Ravi Block Application Software Module 1.8

Applications software Applications software is designed to perform specific tasks. There are three main types of application software: –Applications packages –Tailor-made software –General purpose packages

Applications packages Examples of applications packages include: –Word processing software – MS Word, WordPerfect –Spreadsheet software – MS Excel, Lotus –Database software – MS Access

Word processing applications –Microsoft Word –Lotus Word Pro –WordPerfect Spreadsheets –Microsoft Excel –Lotus 123 Database –Microsoft Access –Lotus Approach Applications software

Integrated software An integrated package consists of several parts, each of which is an application package. Further, the integrated package is designed so that users can easily move data between the different parts of the integrated package This is a software package that includes a collection of application software that shares a common set of commands.

Integrated software Advantages: Easier to use Moving data between programs within the package is easy Cheaper than separate programs Disadvantages: Tend to have weak areas (e.g. better at word processing than spreadsheets) Data is not easily moved to programs that are not part of the package Cheap is not always best!

General purpose software General purpose software is not specific to a particular user (e.g. MS Word), and may be capable of development into tailor-made software (e.g. MS Access). It is very popular because it is usually relatively cheap, well tested, and has wide support (e.g. easy to use manuals and tutorials).

Custom Written and Off-the-Shelf Software. There are many pieces of software that have already been written and are immediately available to buy. This type of software is called ‘off-the-shelf’ software because you can literally go into a computer shop and pick a copy off the shelf. The main advantages are: 1) The software has already been written and so is immediately available rather than having to wait, sometimes a considerable time, for it to be written. 2) The software will be used by many people or organizations, therefore they share the development costs rather than one having to foot the whole bill. This implies that the software will be considerably cheaper.

Custom written or Tailor-made software Custom written software is very expensive because it is designed for a specific purpose. It is software that is not available ‘off the shelf’ and is usually written or developed for large organisations (e.g. government, banks, insurance companies, manufacturers).

Stock control. Order processing. Payroll. Process control. Point of Sale systems. Computer Aided Design (CAD). Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM). Features of Common Applications Software.

Stock control As the name implies, stock control systems are used to keep track of the stock being held by an organization. There are typically three areas that need to be handled by a stock control program. 1)First is to keep details of the individual items that the organization holds in its stock. 2) The second is to store information related to the product though not directly about the product itself. Examples would be storing details of the supplier, or where the goods are being stored in the shop/warehouse 3)The third is to do with the use of the goods.

Order processing Many stock control systems are charged with the need to record the number or amount of the goods that are in stock. If the quantity in stock falls below a pre- determined limit then the system should automatically institute a reordering process

Payroll. The payroll is a perfect example of a batch process. All the records need to be processed during the same run because all the workers need to be paid. Each record undergoes the same type of processing, working out the number of hours worked, multiplying by the hourly rate and then doing the tax calculations. The process requires no human intervention during the processing.

Process control. As the name implies, this is the use of a computer to automatically control a process. The computer receives information about the process from sensors which allow it to make decisions.

Point of Sale systems. A computer used at a point of sale needs to carry out three actions. The first is to identify the goods being bought, the second is to carry out whatever processing is required and to produce a satisfactory output, and finally to arrange for payment. The identification of the goods can be done in a number of ways, but the standard method is to read a code from a barcode.

Computer Aided Design (CAD). This is simply the use of a computer system to design a commodity. It may be a house, or a carburetor to fit a particular engine, or it may be a new traffic flow system around a town.

Computer Aided Manufacturing CAM is the use of a computer to help with the manufacturing process. CAM is a term used not only to link the design process with the manufacturing process. It also encompasses the management of the supply of components needed to manufacture the products and the factory planning process, to ensure that production and output are maximized.

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