticeable about web authoring software is that they often allow users to manage files by creating ‘virtual sites’. – If a user moves a file or renames it then the software will automatically update any hyperlink which points to that specific page.

Web Authoring Some applications not only let you create simple HTML web pages. Some of them allow dynamic pages to be created such as PHP, ASP and Perl files. They also allow forms to be created without the user needing to understand how they are coded.

Finding out more... Look at the website. Search for Web Authoring... See what information it provides. For the lazy ones...click here.here – Be warned...direct links may not always work if the website decides to move things around!

Presentation Presentational software has been very popular – some believe too popular…(Death by PowerPoint is a phrase many now use). – yes I know this is a PowerPoint Presentation… They allow users to create presentations which can be printed on acetate or projected onto a screen. They have the ability to run through slides either manually or automatically. They should be designed to provide additional or summarised information which helps the speaker present their information.

Finding out more... Look at the website. Search for Presentation Program... See what information it provides. For the lazy ones...click here.here – Be warned...direct links may not always work if the website decides to move things around!

Take Note: What is the difference between a text editor and a word processor? For what reason would you use a DTP application? Provide a definition for all the applications mentioned in this presentation. Describe why you would use a web authoring application to create a website rather than a word processor. Using the text book (page 69): – Create a table which looks at the advantages and disadvantages of using web authoring software rather than using generic applications to create a website.