Basic tasks of generic software
Chapter 3
Contents
• This presentation covers the following:
– The basic tasks of standard/generic software
including:
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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 www.webopedia.com website.
• Search for Word Processing...
• See what information it provides.
• For the lazy ones...click here.
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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:
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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 www.webopedia.com website.
• Search for Desktop Publishing...
• See what information it provides.
• For the lazy ones...click 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 www.webopedia.com website.
• Search for Spreadsheet...
• See what information it provides.
• For the lazy ones...click 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 www.webopedia.com website.
• Search for Database...
• See what information it provides.
• For the lazy ones...click 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 www.webopedia.com website.
• Search for Web Authoring...
• See what information it provides.
• For the lazy ones...click 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 www.wikipedia.org website.
• Search for Presentation Program...
• See what information it provides.
• For the lazy ones...click 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.