Basic tasks of generic software

1. Basic tasks of generic software Chapter 3

2. Contents • This presentation covers the following: • The basic tasks of standard/generic software including: • Word Processors • Desktop Publishing • Spreadsheet • Database • Web Authoring • Presentation

3. 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.

4. 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!

5. 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!

6. 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. • Be warned...direct links may not always work if the website decides to move things around!

7. 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.

8. Desktop Publishing • They are designed to allow the user to create high quality publications such as: • 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?

9. 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!

10. 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).

11. 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

12. 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!

13. 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.

14. 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!

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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!

20. 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.

21. 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!

22. 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.