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Computer Terminology: Software and File Formats

Computer Terminology: Software and File Formats. Understanding the lingo. Computer Software. These are instructions that enable a computer to perform its functions In the workplace, common computer software includes: word processing packages, databases, spreadsheets, and

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Computer Terminology: Software and File Formats

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  1. Computer Terminology: Software and File Formats Understanding the lingo

  2. Computer Software • These are instructions that enable a computer to perform its functions • In the workplace, common computer software includes: • word processing packages, • databases, • spreadsheets, and • graphical packages.

  3. Two main types of computer software •  System Software – makes the computer run •  Operating Systems • WIN XP, WIN Vista, MS-DOS, • Linux, Mac OS-X (Apple) • Device Drivers - Printer driver, mouse driver, etc. • Application Software – make the task possible • Word processing, spreadsheets, presentations • Software suites(collections of task-base software) - MS Office, Corel, Open Office • Internet Browsers (make using the internet possible) - Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera

  4. Files are the storage blocks in which data is stored on a computer. When a document is saved, it becomes a file. What is a Computer File?

  5. Using Windows Explorer, you can see the files (and the folders holding those files) on your computer Files can be grouped into folders

  6. Examples: .docx = MS Word document (2007) .xls = MS Excel Spreadsheet .pdf = Adobe pdf file .ppt = MS PowerPoint File .html = html file .exe = executable file (starts a program in Windows) .jpg = graphics format .gif = graphic format .mp3 = MP3 sound file They’re called “extensions.” They identify the kind of file you’ve got. For example, the extension “jpg” is used for a type of image files. What are those file name endings?

  7. Online File Conversion Sometimes it’s helpful to change one kind of file into another kind. For example, your resume may be in Word format (doc) but your potential employer wants (pdf) files. You might be able to do that on your own; Word, for example, allows a (doc) file to be saved as a (pdf) file. Alternatively, websites, such as Zamzar.com, can do file conversions online.

  8. You can use these to save family photos and listen to music. As with all of these file formats, your librarian can help you use them. Special file formats exist for sound and images

  9. PDF = Portable Document Format • Looks like original documents • Searchable • Security features • DOC = document format • Used when writing a basic text document like a resume or letter • Searchable Specific file formats exist for different kinds of documents

  10. ZIP Files • These are used for large files – like hundreds of images It compresses the files to make moving them much quicker – nothing is lost, it’s just compressed • Decompression software required to get the files open again – some of that software is free

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