Chapter 8- Software selection

Software types
Text editor Word processer Desktop publisher Database package Spreadsheet package Charting package Presentation authoring package
Web browser E-mail editor Graphics package Programming languages

Text editor
Allows you to type and edit plain text. Can be used to write programming codes( HTML) and edit system files. Often supplied with the operating system Examples : - Notepad, word pad within Microsoft windows.

Word processor
Allows you to create, edit and format documents. Defining page layout and document formatting Example Microsoft word.

Desktop publishing
Has the ability to manipulate images and text with more features. Greater control over layout Prepares documents for advertisement Example- Microsoft publisher

Data base package

A data base is a collection of data that have links between them. The database gives structure to the data and gives the tools to interrogate the data. Its managed by the database management system( DBMS). Databases can be flat file ( a simple table) or relational, where data items are linked together within the database. Example is Microsoft Access.

Spread sheet package

Data is arranged in rows and columns Very good at performing calculations and modeling situations You can try out what if scenarios in financial situations Example- Microsoft Excel

Charting package
Allows you to create a variety of different graphs and charts. Its separate from excel or databases Example in this book, we use it in excel

Presentation authoring package

Allows you to create presentations and displays Text, images, video clips, sound clips maybe included. Example Microsoft PowerPoint

Web Browser
Allows you to display webpages from an intranet-( within an organization or a LAN) and the internet ( WWW). Text, images, videos, sound clips maybe included on these webpages. Example :Microsoft internet explorer, Google chrome.

E-mail editor
Allows you to prepare, create, edit and send messages and read e-mail messages from other users. You can attach documents to the emails Example - email editors that operate within a web browser is Hotmail. - Dedicated programs such as Microsoft outlook

Graphics package
Allows you to create and manipulate images Two types of graphic packages, vector graphics and bitmap graphics. Vector graphics draws points, lines, curves, polygons, mathematical equations. Bitmap graphics stores the detail of each pixel of a drawing so if an image is enlarged or reduced it can appear pixilated .

Programming languages
Used to write code that will preform a task within the computer. A computer program follows a sequence of instructions to perform a pre-defined function. Example : macros (within word processor, spreadsheet or database packages)