Using Information Technology Chapter 3 Application Software

Application Software: Tools for Thinking & Working More Productively 3.1Application Software: Getting Started 3.2Common Features of Software 3.3Word Processing 3.4Spreadsheets 3.5Database Software 3.6Specialty Software

3.1 Application Software: Getting Started Commercial software - copyrighted and must be paid for Public-domain software - not copyrighted Shareware - copyrighted and free but you should pay for continued useShareware Freeware - copyrighted and free Rentalware - copyrighted and leased

Tutorials & Documentation Tutorial - an instruction book or program that helps you learn to use the product by taking you through a prescribed series of stepsTutorial Documentation - a user guide or reference manual that provides a narrative and graphical description of a program

Files of Data--& the Usefulness of Importing & Exporting Three well-known types of data files: –Document files –Worksheet files –Database files Exchanging files between programs: –Importing –Exporting

Types of Software Productivity software - software whose purpose is to make users more productive at particular tasks Examples: –Word processing –Spreadsheets –Database managers

3.2 Common Features of Software User interface - the user-controllable display screen that allows you to communicate, or interact, with the computer Graphical user interface (GUI) - allows you to use a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus Pointer - on-screen object that responds to mouse movements; it changes shape depending on the application

Desktop, Icons & Menus Desktop - the system’s main interface screen, which displays pictures that provide quick access to programs and information

Desktop, Icons & Menus

Pull-down menu - a list of options that pulls down from the top of the screen Menu - a list of options to choose from--a list of commands for manipulating data

Desktop, Icons & Menus Fly-out menus - menus that seem to explode out to the right

Desktop, Icons & Menus Pull-up menu - a list of options that pulls up from the bottom of the screen

Documents, Toolbars, & Windows Toolbar - a bar across the top of the display window, which displays menus and icons representing frequently used options

The Help Command Help command - a command generating a table of contents, an index, and a search feature that can help you locate answers

3.3 Word Processing Features of the Keyboard Special-purpose keys - used to enter, delete, and edit data, and to execute commands End Ctrl Alt Del Ins Home

Features of the Keyboard Function keys - keys labeled F1, F2, etc., positioned along the top or left side of the keyboard, which are used to execute commands specific to the software being used

Creating Documents Cursor - the movable symbol on the display screen that shows you where you may next enter data or commands

Creating Documents Scrolling - moving quickly upward, downward, or sideways through the text or other screen display

Editing Documents Insert and delete Find and replace Cut/Copy and paste Spelling checker Grammar checker Thesaurus

Formatting Documents with the Help of Templates & Wizards Formatting - determining the appearance of a document Template - a preformatted document that provides basic tools for shaping a final document Wizard - answers your questions and uses the answers to lay out and format a document

Formatting Documents Font - typeface and type size 10 point Times New Roman 14 point Arial Black 16 point Courier 32 point Arial

Formatting Documents Spacing and columns: –Single-spaced –Double-spaced –One-column –Two columns –Many columns Margins and justification: –Left margin –Right margin –Top margin –Bottom margin –Justification –Left-justification

Formatting Documents Pages, headers, footers: –Page numbers –Headers –Footers Other formatting: –Borders –Shading –Tables –Footnotes –Graphics –Clip art

3.4 Spreadsheets The Basics: How Spreadsheets Work How a spreadsheet is organized: –Lettered column headings across the top –Numbered row headings down the left side –Labels - descriptive text

The Basics: How Spreadsheets Work Where columns and rows meet: –Cell - the place where a row and a column intersect –Cell address - position of a cell, such as A2 –Value - a number or date entered in a cell

The Basics: How Spreadsheets Work Why the spreadsheet has become so popular: –Formulas - instructions for calculations –Functions - built-in formulas –Recalculation - process of recomputing values –What-if analysis

The Basics: How Spreadsheets Work Analytical graphics - graphical forms that make numeric data easy to analyze

3.5 Database Software Database - a collection of interrelated files Database software - a program that sets up and controls the structure of a database and access to the data Benefits of Database Software: Reduced redundancy Increased integrity

The Basics: How Databases Work How a relational database is organized: –Tables of rows and columns –Row (record) - example: a person’s address –Column (field) - example: the person’s last name

The Basics: How Databases Work How various records can be linked: –Key field - a field that can be used as a common identifier because it is unique Finding what you want: –Querying - locating and displaying records

Personal Information Managers Personal information manager (PIM) - software to help you keep track of and manage information you use on a dailyPIM basis, such as addresses, telephone numbers, appointments, to-do lists, and miscellaneous notes

3.6 Specialty Software Presentation graphics software - uses graphics, animation, sound, and data or information to PowerPoint outline view make visual presentations

Financial Software Financial software - a growing category that ranges from personal-finance managers to entry-level accounting programs to business Quicken software financial- management packages

Desktop Publishing Desktop publishing (DTP) - mixing text and graphics to produce high-quality output for commercial printing, using a microcomputer and mouse, scanner, laser or ink-jet printer, and DTP software

Drawing & Painting Programs Drawing program - graphics software that allows users to design and illustrate objects and products Painting program - graphics program that allows users to simulate painting on screen Vector image Raster image

Other Specialty Software Web page design/authoring software Video/audio editing software Project management software Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software