Understanding Computers Ch.6 Chapter 6 Application Software.

Understanding Computers Ch.6

Chapter 6

Application Software


Overview

This chapter covers:

Basic characteristics and concepts of application software in general

A look at a variety of types of application software, including: Word processing Spreadsheet Database Presentation graphics Additional applications


The Basics of Application Software

Types of office application software

Word processing software Spreadsheet software Database software Presentation graphics software Resource Planning software


Ownership Rights and Delivery Methods

Rights of software use determined by (1) the type of software and the (2) the software license terms.


Ownership Rights and Delivery Methods Common types of software:

Commercial software—developed and sold for a profit.

Shareware—available free of charge for trial purposes; can usually be copied and given away to others for them to try.

Freeware—can be used, copied, and shared with others without charge.

Public domain software—non-copyrighted software that can be used without restriction.


Installed Software vs. Web-based Software

Installed software—installed on the PC before it can be run (most software today).

Can be bought in physical form or downloaded via the Internet.

Web-based software—can ONLY be accessed through the Internet, such as through an application service provider (ASP).


Software Suites

Related software programs are often sold bundled together in software suites.

Common office-oriented suites are Microsoft Office, Corel WordPerfect Office, Lotus SmartSuite, and Sun StarOffice, OpenOffice.Org.

Advantages include overall lower cost (versus buying the programs separately) and a common interface and set of commands.


common interface and set of commands.

Symbol Name Shortcut Keys

Office Button

New Ctrl + N

Open Ctrl + O

Save Ctrl + S

Save as

Print Ctrl + P

Print preview

Send

Close File Ctrl + W

Undo Ctrl + Z

Redo Ctrl + Y

Cut Ctrl + X

Copy Ctrl + C

Copy Formatting

Paste Ctrl + V


Ribbon

New feature in some but not all Office 2007programs. Consists of tabs, e.g. Home, Insert, etc.

Tabs contains a set of Toolbar buttons organized into groups, as well as Galleries.

Groups of related commands include Clipboard group, Slides group, Font group, Paragraph group etc. in Microsoft PowerPoint.

The Quick Access Toolbar includes several Tools, i.e. command button customizable by adding or removing needed tools.


Ribbon


Ribbon: Excel

Ribbon: PowerPoint

Ribbon: Word


Examples of Groups in Office 2007 Word


Compatibility Mode Default File extesions in Office 2007 are: *.docx for Word 2007, *.xlsx for Excel 2007 and

*.pptx for PowerPoint 2007. Files created by earlier office 97-2003 versions of

office suites can be opened in office 2007 in [compatibility Mode], which appears in the title bar.

In [compatibility Mode] some new office 2007 features are not available.

It is possible to Convert to 2007 file format : Click on the Office Button → Select Convert.


Getting Help Application-based help—within a program, such as

Windows, Word, or TurboTax.

Table of contents feature Index feature Search feature

Web-based help—via software manufacturer Web sites, online tutorials, and discussion groups.

Offline help—books, periodicals, videos, etc.


Word Processing Concepts Word processing—using a computer and word

processing software to create, manipulate, and print text materials such as letters, legal contracts, manuscripts, and other documents. Microsoft Word Corel WordPerfect Lotus WordPro

Advantages include being able to save and retrieve the document, as well as include graphics, formatted text, hyperlinks, videos, and other features.


Formatting a Document

Character formatting (font face, font size, and font style).

Paragraph formatting (line spacing, left and right margins, tabs, alignment, and styles).

Page and document formatting (paper size, orientation, headers, footers, top and bottom margins, etc.).


Graphics, Tables, and Templates

Most word processors allow insertion of graphics, (e.g. clip art, photographs, and drawn objects) into documents.

Tables can be used to neatly organize data.

Templates and wizards can help users quickly create standard documents.


Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)

Objects created in one program (e.g. Excel) can be inserted into documents in other programs(e.g. Word).

Embedding—object is just copied and pasted to the second document.

Linking—object is linked to the original copy, so any changes to the original object are displayed in the second document.


Word Processing and the Web

Most recent word processors include features to:

Save documents as Web pages.

Open and edit existing Web pages.

Include hyperlinks in documents.

Compose and send e-mail messages.


Spreadsheet Concepts

Spreadsheet—a document containing values and other data organized into rows and columns; created with spreadsheet software.

Microsoft Excel Corel Quattro Pro Lotus 1-2-3

Worksheet = a single spreadsheet.

Workbook = a group of worksheets saved in a single file.


Creating and Editing a Worksheet Data is entered into cells (where rows and columns meet).

Cells are identified by their cell address, such as A1 or E5.

Cells can contain: Labels Constant values

Relative vs. absolute cell referencing. Relative—cell addresses are adjusted as the formula is

copied. Absolute—cell addresses are not adjusted as the formula

is copied.

Formulas Functions


Formatting a Worksheet

Cell formatting (font face, font size, font style, alignment, and numeric format).

Row or column formatting (row height, column width).

Worksheet formatting (paper size, orientation, headers, footers, margins, etc.).


Charts and What-If Analysis

A charting or graphing feature allows charts to be quickly created from spreadsheet data.

What-if analysis allows you to change certain numbers on a spreadsheet and look at the results of that change.


Spreadsheets and the Web

Many spreadsheet programs include some Web capabilities, such as being able to save a worksheet as a Web page and include hyperlinks in worksheet cells.

More commonly, blocks of cells on a spreadsheet are copied into Web pages.


Other Types of Application Software

Desktop presentation graphics software. e.g. This slides created by PowerPoint

Desktop and personal publishing software Accounting and personal finance software Educational, entertainment, and reference software Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and other types of

design software Project management software

Understanding Computers Ch.6 Chapter 6 Application Software.

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