Wizards, Templates, Styles

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Wizards, Templates, Styles Macros

• Chapter 3

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Contents

• This presentation covers the following
• Purpose, Characteristics, Advantages and
  Disadvantages of
• Wizards
• Templates
• Styles
• Macros

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Wizards

• Wizards are designed to help users to complete a
  task.
• For non-expert users they can take the user
  through all the steps required to solve a
  problem, such as
• writing a letter
• creating a presentation
• writing a query in a database
• Printing a file in a particular format

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Wizards

• More able users of ICT sometimes use Wizards to
  speed up the basic creation of a document.
• After the wizard has been used, the user can then
  edit the document in order to personalise it for
  their needs.
• The main thing to remember is that they take
  users through simple steps and often generate
  documents automatically rather than telling users
  what to do next.

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Wizards
Advantages Disadvantages
Allow inexperienced users to create complex documents. They ensure important steps are not missed out. User friendly in most cases. Standard formats can be applied such as formal letter formats etc. If left un-edited, a document will lack individuality. The wizard may not fully meet the needs of the user. Some wizards prevent users from editing documents which means it is harder to tailor documents to the needs of a user.
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Templates

• Templates are used to help users create documents
  which meet standard formats, for example, formal
  letters.
• They often have predefined settings for
• Characters (font style, size, colour etc)
• Page formatting (margins, orientation, size etc)
• Text inserts (standard words, dates, time etc)
• Graphic inserts (standard logos, position etc)

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Templates

• Word processers will often load up with a default
  template
• A4 page, with predefined margin settings, default
  font style, size and colour etc.
• Presentation software will do the same
• Slide style, transition animations, font style,
  size and colour etc.

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Templates
Advantages Disadvantages
Can speed up the time it takes to start working on a document when application is loaded. Can help create documents which need to be created using a particular format (legal documents etc). Some templates allow users to add in fine detail only. This is better than having to write out documents from scratch. Lack of individuality in the creation of documents. May not be very user friendly if no instructions are provided on how to use the template.
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Styles

• Styles are used to control particular aspects of
  a document.
• For example, in word processed documents a user
  can define a style for all the headings in the
  document.
• They allow documents to be consistent throughout.

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Styles

• When you edit a style all aspects of the document
  which use that style will change.

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Templates
Advantages Disadvantages
Documents can be produced to a consistent style. If different people are working on the different parts of the document, styles will allow them to produce a consistent look. Someone needs to develop the style before the document starts being produced.
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Macros

• Macros allow users to carried out repetitive
  tasks at the click of a button.
• A user can record a task being carried out to a
  macro, assign the macro to a key combination or
  button and then use it to perform that task over
  and over again.

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Macro

• Some uses of macros include
• Moving to a different part of a spreadsheet or
  worksheet.
• Running a calculation
• Closing an application
• Printing an application
• Adding a header and footer
• One macro might be used to
• Timestamp a document
• Save the file
• Print the file
• Close the file

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Macros
Advantages Disadvantages
A repetitive task can be carried out using simple instructions. Errors can be reduced as the macro will do exactly what it has been asked to do. Macros can be set up to help inexperienced users to perform complex tasks. Errors may occur if The conditions that the macro is running under is different. The macro was recorded incorrectly. The macro is run at the wrong time. The user must know the key combination to run the macro. To correct errors the user must have some understanding of how the macro was created.
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Take note

• Describe three features that can be set in a word
  processed document template.
• Describe the advantages of using a design
  template in the creation of a legal document.
• A group of ICT specialists are writing a book
  together. Each is writing a section of the book.
  Explain how styles would be used to help them
  make the book look professional and consistent in
  design.

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Take note

• A company uses macros to assist its employees.
  Explain the benefits for using macros in terms of
  staff training, accuracy and speed of creating
  documents.