Chapter 3 Application Software

Chapter 3- application software There are two kinds of software: - System software . - Application software: End users use application software to accomplish specific tasks. For example, we use word processing programs to create letters, documents, and reports. However, end users also use system software User interface : A user interface is the portion of the application that allows you to control and to interact with the program.  Dependinbg on the application, you can use a mouse, a pointer, a keyboard, and/or your voice to communicate with the application.  A window(not the windows operating system : is simply a rectangular area that can contain a document, program, or message.  Graphical user interface (GUI) displays graphical elements called icons to represent familiar objects. Traditionally, most software programs use a system of menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes. • Menus present commands that are typically displayed in a menu bar at the top of the screen. • Toolbars include small graphic elements called buttons that provide shortcuts for quick access to commonly used commands. • Dialog boxes provide additional information and request user input. Many applications, use an interface known as the Ribbon GUI: to make it easier to find and use all the features of an application This GUI uses a system of ribbons, tabs, and galleries: • Ribbons replace menus and toolbars by organizing commonly used commands into a set of tabs. • Tabs are used to divide the ribbon into major activity areas. Each tab is then organized into groups that contain related items. • Galleries simplify the process of making a selection from a list of alternatives. 17 Common Features Features to make entering/presenting, editing, and formatting documents easy. Some of the most common features include : • Spell he ke —looks for misspelled words. • Alig e t—centers, right-aligns, or left-aligns numbers and characters. • Fo ts a d fo t sizes pe haps usi g ha a ter effects)—specify the size and style of entered numbers and text. • Cha a te effe ts—provide a variety of different typefaces, such as bold or italics. • Edit optio s—provide easy ways to edit text, such as cut, copy, and paste. Application software can be divided into three categories. 1) Generalpurpose applications: includes : A) Word processors create text-based documents and are one of the most flexible and widely used software tools. Microsoft Word is the most widely used word processor.  Other popular word processors : Apple Pages, Google Docs, Corel WordPerfect, OpenOffice Writer. B) Spreadsheets organize, analyze, and graph numeric data such as budgets and financial reports. The most widely used spreadsheet program is Microsoft Excel.  Other spreadsheet applications include Apple Numbers, Corel Quattro Pro, Google Sheets, and OpenOffice Calc. C) Database Management Systems A database is a collection of related data. A database management system (DBMS) is a program that sets up, or structures, a database. It also provides tools to enter, edit, and retrieve data from the database.  Four widely used DBMS are Microsoft Access, Apple FileMaker, Google Obvibase, and OpenOffice Base D) Presentation Graphics Presentation graphics are programs that combine a variety of visual objects to create attractive, visually interesting presentations.  Most widely used presentation graphics programs are Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, Corel Presentations, OpenOffice Impress, and Prezi. 18 2) Specialized applications, includes thousands of other programs that tend to be more narrowly focused and used in specific disciplines and occupations. Includes: A) Graphics are widely used by professionals in the graphic arts profession. They use:  Desktop publishing programs, or page layout programs, allow you to mix text and graphics . focus on page design and layout and provide greater flexibility . - Popular desktop publishing programs include Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, and QuarkXPress  Image editors, also known as photo editors, programs for editing or modifying digital photographs. They are often used to touch up photographs to remove scratches and other imperfections. (The photographs consist of thousands of dots or pixels that form bitmap or raster images. ) - Popular image editors include Adobe Photoshop, Corel PaintShop Pro, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), and Windows Photo Gallery.  Illustration programs, also known as drawing programs, are used to create and edit vector images. Vector images/ vector illustrations, use geometric shapes or objects. - Illustration programs are often used for graphic design, page layout, and creating sharp artistic images. - Popular illustration programs include Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape.  Video editors are used to edit videos to enhance quality and appearance. You can readily add special effects, music tracks, titles, and on-screen graphics. - Three well-known video editors are Windows Live Movie Maker, Apple iMovie, and YouTube Video Editor. B) Video Game Design will help you organize your thoughts and guide you through the game design process including character development and environmental design. - Some of the better-known free or inexpensive video game design software are YoYo GameMaker, Stencyl, Flixel, and Unity. C) Web Authoring Programs( Creating a site) typically used to create sophisticated commercial sites. Also known as web page editors and HTML editors, these programs provide support for website design and HTML coding. - Some web authoring programs are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors, which means you can build a page without interacting directly with HTML code. - Widely used web authoring programs include Adobe Dreamweaver and Microsoft Expression Web. D) Other Specialized Applications There are numerous other specialized applications including accounting, personal finance, and project management applications.  Accounting applications such as Intuit QuickBooks help companies record and report their financial operations.  Personal financial applications such as Quicken Starter Edition help individuals track their personal finances and investments.  Project management software like Microsoft Project is widely used in business to help coordinate and plan complicated projects. 19 3) Mobile apps, is add-on features or programs typically designed for smartphones and tablets. Some of the most widely used are for listening to music, viewing video, social networking, shopping, and game playing: • Music. Like :Pandora and Spotify. • Video.like : YouTube and The Netflix app. • Social networking. like : The Facebook mobile app and The Instagram . • Shoppi g. Like : A azo ’s P i e Che k app. • Games .like :Crossy Road challenges game and Dragon Quest V .  App Stores An app store is typically a website that provides access to specific mobile apps that can be downloaded either for a nominal fee or free of charge. - Two of the best-known stores are Apple’s App Store a d Google Pla , other less well-known stores provide apps for a wide variety of mobile devices. Software Suites is a collection of separate application programs bundled together and made available as a group. Four types : 1) Office Suites ,also known as office software suites and productivity suites, contain generalpurpose application programs that are typically used in a business situation. 2) Cloud Computing suites or online office suites are stored at a server on the Internet and are available anywhere you can access the Internet . Two other types of suites that are more narrowly focused are specialized suites and utility suites. 3) Specialized suites focus on specific applications. 4) Utility suites include a variety of programs designed to make computing easier and safer. Two of the best known are Norton SystemWorks and Norton Internet Security Suite. 20