Applications Software
Applications Software
• Applications software is designed to
perform specific tasks.
• There are three main types of
application software:
• Applications packages
• Tailor-made software
• General purpose packages
Applications Packages
• Examples of applications packages
include:
• Word processing software – MS
Word, WordPerfect
• Spreadsheet software – MS Excel,
Lotus 1-2-3
• Database software – MS Access
Integrated Software
• A common type of applications
software found on home personal
computers is integrated software.
• This is a software package that
includes a collection of application
software that shares a common set
of commands.
Integrated Software
• A typical integrated software
package will include:
• A word processor program
• A spreadsheet program
• A database program
• A graphics manipulation program
• Integrated software packages have
advantages and disadvantages.
Integrated Software
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
• Easier to use
• Tend to have weak
areas (e.g. better at
• Moving data
word processing than
between programs
spreadsheets)
within the package
is easy
• Data is not easily
moved to programs
• Cheaper than
that are not part of the
separate programs
package
• Cheap is not always
best!
Tailor-made Software (Bespoke)
• Tailor-made software is very expensive
because it is designed for a specific
purpose.
• It is software that is not available ‘off the
shelf’ and is usually written or
developed for large organisations (e.g.
government, banks, insurance
companies, manufacturers).
General Purpose Software
• General purpose software is not specific
to a particular user (e.g. MS Word), and
may be capable of development into
tailor-made software (e.g. MS Access).
• It is very popular because it is usually
relatively cheap, well tested, and has
wide support (e.g. easy to use manuals
and tutorials).
General Purpose Software
• General purpose software is also known
as ‘content free software’.
Generic Software
• e.g. word processing, spreadsheet and
database.
• This simply implies that any of the dozens of
spreadsheet packages, for example, can be
made to do many different tasks, and is not
designed specifically for one type of
application
Word processor
Program or set of programs used to enter, edit, format, store
and print documents. A document may be anything from a
simple memo to a complete book.
Word processors have several important features:
• Spelling and grammar checker
• Each word in a document can be checked against words held
in the package’s dictionary.
• Automatic creation of index and table of contents
• Any word in the text can be marked for inclusion in an index,
which can be updated at any time.
• Import files
• Tables, photographs, graphics and even video and sound files
can be imported from other sources and inserted in a
document.
Word processor (cont.)
• Mail Merge
• A document and a list of names and addresses can
be merged to produce personalised letters.
• Creation of templates
• with preset text styles, margins, formatting,
letterheading, etc.
• WYSIWYG capability
• ‘What You See Is What You Get’
Spreadsheet features
• Format cells, rows and columns
• specifying for example, the alignment of text, number
of decimal points, height and width of cell;
• Copy cell contents to other locations
• with automatic adjustment of formulae;
• Determine effect of changes of data
• this facility is termed ‘what-if’ calculation;
• Insert, move or delete rows and columns
• Use functions
• such as SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN in formulae;
Spreadsheet features (cont.)
• Create a simple database
• and sort or query the data to produce report of, say,
all females earning over £20,000;
• Write macros
• to automate common procedures;
• Create templates
• spreadsheets with formats and formulae already
entered, into which new figures may be inserted;
• Create ‘multi-dimensional’ spreadsheets
• using several sheets, copy data between sheets;
• Create many different types of charts and graphs
Presentation Graphics
• e.g. PowerPoint. Useful for putting together a
presentation which can be delivered using a
computer attached to a projection device.
• slides with text, graphics and pictures
• animation or sound effects
• ‘transition’ effects between slides
Web Browser
• Shows a web page for which you have either entered the
URL or clicked on a ‘hot’ link;
• Browses back and forward;
• ‘Bookmarks’ pages for quick reference;
• Keeps a ‘History’ list of pages visited;
• Saves pages for viewing off-line;
• Shows animation sequences in Java script;
• Plays back sound, video clips and multimedia;
• Downloads files to a local hard disk;
• Submits on-line forms by e-mail;
• Allows access to some personal e-mail.