Software

1. Software AS Module 2 11.4 Heathcote Ch. 22

2. Importance of Information • Information technology is fundamental to the success of any business • The information that is collected and/or assembled in any business is as valuable a resource as capital or people • Information may cover: • Market trends • Buying preferences • Customer profiles • It may be processed, summarised, and analysed by computers before being used by managers as the basis for decision-making

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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’

6. 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;

7. 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

8. 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

9. Tips for creating a presentation • Start with a title screen to introduce the presentation • Use a consistent style for each slide • Don’t put more than 4 or 5 points on each slide - people can’t take in too much information at once • Be sure the font size is large enough to be read from all parts of the room

10. 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.