Generic Software

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Chapter 22

• Generic Software

2
Generic Software

• A term used sometimes to describe application
  packages used in day to day business operations.
• E.g. Word processors, spreadsheets etc.

3
Word Processing

• A word processing package is a program set of
  programs used to enter, edit, format, store and
  print documents.
• Word processors have several features
• Spelling and grammar checker.
• Import files - Tables, photographs, sounds etc.
• Mail merge - Names and addresses can be merged.
• Templates can be created.

4
Spreadsheets

• Spreadsheet packages allow a user to create
  spreadsheets representing data in column and row
  form.
• Spreadsheet features
• Format cells, rows and columns.
• Copy cell contents to other locations.
• Insert, move and delete rows and columns.
• Use functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN in
  formulae.
• Write macros to automate common procedures.
• Graphs and charts can be created.

5
Presentation Graphics

• Presentation graphics software such as PowerPoint
  is useful for putting together a presentation
  which can be delivered using a computer and other
  devices.
• Applications Generator
• This is a piece of software, often
  database-orientated such as MS Access or Paradox,
  which allows a user to develop an application
  such as a Stock control or accounts system.
• Report Generators
• This is a piece of software that allows a
  business user who may have little knowledge of
  programming to specify the format and content of
  a printed report to be composed using values from
  a database or calculation.

6
Web Browsers

• Software called a web browser is used to view
  information stored on the WWW.
• Facilities offered by a browser.
• Shows a web page for a entered address or URL.
• Allows you to customise basic options.
• Keep a history of the pages youve viewed.
• Downloads files onto your hard disk.
• Allows access to personal e-mail.
• Play back video, sounds clips etc.
• Gives links to search engines.

7
Working With The Web

• The WWW is a concept rather than a thing.
• This allows people to view information stored on
  computers all over the world.