Application software

Application software

1. Word processing

   • • Text formatting • Text editing • Templates • Mail merge • Incorporation of graphics • Tables, borders, columns • Text wrapping • Macros • Important/exporting • Reviewing and facilities

2. Desktop publishing

   • • Similar to a word processor but with added publishing features • Has more layout features • Borders and shading • Has more publishing features in terms of fonts, kerning, etc. • Controls widows and orphans

3. Spreadsheet

   • • Can record data • Can search data • Can sort data • Can enter various types of data • Absolute and relative cell referencing • Validation and conditional formatting • Can perform calculations • Can produce graphs and charts • Can print in various formats • Can import/export data • Can use logic functions • Can protect cells • Can edit and manipulate data • Can password-protect files • Can make predictions using the ‘what if’ scenario

4. Database management software

   • • Create records, fields and files • Tables can be linked – relational • Primary keys can be set up • Data can be queried • Data can be sorted • Customised reports can be created • Can password-protect files • Mail-merging facilities • Online forms can be created

5. Presentation software

   • • Interactive • This allows for the combination of text, graphics, video and audio in a presentation • This makes the information more interesting and more meaningful • Different forms of navigation • Different storage file formats • Allows for different paths through the software

6. Slideshow software

   • • Master slides can be produced • Automatic slide timings can be set • Slideshows can be looped • Buttons can be added for manual timings • Slide sizes can be manipulated according to their function • Transition and animation effects

7. Photo editing software

   • • Allows importation and exportation of photographs into various documents • Can set layers/masks in which photographs can be built up from others • It has a lot of image-editing features such as cropping, etc.

8. Video editing software

   • • This allows for the editing of videos, e.g. trimming of clips • Images can be imported into the video • Audio can be added • Effects can be added, such as the fading in of frames

9. Graphics manipulation software

   • • Graphics can be described as pictures or graphs. • Can select and use various components • Allows the use of vector or bitmapped graphics • Has creating and editing tools such as freehand, cropping, etc. • The user is able to select and use specialised enhancement tools such as filters and retouching • Allows the saving of various file formats in the appropriate resolution

10. Communication software

    • • Used to send and receive data • Can add attachments • Can add signatures • Can set auto response messages • Can send to multiple recipients • Contains tools to assist with communications

11. Multimedia software

    • • Allows the presentation of data in various formats – digital, visual, print, web, etc. • Allows for different pathways.

12. Gaming software

    • • Enhancement tools for sound and video • Creation of sprites • Animation of objects • Allows for different genres • Contains tools for manipulation of various file formats

13. Web browsing software

    • • Enables a user to view web pages • Allows the creation of bookmarks • Allows navigation of the web with the back/forward button • Enables the user to organise bookmarks and favourites • The History function allows the user to record the websites visited • Enables the user to refresh a page using the refresh button • Enables the user to input URLs into the address bar • Displays a status bar to inform the user of loading details

14. Apps for portable devices

    • • These work on any device • They work as you move computers • Files, etc. are not left on a PC • Additional software is not required to run apps • They can be used on removable drives