Chapter 3 Application Software

Chapter 3 Objectives Define application software Understand how system software interacts with application software Identify the role of the user interface Explain how to start a software application Identify various products available as Web applications Describe the learning aids available with many software applications Identify the widely used products and explain key features of productivity/business software applications, graphic design/multimedia software applications, home/personal/educational software applications, and communications software applications p. 3.2 Next

Application Software

Programs that perform specific tasks for users

Also called a software application or an application

Several reasons to use application software

What is application software?

p. 3.2 To facilitate communications To support household activities, for personal business, or for education As a productivity/ business tool To assist with graphics and multimedia projects Next

What are the categories of application software?

p. 3.2 Fig. 3-1 Next

What is a software package?

A specific software product, such as Microsoft Word

Available through retail, shareware, freeware, and public-domain

p. 3.2 Next

What is system software?

Programs that control the operations of the computer and its devices

Serves as the interface between the user, the application software, and the computer's hardware

What is an operating system?

A type of system software

Contains instructions that coordinate all the activities among computer hardware devices

p. 3.2 While the computer is running, the operating system remains in memory until power is removed from the computer The operating system tells the computer how to perform functions Start the computer and the operating system (usually found on the computer’s hard disk drive) is loaded, or copied into memory Next

What is a utility program?

Also called a utility

A type of system software that performs a specific task

Usually related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs

p. 3.3 Next

What is an antivirus program?

A utility that prevents, detects, and removes viruses from a computer’s memory or storage devices

A virus is a program that copies itself into other programs and spreads through multiple computers

Some viruses destroy or corrupt data

Technology Trailblazer

Paul Allen

Co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates

Became head of research and new product development

Serves as a senior strategy adviser to top Microsoft executives

Click to view Web Link then click Paul Allen p. 3.5 Next

What is a user interface?

Controls how you enter data or instructions and how information displays on the screen

A graphical user interface (GUI) combines text, graphics, and other visual images to make software easier to use

p. 3.4 Next

What is the desktop?

On-screen work area that can display graphical elements

Icons

Buttons

Windows

Menus

Links

Dialog boxes

p. 3.4 Fig. 3-4 Pointer Small symbol on the screen To click an object, you move the pointer to the object and then press and release a button on the mouse Icons Small images that display to represent a program, a document, or some other object Buttons Graphical elements that you can activate to cause a specific action to take place Next

A menu contains commands you can select

What is a menu?

A command is an instruction that causes a computer program to perform a specific action

A submenu is a menu that displays when you point to a command on a previous menu

p. 3.5 Fig. 3-5 Accessories submenu Paint program command Start button Programs submenu Start menu command Next

How can you start an application?

Click its program name on a menu or submenu

Instructs the operating system to start the application

Transfers the program from a storage medium into memory

p. 3.6 Click a program command name Next

What are features of an application window?

A window is a rectangular area of the screen that displays a program, data, and/or information

A title bar is a horizontal space that contains the window’s name

p. 3.6 Fig. 3-6 Paint window title bar toolbar Next

What is a dialog box?

A special window a program displays to provide information, present available options, or request a response

p. 3.6 Fig. 3-7 text box check box command buttons option buttons Print dialog box Next

Productivity Software

What is productivity software?

Software that assists people in becoming more effective and efficient while performing daily activities

p. 3.7 Fig. 3-8 Word Processing Spreadsheet Database Presentation Graphics Personal Information Manager Software Suite Project Management Accounting Next

Company on the Cutting Edge

Supplies top-rated software for personal computers

Ninety-five percent of personal computers run at least one Microsoft application

The world’s leading productivity software developer

Click to view Web Link then click Microsoft p. 3.7 Next

What is word processing software?

Allows users to create and manipulate documents that contain text and graphics

One of the most widely used types of application software

p. 3.8 Fig. 3-9 k document displays in word processing window printed document Next

What is clip art?

A collection of drawings, diagrams, and photographs that you can insert into documents

What are some word processing features?

p. 3.8

Specify margins

The portion of the page outside the main body of text

Word wrap

Software automatically positions text at the beginning of the next line when it extends beyond the right page margin

Scrolling

Process of moving different portions of the document on the screen into view

What is a major advantage of using a word processor?

You can easily change what you have written

Insert, delete, or rearrange words, sentences, paragraphs or entire sections

p. 3.9 The house was deep in a secluded part of the woods. The trees surrounded the porch in a protective circle. Small clusters of pink and white flowers lined the walk leading up to the door. find or search secluded replace remote Next

What is a spelling checker?

Reviews the spelling of individual words, sections of a document, or the entire document

p. 3.9 reviews the spelling of inividal words inividal reviews the spelling of individual words Next

What are headers and footers?

Productivity Software Page 3.9 Productivity software is software that assists people in becoming more effective and efficient while performing daily activities. Productivity software includes applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation graphics, personal information manager, software suite, accounting, and project management.

May include

Page numbers

Company names

Report titles

Dates

p. 3.9 footer

Footer

Text that appears at the bottom of each page

header

Header

Text that appears at the top of each page

What are other popular word processing features?

p. 3.9 autocorrect autoformat collaboration columns grammar checker macros mail merge templates tables thesaurus tracking changes voice recognition Web page development Next

What are the stages of developing a document?

p. 3.10 printing process of sending a file to a printer to generate output on a medium such as paper saving process of copying a document from memory to a storage medium such as a floppy disk or hard disk editing process of making changes to a document’s existing content formatting changing the appearance of a document creating developing the document by entering text or numbers, inserting graphical images, and performing other tasks using an input device Next

What is the clipboard?

A temporary storage location used for cut, copy, and paste

Click to view animation p. 3.10 Cut Remove a portion of the document and store it on the Clipboard Paste Place items stored on the clipboard into the document Copy Duplicate a portion of the document and store it on the Clipboard Next

What is a font?

p. 3.10 Fig. 3-11 Font styles

Font style adds emphasis to a font such as bold , italic , and underline

Font size specifies the size or the characters in a particular font in points

A single point is about 1/72 of an inch in height

font size font

A name assigned to a specific design of characters

What is a file?

A named collection of data, instructions, or information

Each file has a file name

A file name is a unique combination of letters of the alphabet, numbers, and other characters that identifies the file

The title bar of a document window usually displays the file name

p. 3.10 file name on title bar Next

The computer’s capability of distinguishing spoken words

What is voice recognition?

p. 3.11 Fig. 3-12 Step 1: Say, “Dictation” to instruct the program you will be dictating. Say, “Car for sale”. Step 2: Say, “Voice Command” to instruct the program you will be issuing commands. Say, “Center”. Step 3: Say, “Font”. Step 4: Say, “Algerian” and then say, “Font Size”. Step 5: Say, “Forty Eight” and then say, “Font Color”. Step 6: Say, “Green” and then say, “End”. Next

What is spreadsheet software?

Allows you to organize data in rows and columns

Performs calculations on this data

Rows and columns collectively called a worksheet

Click to view Web Link then click Spreadsheet Software p. 3.12 Fig. 3-13 Next

How is a spreadsheet organized?

Click to view animation p. 3.12 Fig. 3-13 columns

Data is organized vertically into columns identified by letters

rows

Data is organized horizontally into rows identified by numbers

cell

A cell is the intersection of a column and row identified by the column letter and row number

ex. A19

What can a cell contain?

p. 3.12 34,299.00 21% $52.49 16 Formula Performs calculations on the data in the worksheet and displays the resulting value in a cell Value Number Label Text that identifies the data and helps organize the worksheet November Total Expenses Savings =C4+C5+C6+C7+C8 =A3*4 =(C6-B6)/A2 Next

What is a function?

A predefined formula that performs common calculations

SUM MIN RATE ROUND LOG ABS TIME DATE MAX COUNT AVERAGE SUM SQRT FV IF STDEV NPV PMT PV NOW INT LN p. 3.14 =C4+C5+C6+C7+C8 =SUM(C4:C8) Next

What is a macro?

A sequence of keystrokes and instructions you record and save

Run the macro to perform the sequence of saved keystrokes and instructions

p. 3.13 Next

What is recalculation?

The capability of recalculating the rest of the worksheet when data in a worksheet changes

What-if analysis is a process in which you change certain values in a spread sheet in order to reveal the effects of those changes

p. 3.13 New data entered New data entered Totals recalculated Next

What is charting?

Allows you to display spreadsheet data in a chart that shows the relationship of data in graphical form

p. 3.14 Fig. 3-15 line chart pie chart column chart Next

Technology Trailblazer

Dan Bricklin

Developed VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet

Formed the Software Arts company with Bob Frankston

Click to view Web Link then click Dan Bricklin p. 3.14 Next

What is a database?

A collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval, and use of that data

Click to view Web Link then click Database Software p. 3.15 Fig. 3-16 Next

What is database software?

Also called a database management system (DBMS)

Allows you to create, access, and manage a database

p. 3.16 add, change, and delete data sort and retrieve data create forms and reports using the data Next

What are the parts of a database?

Click to view Web Link then click Database Software p. 3.15 Fig. 3-16 Item table Supplier table

A collection of data stored in tables

records

A record is a row in a table that contains information about a given person, product, or event

fields

A field is a column in a table that contains a specific piece of information within a record

How is a database organized?

Records and fields in a table are described by the table structure

p. 3.16 Fig. 3-17 Supplier table structure Item table structure Next

What does the structure contain?

p. 3.16

Text: letters, numbers, or special characters

Numeric: numbers only

Currency: dollar and cent amounts

Date: month, day, and year information

Memo: lengthy text entries

Hyperlink: Web address that links to a document or a Web page

Object: picture, audio, video, or a document created in other applications

field name A unique name that identifies each field field size The maximum number of characters that a particular field can contain data type The kind of data a field can contain and how the field is used Next

How is data entered or modified?

Data is entered using a data entry form

Entering individual records is known as populating the table

Validation is the process of comparing the data to a set of rules or values to determine if the data is correct

p. 3.17 Fig. 3-18 Next

How is data manipulated to generate information?

Sort or organize a set of records in a particular order

Retrieve information using a query, or request for specific data

A query retrieves data by identifying criteria, which are restrictions the data must meet

Produces reports based on criteria the user supplies

p. 3.17 Fig. 3-19 Next

What is presentation graphics software?

Allows you to create documents called presentations

Sometimes called a slide show

Can be displayed on a large monitor or on a projection screen

p. 3.18 Fig. 3-20 Next

What is slide sorter view?

Used to help organize the presentation

You can view small versions of all the slides

p. 3.18 Fig. 3-21 Next

What output formats are available for a presentation ?

Handouts to distribute to audience members

Notes page to help a speaker deliver the presentation

Outline of the text from each slide

p. 3.19 Fig. 3-22 Next

What is a personal information manager (PIM)?

A software application that includes an appointment calendar, address book, notepad, and other features

Helps to organize personal information

Most handheld computers have PIM functions

You can synchronize, or transfer information between the handheld computer and a desktop computer

p. 3.20 Fig. 3-23 handheld computer Next

What is a software suite?

A collection of individual applications sold as a single package

You install the entire collection of applications at once

Two major advantages:

p. 3.20 ease of use lower cost Next

What is project management software?

Allows you to plan, schedule, track, and analyze the events, resources, and costs of a project

p. 3.21 Fig. 3-24 Next

What is accounting software?

Helps companies record and report their financial transactions

Newer packages support online direct deposit and payroll services

p. 3.21 Fig. 3-25 Next

Graphics and Multimedia Software

What are some popular graphics and multimedia software products?

p. 3.22 Fig. 3-26 Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Desktop Publishing (Professional) Paint/Image Editing (Professional) Video and Audio Editing Multimedia Authoring Web Page Authoring Next

What is computer-aided design (CAD)?

A sophisticated type of application software that assists a professional user in creating engineering, architectural, and scientific designs

p. 3.22 Fig. 3-27 Next

What is desktop publishing software (professional)?

Enables professional designers to design and produce sophisticated documents that contain text, graphics, and brilliant colors

p. 3.23 Fig. 3-28 Next

What are some features of desktop publishing software?

p. 3.23 page layout the process of arranging text and graphics in a document on a page-by-page basis color library a standard set of colors used by designers and printers to ensure that colors will print exactly as specified Next

Company on the Cutting Edge

Adobe

Produces award-winning software used to create and deliver the majority of Web images today

Products include Photoshop, Illustrator, GoLive, LiveMotion, PageMill, Streamline, and PageMaker

Click to view Web Link then click Adobe p. 3.23 Next

What is paint/image editing software (professional)?

Used to create and modify graphical images

Sometime called illustration software

Image editing software provides the capabilities of paint software as well as the capability to modify existing images

Click to view Web Link then click Paint/Image Editing Software p. 3.24 Fig. 3-29 Next

What is video and audio editing software?

Video consists of full-motion images played back at various speeds

Video editing software allows you to modify a segment of a video, called a clip

Audio is any music, speech, or other sound stored and produced by the computer

Audio editing software allows you to modify audio clips

p. 3.25 Fig. 3-30 Next

What is multimedia authoring software?

Also called authorware

Allows you to combine text, graphics, audio, video, and animation into an interactive presentation

Multimedia presentations often are interactive computer-based presentations or Web-based presentations designed to facilitate learning and elicit direct student participation

p. 3.25 Fig. 3-31 Next

What is Web page authoring software?

Helps users of all skill levels create fascinating Web pages that include graphical images, video, audio, animation, and other special effects

p. 3.25 Next

Software for Home, Personal, and Educational Use

What software products are available for home, personal, and educational use?

p. 3.26 Fig. 3-32 Integrated Software Personal Finance Legal Tax Preparation Desktop Publishing Paint/Image Editing Clip Art/Image Gallery Home Design/ Landscaping Reference Next

What is integrated software?

Software that combines applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, and database into a single, easy-to-use package

p. 3.27 Less expensive Applications use a similar interface and share common features Applications typically do not have all the capabilities of stand-alone productivity software applications Each application is available only through the integrated software package Next

What is personal finance software?

A simplified accounting program

Helps home users and small office/home office users balance their checkbook, pay bills, track personal income and expenses, track investments, and evaluate financial plans

Online banking allows you to transfer money electronically from your checking or credit card accounts to payees’ accounts

Click to view Web Link then click Personal Finance Software p. 3.27 Fig. 3-33 Next

What is legal software?

Assists in the preparation of legal documents

Provides legal advice to individuals, families, and small businesses

p. 3.28 Fig. 3-34 Next

What is tax preparation software?

Guides individuals, families, or small businesses through the process of filing federal taxes

Some allow you to file your tax forms electronically

p. 3.28 Fig. 3-35 Next

What is desktop publishing software (personal)?

Easy-to-understand DTP software designed for smaller-scale desktop publishing projects

p. 3.29 Fig. 3-36 Next

What is paint/image editing software (personal)?

An easy-to-use interface, frequently containing simple draw or editing features.

Allows you to draw or modify pictures, shapes, and other images

Photo-editing software allows you to edit digital photographs by removing red-eye, adding special effects, or creating electronic photo albums

Online print services will send high-resolution printed images through the postal service

p. 3.29 Fig. 3-37 Next

What is clip art/image gallery software?

A collection of clip art and photographs

Some have links to clips available on the Web

May provide fonts, animations, sounds, video clips,and audio clips

Click to view Web Link then click Clip Art/ Image Galleries p. 3.30 Fig. 3-38 Next

What is home design/landscaping software?

Assists with the design or remodeling of a home, deck, or landscape

Many will print a material list outlining costs and quantities for the entire project

p. 3.31 Fig. 3-39 Next

What is educational software?

Software that teaches a particular skill

Computer-based training (CBT) is a type of education in which students learn by using and completing exercises with instructional software

Also called computer-aided instruction

Click to view video p. 3.31 Next

What is reference software?

Provides valuable and thorough information for all individuals

Click to view Web Link then click Reference Software

Includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, health/medical guides, and travel directories

p. 3.31 Fig. 3-40 Next

What is entertainment software?

Interactive games

Videos

Programs designed to support a hobby or provide amusement and enjoyment

Click to view video p. 3.31 Next

What software facilitates communication?

E-mail

Web browsers

Chat rooms

Newsgroups

Instant messaging

Groupware

Videoconferencing

Click to view Web Link then click Groupware Click to view animation p. 3.31 E-mail or electronic mail Transmission of messages via a computer network such as a local area network or the Internet E-mail software lets you create, send, receive, forward, store, print, and delete e-mail messages Web browser or browser Allows you to access and view Web pages on the Internet Chat room Permits users to chat with each other via the computer Some support voice chats and video chats Newsgroup Also called a discussion Online area on the Web where users conduct written discussions about a particular subject You use a software program called a newsreader to participate in a newsgroup Instant messaging (IM) Real-time communications services that notifies you when one or more people are online Allows you to exchange messages or files with them or join a private chat room Groupware A software application that helps groups of people work together and share information over a network Videoconference A meeting between two or more geographically separated people who use a network or the Internet to transmit audio and video data Home users can make a video telephone call where both parties see each other as they talk Next

Applications on the Web