SoftwareSoftware

Generic Application SoftwareGeneric Application Software

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Describe generic applications in general.

Describe common generic applications.

Generic / General Purpose Generic / General Purpose Software Software

Can be used in different situations to Can be used in different situations to accomplish different things.accomplish different things.

Word ProcessingWord Processing

Used for applications that have the need Used for applications that have the need to communicate with others using text. to communicate with others using text. E.g.E.g.

Writing letters / reports – to customers or suppliers Writing letters / reports – to customers or suppliers etc..etc..

Junk mailJunk mail / mail merging to produce personalised / mail merging to produce personalised letters.letters.

Preparing text documents for use in other software Preparing text documents for use in other software packages.packages.

Mail MergeMail Merge

A standard letter is written containing empty A standard letter is written containing empty fields or data markers / areas.fields or data markers / areas.

A database is queried with criteria to find the A database is queried with criteria to find the required records.required records.

The fields are merged in from the query and The fields are merged in from the query and the personalised letters printed.the personalised letters printed. http://www.video2brain.com/en/lessons/introductio

n-to-mail-merge

https://www.ischool.utexas.edu/technology/tutorials/office/mail_merge/02partI.php

SpreadsheetsSpreadsheets

Stores different types of data.Stores different types of data.

Perform automatic calculations and functions (e.g. Perform automatic calculations and functions (e.g. Look Up) on the areas (cells) where the numerical Look Up) on the areas (cells) where the numerical data is being stored. data is being stored. E.g.E.g.

To do business accounts / produce invoicesTo do business accounts / produce invoices

Budgeting.Budgeting.

Financial modelling.Financial modelling.

Payrolls (although other, more specialised, payroll software Payrolls (although other, more specialised, payroll software would be used in a large scale application).would be used in a large scale application).

Any situation that requires the manipulation of figures to give Any situation that requires the manipulation of figures to give accurate results or forecasts or predictions.accurate results or forecasts or predictions.

DatabasesDatabases

Store data Store data (e.g. all the students in a college, lists of the (e.g. all the students in a college, lists of the recipients of junk mail, customer / stock files)recipients of junk mail, customer / stock files) in tables as in tables as records and fields to allow fast searching for records and fields to allow fast searching for answers to queries.answers to queries. Fields (columns) - storage space for one data item.Fields (columns) - storage space for one data item.

E.g. 0ne student's name. E.g. 0ne student's name. Records (rows) - All the data about an entity.Records (rows) - All the data about an entity.

E.g. A single student E.g. A single student

If a field is supposed to contain an image then If a field is supposed to contain an image then pointers to the start and end of each image are pointers to the start and end of each image are stored in the field of each individual record.stored in the field of each individual record. i.e. Not the image itself.i.e. Not the image itself.

Presentation softwarePresentation software

Produces shows which typically follow a Produces shows which typically follow a storyboard of individual screens and can consist storyboard of individual screens and can consist of:of: Slide transitionsSlide transitions Text Text Graphics Graphics AnimationAnimation SoundSound

Output:Output: A single monitor for an automated display in a A single monitor for an automated display in a

department store.department store. Presentations for marketing, advertising or training.Presentations for marketing, advertising or training.

Image Manipulation SoftwareImage Manipulation SoftwareDigital camera used to capture images / photographs or Digital camera used to capture images / photographs or scanner to digitize an image using an array of light scanner to digitize an image using an array of light sensitive pixels. sensitive pixels. It can then be uploaded onto a computer using a USB It can then be uploaded onto a computer using a USB cable or flash card reader.cable or flash card reader.It would then be stored in computer memory, hard disk It would then be stored in computer memory, hard disk or a flash memory stick as a series of bytes in jpeg, gif or or a flash memory stick as a series of bytes in jpeg, gif or bitmap forms.bitmap forms.Image can be cropped / resized / enhanced / colour Image can be cropped / resized / enhanced / colour contrast changed / manipulated. contrast changed / manipulated. Image data can be compressed using file compression Image data can be compressed using file compression utility.utility.

e.g. storing area of single colour rather than individual bits and e.g. storing area of single colour rather than individual bits and by reducing the colour space to the most common colours in the by reducing the colour space to the most common colours in the image.image.

Desktop publishing (DTP)Desktop publishing (DTP)

Produces a page of printed output that has been Produces a page of printed output that has been designed by using advanced layout techniques. designed by using advanced layout techniques. Contains powerful tools for arranging these individual Contains powerful tools for arranging these individual items on the page. One of these tools is frames which items on the page. One of these tools is frames which divide up the content and to wrap text around graphics to divide up the content and to wrap text around graphics to make it attractive to customers. make it attractive to customers.

E.g. E.g. Production of advertising material, newsletters, leaflets, posters, proof Production of advertising material, newsletters, leaflets, posters, proof copies of books and magazines. copies of books and magazines.

As word processors have become more advanced the As word processors have become more advanced the distinction between a DTP package and a word distinction between a DTP package and a word processor has become blurred.processor has become blurred.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)Computer Aided Design (CAD)

The use of a computer system to design a The use of a computer system to design a commodity.commodity.

E.g. new buildings, a carburettor to fit a particular E.g. new buildings, a carburettor to fit a particular engine, a new traffic flow system around a town. engine, a new traffic flow system around a town.

Automatically calculates things like costs / Automatically calculates things like costs / stresses / volumes of material needed / etc. ...stresses / volumes of material needed / etc. ...Can simulate finished product and test in Can simulate finished product and test in different situations before physical different situations before physical manufacture.manufacture.Allows for changes to be easily made before Allows for changes to be easily made before physical manufacture.physical manufacture.

Computer Aided Manufacture Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM)(CAM)

Use of a computer to help with the Use of a computer to help with the manufacturing process. manufacturing process.

CAD and CAMCAD and CAM

A seamless process whereby CAD A seamless process whereby CAD produces the design which is electronically produces the design which is electronically sent to CAM where the design is produced sent to CAM where the design is produced by a computer controlled robot.by a computer controlled robot.

Hard Copy (paper) Hard Copy (paper) Vs Vs

Electronic FormElectronic Form

Hard copy:Hard copy: Text can be read easily as some people find Text can be read easily as some people find

looking at a screen for long periods looking at a screen for long periods uncomfortable.uncomfortable.

Easier to record notes on hard copyEasier to record notes on hard copy

Electronic form:Electronic form: Can be sent from person to person without Can be sent from person to person without

delaydelay Corrections can be easily made Corrections can be easily made

Stock Control System Software Stock Control System Software

1.1. Uses a unique bar code on each stock item.Uses a unique bar code on each stock item.

2.2. Before an item is sold a bar code reader reads each bar code. Before an item is sold a bar code reader reads each bar code.

3.3. The bar code is automatically found in the stock file, the number in The bar code is automatically found in the stock file, the number in stock read and then decreased by 1. stock read and then decreased by 1.

4.4. The number in stock is compared with the reorder level. If it is less The number in stock is compared with the reorder level. If it is less and an order is not and an order is not pendingpending (already made earlier) (already made earlier) then a new order then a new order is made by reading the supplier code and then searching the is made by reading the supplier code and then searching the linked supplier file for this code. When found the supplier details linked supplier file for this code. When found the supplier details would be read and a new order created. would be read and a new order created.

5.5. When the order is received, the process is repeated but the When the order is received, the process is repeated but the number in stock is increased instead.number in stock is increased instead.

• Note that many examiner reports say that students often forget that new Note that many examiner reports say that students often forget that new orders would not be made if a previous order exists and has not been orders would not be made if a previous order exists and has not been received yet, this avoids double ordering.received yet, this avoids double ordering.

Point of Sale systemsPoint of Sale systems

1.1. Identify the goods being bought.Identify the goods being bought. Standard method - read barcode.Standard method - read barcode.

2.2. Carry out whatever processing is required and to Carry out whatever processing is required and to produce a satisfactory output. produce a satisfactory output. Code validated and then sent to the processor. Code validated and then sent to the processor. The processor uses this barcode as the key field when The processor uses this barcode as the key field when

searching the product file. searching the product file. When the record is found the contents of the record are used to When the record is found the contents of the record are used to

produce a printout for the customer (till receipt), and to produce a printout for the customer (till receipt), and to accumulate the total value of all the goods that have been accumulate the total value of all the goods that have been bought.bought.

3.3. Arrange for payment.Arrange for payment. Payment can be made electronically by sending details of the Payment can be made electronically by sending details of the

customer account to the bank or credit card company from customer account to the bank or credit card company from where payment will be made to the store immediately.where payment will be made to the store immediately.

PlenaryPlenary

Describe generic applications in general.

Describe common generic applications.