Chapter 3

Chapter 3

1. Characteristics of Applications

   • School Administration Systems
     • Assist in the running of day-to-day activities
     • Hold records, monitor attendance, record marks
   • Online Banking
     • Access their bank account and carry out transactions
     • Transfer money, complete transactions, track payments
   • Stock Control
     • Know how much of an item, when orders are due, how much is required. Can order stock, Just-In-Time ordering
     • List items and suppliers, components for the item, minimum and maximum levels, how much to order, delivery times etc
   • Booking Systems
     • Telephone, internet, person. An event, person and date/time
     • Select and check availability, specify number of people, check price, pay
   • Route Finders
     • Enter start and destination and a route plotted using GPS
     • Specify starting and end points, mode of travel, places to pass through, type of journey
   • Customer Records/Accounts
     • Essential to running a business. Comply with the DPA
     • Contact details, customer ID, order numbers, orders against customers, invoices, payments, statements, products, discounts and returns
   • Online Training Systems
     • Study without a teacher, internet/CD-Rom
     • Follow path of learning, learn at own pace, return to topics, obtain feedback, multimedia, convenient

2. Wizards, Styles/Templates, Macros

   • Styles/Templates
     • Preset layouts and formats
     • House style, different people work on it
     • Need to develop style
   • Wizards
     • Present options to the user
     • Save time, nothing forgotten, standard formats, user friendliness
     • No individuality, may not fulfill needs, tailor documents
   • Macros
     • Automate regular tasks, activated by a button, will not run independently
     • Repetitive task can be completed, inexperienced users, reduce errors
     • Error messages, technical knowledge, may not do what user wants

3. Examples of Application Software

   • Word Processing
     • Entry, editing and formatting of text. Entered through keyboard. Can be formatted. WYSIWYG
   • DTP
     • Combine images and text to create publications. Manipulation and accurate positioning of objects
   • Database
     • Handle data, tables, relationships between tables, joins data together
   • Spreadsheet
     • Display and process data, range of calculations, handle text
   • Presentation
     • With/without user intervention. Printed acetate and OHP. Computer
   • Web Authoring
     • Making web pages, built in functions

4. Tailored Data-Entry Screens

   • Forms
     • Helps the user to complete required tasks, within the application, using web-based, third-party programs
     • Design Considerations
       • Supportiveness
       • Consistency
       • Relevance
       • Visual and audible cues
   • Generic Design Considerations
     • House style
     • Colours do not clash
     • Clear and easy to read
     • Useful messages
     • Logical order
     • Clearly marked exits

5. Importing/Exporting Files

   • File types allocated to programs, file extension can help search for files, data needs to be converted from one application to be used in another
   • Option 1
     • Open file in package A > Save As/Export to package B format > Open in B and save
   • Option 2
     • Open in A > Save As/Export to common file format > Open in B > Convert to format required by C > Save in new format

6. House Style

   • House Style 1
     • Makes company easily recognisable, includes logos, defines fonts, paragraph styles, graphics, layout, less likely important information will be missed
     • Created by design team, enables different people to work on the same document

7. Tailoring Standard/Generic Applications Software

   • Form Controls
     • Improve usability, combo, check, option, increase interactivity
   • Buttons
     • Pushed to start an event, link to a macro, run an action or command
   • Forms
     • Assists the entry of data, give help and guidance, instructions/validation/error messages, drop-down/option/fill-in
   • Menus
     • Enable user to select actions, availability, full-screen/pop-up/drop-down
   • Advantages/ Disadvantages
     • Simplification of user data entry, fewer mistakes, data validated on entry, forms/buttons/menus/macros help to reduce time, simplified interface
     • If a problem occurs, then tasks may not be completed, high level of technical knowledge to create and test interface, can take time to make changes