Chapter 10 Writing and Printing Documents

2Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Getting Started In this Chapter, you will learn: − How word processing software can improve your writing and help with formatting documents − How word processing software provides standard document styles − About desktop publishing software − About DTP software − About Hardware: Printers

3Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Can word processing software improve my writing? Word processing software provides tools for: – Entering and revising text – Adding graphical elements – Specifying formats – Printing documents Use your word processing software to: – Organize your ideas – Clarify your wording

4Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Can word processing software improve my writing? When you type the “raw” text you do not need to press the Enter key except at the end of – titles – paragraphs – bullet points Software will word wrap to the next line if you do not press the Enter key Tools to improve wording and sentence structure: – Grammar checker to check for grammar errors – Thesaurus to find dynamic synonyms – Spelling checker to check for spelling errors

5Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Can word processing software improve my writing? Thesaurus, Grammar and Spelling Checker

6Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 How does word processing software help me format a document? You can format one or more characters in a document to change – Text colors – Font: The design or typeface for each text character – Font size: Measured in points with 10 pt. being typical size To apply formats, such as bold or italics, use the mouse to select the text, then use the toolbar button, ribbon tool, or menu option to indicate the format you want Paragraph format options include margin settings, line spacing, bulleted lists, and alignment Style is a set of character and paragraph attributes that you define and name

7Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 How does word processing software provide standard document styles? Word processing software offers page format options: – Header text for the top of the page – Footer text for the bottom of the page – Portrait or landscape orientation You can change the “look” of a document by using a style sheet or template: – Style sheet or theme is a collection of format settings that you can apply – Template is a set of formats saved for later use You can access predesigned templates that help guide you on the proper style of documents

8Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 How does word processing software provide standard document styles? Standard Document Styles

9Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 What’s desktop publishing software? Desktop publishing software (DTP) provides tools to design and print typeset-quality documents using your PC – Used to collect and incorporate elements into the publication – Offers great flexibility and precision with the positioning of graphics and text – Frames are rectangular areas of the page that are then filled with text or graphics – You can move, resize, and overlap frames The appearance of the printed document is affected by the quality of your printer

10Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Do I need DTP software? You might consider DTP if you frequently produce graphics-intensive brochures, magazines, newsletters or books Word Processing software can create most of your documents After you work with both types of software you can judge which one is appropriate – Word processing has evolved and has many features – For more complex layouts and formatting, you can import the content into your DTP

11Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Hardware: Printers A printer is a device that converts computer output onto paper or other media − Resolution determines the quality or sharpness of an image based on the density of the dots that form the image − Printer resolution is measured in dots per linear inch (dpi)

12Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Hardware: Printers Dot matrix printers −Introduced in late 1970’s and still in use −Prints using a matrix of fine wires −Can print 6 pages per minute −Low quality printing Ink jet printer −Nozzle-like print head that sprays ink −Most use CMYK color, which is cyan, magenta, yellow and black −Can print 12 pages per minute −Excellent resolution

13Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Hardware: Printers Ink Jet Printer Laser Printer

14Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Hardware: Printers Laser printers −Use same technology as photocopier to paint dots of light on a light-sensitive drum −Output can range from pages per minute −Duty cycle is specified in pages per month and indicates how much output you can expect before the printer breaks down −High quality printing −Accepts commands from a PC using the Printer Control Language or PostScript language

15Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 What’s the truth got to do with it? What do you think? – In your opinion, can people typically recognize false information in print, on the Web, or on TV? – Have you believed information from a reliable source that you later discovered was false? – Do you think that governments should penalize people who knowingly disseminate false information?

16Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 10 Chapter Summary You should now: − Know how word processing software can improve your writing and help with formatting documents − Know word processing software provides standard document styles − Understand desktop publishing software and whether or not you need DTP software − Understand printers and printer technology