computer science

A term that refers to computer programs

A set of instructions given to the computer to carry out a task

• Systems software- programs written for the computer (operating systems)
• Applications software- programs written for users (word processing)

• Tailor-made software
• Off-the-shelf software
• Integrated software package

• Satisfies the company's requirements
• Easily modified and updated
• Operates easily
• Easier to train employees

• Expensive
• Takes time
• May not immediately function properly
• Errors may occur 
• Maintenance very dependent of the software developers

• Available
• Excellent documentation.
• Well tested
• Cheaper than having one written.
• Popular and has a wide user base.
• Available support from experienced trainers and users

• Harder to modify
• May not meet specific requirements
• Difficult to learn

It is a package consisting of a collection of programs that can share the same data.

Word processor program, Database program, Spreadsheet programGraphics program, Communications program

• Requires less storage space than having several specialized packages
• Cheaper than buying several packages
• Programs can easily share data
• User friendly as the commands are common in all the programs

• Programs are less powerful than the specialized ones
• If any program gets corrupted then all might be corrupted

A program that allows the user to create a text document representing a sequence of text characters and formatting codes, edit it, save it, and print it

• cut,copy,paste
• spell check
• format text and pictures
• different fonts, text sizes..
• find and replace
• import graphics
• headers and footers
• can be used as web design programs for basic web page creation
• table of contents, numbered captions...
• exporting as a text or webpage file or as a mail or email merge

Mail merge is the ability to personalize letters with names and addresses from a database.

A macro is a single instruction that replaces a set of instructions and can bedone by pressing a key or clicking on an icon. Macros automates actionsrepetitive sequences of keystrokes and mouse movements

Using a template avoids repeating work every time a document is created.

A program that produces documents of a quality good enough for publications

• facilitates the control of the page layout, i.e. to arrange text and graphics together in an attractive way and to divide pages into columns
• allows the user to layout pictures and text in frames
• users can import images from libraries of clip-art and other programs
• WYSIWYG
• allows exporting

It allows the user to lay out pictures and texts in frames as this is the major advantage of desktop publishing.