Topic 7. Basics of working with general-purpose application programs

7.1. Definition of application programs

An applied program is any specific program that contributes to the solution of a specific problem within a given problem area. For example, if a computer is assigned the task of controlling the financial activities of a firm, the application for this case will be a program for preparing payrolls. Some application programs are general in nature, i.e. they provide the compilation and printing of documents, etc.

Unlike application programs, OS or tool software does not directly contribute to the satisfaction of the end user's needs.

Application programs can be used either autonomously, i.e., solve the task without the help of other programs, or in a system of software systems or packages.

7.2. Text editors

A text editor is a software tool used to prepare text documents.

When executing various business documents on a computer, it is necessary to use text editors that occupy an intermediate position between the simplest editors and publishing systems.

Typing in a text editor should consider the following:

1) mouse and cursor pointers do not match. The mouse pointer usually resembles an arrow. As the pointer moves over the text-filled portion of the screen, the appearance of the pointer changes;

2) the cursor pointer is always located in the text field of the document, it is a blinking vertical line;

3) the marker of the end of the text is a thick horizontal line at the end of the typed text.

When preparing text in a text editor, after typing, you should edit it. Editing is called setting the size of the sheet, highlighting headings, defining a red line in paragraphs, inserting figures, objects, etc. If the text is being prepared for presentation in hypertext form, then editing should include entering appropriate means into the text in HTML format. In MS Office 97 such possibilities exist.

You can call various editor functions using the mouse or special key combinations. Working with the mouse is considered the most natural, but the use of some combinations of "hot keys" significantly speeds up the work.

The main menu is used to control the editor. Panels serve as an additional tool for managing a text editor: a standard toolbar, editing and formatting toolbars, etc.

In order to speed up the work, these panels are provided with buttons that duplicate the various actions performed in the text editor using the main menu options. When calling each menu item, a submenu appears on the display screen, which specifies the actions of the editor. These actions can be performed by selecting this menu item.

To install the required font, perform the Format / Font sequence, leading to the appearance of a window in which you should select the font type and letter size. The correct choice of font type and size is reflected in the nature of the text and depends on the experience of working with the editor.

The font is a combination of letters, numbers, special characters, which are designed in accordance with uniform requirements. The drawing of a font is called a typeface. Fonts differ in style, and the font size is called the point size.

In order to perform any operations in a certain fragment of text, you must first mark or select this fragment. After that, the necessary parameters are changed.

The basis of text editing is editing headings and paragraphs. To do this, select the Format / Paragraph options, and after the window appears on the screen, the necessary action.

When setting the distance between lines in a paragraph, you must use the Line spacing window, where single, one and a half, double or other spacing is set.

A red line is used to highlight a paragraph; the size of the cursor movement during tabulation can be set using the ruler, which is located under the control panels. In order for the ruler to appear on the screen, you must activate it in the View menu item. When the ruler is activated, place the cursor in the appropriate place and press the left mouse button. After that, a special character appears that determines where the cursor jumps when the tab key is pressed.

7.3. Table processors

A spreadsheet processor is a set of interrelated programs designed to process spreadsheets.

A spreadsheet is the computer equivalent of a regular table, consisting of rows and columns, at the intersection of which there are cells containing numerical information, formulas or text. The value in the numeric cell of the table is either written down or calculated using the appropriate formula. Formulas may contain references to other cells.

With any change in the value in the cell of the table, the implementation of writing a new value into it from the keyboard, the values ​​in all those cells in which there are values ​​that depend on this cell are also recalculated.

Columns and lines can have their own names. The monitor screen is a window through which you can view the table as a whole or in parts.

Spreadsheet processors are a convenient tool for accounting and statistical calculations. Each package includes hundreds of built-in mathematical functions and statistical processing algorithms. At the same time, there are powerful tools for linking tables to each other, creating and editing electronic databases.

Using specific tools, you can automatically receive and print customized reports and use dozens of different types of tables, graphs, charts, provide them with comments and graphic illustrations.

Spreadsheet processors have a built-in help system that provides the user with information on each of the specific menu commands and other reference data. With the help of multidimensional tables, you can quickly make selections in the database according to any criterion.

The most popular spreadsheet processors are Microsoft Excel (Excel) and Lotus 1-2-3.

In Microsoft Excel, many routine operations are automated; special templates allow you to create reports, import data, and much more.

Lotus 1-2-3 is a professional spreadsheet processor. Great graphical capabilities and a user-friendly interface of the package help you quickly navigate it. Using this processor, you can create any financial document, a report for accounting, draw up a budget, or even place all these documents in databases.

7.4. The concept of wrappers

The most popular shell among users of an IBM-compatible computer is the Norton Commander software package. Its main task is to perform the following operations:

▪ creating, copying, forwarding, renaming, deleting, searching for files and changing their attributes;

▪ display of the directory tree and the characteristics of the files that are part of it in a form convenient for user perception;

▪ creating, updating and unpacking archives (groups of compressed files);

▪ viewing text files;

▪ editing text files;

▪ Execution of almost all DOS commands from its environment;

▪ launching programs;

▪ issuing information about computer resources;

▪ creating and deleting directories;

▪ support for intercomputer communication;

▪ support for email via modem.

At the end of the XX century. All over the world, the MS-Windows 3.x graphical shell has gained great popularity, the advantages of which are that it facilitates the use of a computer and its graphical interface, instead of a set of complex commands from the keyboard, allows you to select them with the mouse from the menu program in a matter of seconds. The Windows operating environment, which works in conjunction with the DOS operating system, implements all the features necessary for the user's productive work, including multitasking.

The Norton Navigator Shell is a collection of powerful file management and Windows enhancements. This program helps to save time on almost all operations: searching for files, copying and moving files, opening directories.

7.5. Graphic editor

A graphics editor is a program designed to automate the process of building graphic images on a computer screen. With its help, you can draw lines, curves, paint areas of the screen, create inscriptions in various fonts, etc. The most common editors allow you to process images that were obtained using scanners, as well as display pictures in such a way that they can be included in document prepared with a text editor.

Many editors are capable of obtaining images of three-dimensional objects, their sections, spreads, wireframe models, etc.

With CorelDRAW, which is a powerful graphics editor with publishing features, graphics editing and XNUMXD modeling tools, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional visual representation of various types of inscriptions.

7.6. The concept and structure of the data bank

A databank is a form of organization of storage and access to information and is a system of specially organized data, software, technical, language, organizational and methodological means that are designed to ensure centralized accumulation and collective multi-purpose use of data.

The data bank must meet the following requirements:

▪ satisfy the information needs of external users, provide the ability to store and change large volumes of various information;

▪ comply with the specified level of reliability of the stored information and its consistency;

▪ access data only to users who have the appropriate authority;

▪ be able to search for information by any group of characteristics;

▪ meet the necessary performance requirements when processing requests;

▪ be able to reorganize and expand when software boundaries change;

▪ provide users with information in various forms;

▪ guarantee simplicity and convenience for external users to access information;

▪ be able to simultaneously serve a large number of external users.

The data bank consists of two main components: a database and a database management system.

The core of the data bank is the database, which is a collection of interrelated data that is stored together with minimal redundancy so that it can be used optimally for one or more applications. In this case, the data is stored in such a way that they are independent of the programs using them; to add new or transform existing data, as well as to search for data in the database, a common managed method is used.

The following requirements are imposed on the organization of databases:

1) easy, fast and cheap implementation of database application development;

2) the possibility of multiple use of data;

3) saving the costs of mental labor, expressed in the existence of a program and logical data structures that are not altered when changes are made to the database;

4) simplicity;

5) ease of use;

6) flexibility of use;

7) high speed of processing unplanned requests for data;

8) ease of making changes;

9) low costs; low cost of storing and using data and minimizing the cost of making changes;

10) low data redundancy;

11) productivity;

12) reliability of data and compliance with one level of updating; it is necessary to apply control over the reliability of data; the system prevents different versions of the same data elements from being available to users at different stages of updating;

13) secrecy; unauthorized access to data is impossible; restriction of access to the same data for different types of their use can be carried out in different ways;

14) protection from distortion and destruction; data must be protected from failures;

15) readiness; the user quickly receives data whenever he needs it.

In the process of creating and operating a data bank, users of different categories participate, with the main category being end users, i.e. those for whose needs the data bank is being created.

7.7. Organizer programs

The organizer program is designed to provide effective time planning for a business person. It is used both in standalone mode and in shared mode.

This program allows you to store, schedule and manage information about events, appointments, meetings, tasks and contacts.

An event is an event that takes place in the time interval of a day or more, for example, a birthday.

A meeting is an event for which time is reserved, but no resources and persons are assigned, such as a conversation, lecture, etc. Meetings can be one-time or recurring.

A meeting is a meeting for which resources are assigned and people are invited, such as a meeting.

A task is a set of necessary requirements that must be met.

A contact is an organization or person with whom a connection is maintained. Typically, information is stored on contactees, which may include job title, postal address, telephone number, etc.

The program has the ability to use notes and diaries. Notes are the electronic equivalent of a loose-leaf paper notepad. The diary is a means of storing important documents, accounting for various actions and events.

When planning, the schedule includes an indication of notification of each of the specific events, and this allows you not to forget about an important event. Contact details can be easily found, read and updated in the organizer; it also stores information that is used to generate an electronic address of any type. Microsoft Outlook is a convenient tool for working with e-mail. The user of this program in the teamwork mode grants access rights to someone else's schedule for scheduling meetings and appointments.

There are the following types and modes of operation:

▪ with mail folders, which include folders for incoming, outgoing, sent and deleted messages;

▪ calendar in the most user-friendly view. For example, review the schedule of planned activities, meetings and events, plan your own schedule;

▪ address information about any individual or legal entity;

▪ a diary in which information about completed contacts, meetings, assignments, open files, etc. is automatically entered;

▪ notes to remind you of what is happening;

▪ using it as a Conductor.

Microsoft Outlook can be launched in one of two ways: by clicking the Start button, selecting Programs, and then Microsoft Outlook, or by using the Microsoft Outlook button on the MS Office panel.

The Microsoft Outlook window is divided into two parts by a vertical bar. The Microsoft Outlook panel on the left contains icons for program elements: Diary, Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Tasks. On the right is the work area, the contents of which change when you click on one of the icons on the left. You can see other icons as you scroll to the left. To select the Inbox folder on the screen, click the Mail icon. By clicking on the icon Other folders, you can see the contents of the folders of the hard disk file structure.

You can hide the Outlook bar by right-clicking on it and selecting Hide Outlook Bar from the context menu. To navigate between Outlook items, click the arrow to the right of the folder name and select the required Outlook item from the list. You can also navigate through items sequentially using the Previous and Next buttons on the toolbar.

7.8. Presentation programs

You can create presentations using the AutoContent Wizard. To do this, after clicking on the Power Point icon in the Microsoft Office panel, you must wait for the main program window to appear and the Helpful Hint dialog box, which contains information that can help with further work on the presentation. By clicking the Next button in this window, it is possible to read the next tip, and by clicking the OK button, close the window. Once the dialog box has closed, PowerPoint offers several ways to create presentations: using the AutoContent Wizard, a presentation template, or just a blank presentation. It is also possible to open a file of an already existing presentation.

If the user is not familiar with how to develop presentations, then it is better to use the help of the AutoContent Wizard. To do this, select the appropriate radio button and press the OK button in the above window. As a result, six dialog boxes will appear on the screen in succession, in which it is possible to set the main characteristics of the presentation being created.

The AutoContent Wizard advances to the next dialog box when you click the Next button, and returns to the previous window when you click the Back button.

In the second window, in which data is entered for the design of the title slide, data about the user, the name of the company, some kind of motto, etc. are entered. This information is placed on the title slide.

The most important is the third window of the AutoContent Wizard, which is called the Presentation Type Selection window. It provides the following presentation types:

1) strategy recommendation;

2) selling a product, service or idea;

3) training;

4) report on achievements;

5) reporting bad news, etc.

Assume that the type selected is Sell a product, service, or idea. The content should talk about the benefits of this product, service or idea, compare it with competitors, etc.

If no suitable topic is found in this window, click the Other button to get a list of presentation templates. After selecting a presentation template, you must click the Next button and go to the last window of the AutoContent Wizard. Otherwise, in the fourth window, you should select the presentation style and set the duration of your speech. The fifth window defines how the presentation will be given out and indicates whether a handout is needed. Finally, the sixth PowerPoint window informs you that the preliminary work on creating the presentation is completed, and prompts you to click the Finish button. After a certain time, the title slide of the presentation will appear on the computer screen. In order not to lose the results of your work, you should save the presentation in the appropriate folder by calling the Save command on the File menu.

The PowerPoint system allows the user to work and view information in various ways. The type of work being done determines the appropriate type of presentation, which greatly improves the usability. There are five such types, and their establishment is carried out by pressing one of the buttons at the bottom of the main program window.

The slide view is most convenient when each slide is gradually formed, a design is chosen for it, text or graphics are inserted.

The structure type must be set to work on the text of the presentation. In this case, it is possible to view the titles of all slides, all the text and structure of the presentation.

The Slide Sorter view is the most convenient for adding transitions and setting the duration of the slide on the screen. In addition, in this mode, you can swap slides in places.

Notes view is used to create notes for the report.

The demo is used to see the results of the work. In this mode, the slides are displayed one by one on the screen. The required view is set using commands from the View menu.

Your presentation will look better if you design all of its slides in the same style. However, it often becomes necessary to place the same design element on all slides, so in PowerPoint it is possible to set the same design for all slides and pages. This is done in sample mode.

To enter this mode, select the Sample command in the View menu, and in the opened submenu - the presentation element, the sample of which should be corrected as you wish.

There are two commands for slides in the menu - Slide Master and Title Master. The second command is used to define the title slide master, the appearance of all other slides in the presentation depends on the slide masters.

After selecting the Slide Master command, you can see that in each area of ​​the slide there is a hint about what you need to do to make any changes to the master. It is possible to set the type, style and size of the font, set the parameters of paragraphs, change the size of the areas of the sample, place a picture in it or draw some graphic element. In this case, all the elements in the master will appear on each slide of the presentation, and the changes made will immediately be reflected in all other slides.

Thus, in PowerPoint it is possible to create an individual design and define elements that should be the same for the entire presentation.

If the dialog box that opens when you call PowerPoint, or the presentation file that the user worked with, has closed, then in order to create a new presentation, you should call the New command from the File menu. After that, the Create Presentation window appears on the screen with the Presentation Designs section active. In this dialog box, you should set the presentation design template. When you click on one of the templates, its image appears in the Preview window. After selecting a template, you must double-click on it, after which the Create Slide dialog box will open. In the Select Auto Layout area, you need to define an auto layout for the slide you are creating. In the lower right corner of the window is its main and brief characteristics. After double-clicking on the Auto Layout sample, a new slide containing placeholders will appear on the screen.

The window for creating a new slide is opened by selecting the New Slide command from the Insert menu or by activating the key combination Ctrl + M.

PowerPoint presentations may include multimedia (sound bites, videos, etc.).

7.9. Working on the Internet with MS OFFICE 97 applications

The Internet is capable of supporting all components of MS Office 97. With Word 97, you can convert traditional DOC files into HTML Web pages. Power Pointl 97 allows you to create presentations for sending via the WWW, and Excel 97 allows you to export the worksheets it has created to HTML tables.

In addition, the list of available Internet sites may include FTP sites. If the enterprise uses a corporate intranet, then documents can be opened directly in it. Just like the Internet, intranets use a viewer and communication software. Some of these networks allow you to access the Internet through a secure gateway called a firewall. If you have the appropriate access rights and if the FTP site supports saving files, documents can be saved to the Internet using the Save Document dialog box of MS Office programs.

Using Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point and Microsoft Access, you can view hyperlinked MS Office documents and determine their location. In MS Office documents, to work with hyperlinks, you must have access to the Internet.

MS Office programs make it easier to view hyperlinked documents using the Web toolbar, which can be used to open the start page or search page in the Web Viewer. The Web Toolbar helps you place documents you find on the Web that you want to use in your Favorites folder for quick access. Panel 1 Web contains a list of the 10 most recent documents that were opened using the Web panel or hyperlinks. The list provides the ability to quickly return to these documents.

Web pages that include hyperlinks, data, tables, and charts in Excel 97 worksheets can be created using Microsoft Office applications.

Hyperlinks are shortcuts that allow you to quickly switch to another book or file. Switching is carried out on the user's computer files, on the Internet and WWW; hyperlinks are created from text cells or graphic objects such as shapes or pictures.

Office 97 combines two information technologies that define a new model of working with a computer. The first is based on the fact that information can be placed anywhere - on a local hard disk, in a local or corporate network or the global Internet; the second is that users really do not work with applications, but directly with documents and the information contained in them.

There are two ways to work:

1) work with Office applications with periodic requests in an intranet company or the Internet for the necessary Web page (document, add-in) for the application or additional information about the program;

2) work inside Internet Explorer, its use as the only environment in which you can view and modify any document located on the user's disk, on the company network or the Internet.

Office 97 and Internet Explorer form a single universal tool that allows you to view and edit documents, and this makes it possible to find, view and edit any information.

When using an Internet browser that allows you to navigate between Web pages and display them on the screen, you can find a Web page or document in three ways:

1) enter the address manually;

2) click on a text or graphic hyperlink that will request the page you are looking for;

3) click on a link that is stored in the log or node list.

7.10. Stages of solving problems using a computer

Solving problems using a computer should consist of the following main steps, some of which are carried out without the participation of a computer.

1. Statement of the problem:

▪ gathering information about the task;

▪ expression of the problem conditions;

▪ identifying the ultimate goals of solving a problem;

▪ establishing a form for issuing results;

▪ description of data (their types, ranges of values, structure, etc.).

2. Analysis and study of the task, task models:

▪ study of existing analogues;

▪ study of hardware and software;

▪ development of a mathematical model:

▪ development of data structures.

3. Algorithm definition:

▪ Establishment of the algorithm design method;

▪ identifying the form of writing the algorithm (flowcharts, pseudocode, etc.);

▪ definition of tests and testing method;

▪ development of an algorithm.

4. Programming stage:

▪ definition of a programming language;

▪ choosing ways to organize data;

▪ registration of the algorithm in the selected programming language.

5. Testing and debugging phase:

▪ syntactic debugging;

▪ Debugging semantics and logical structure;

▪ test calculations and analysis of test results;

▪ improvement of the received program.

6. Consideration of the results of solving the problem and, if necessary, refinement of the mathematical model with repeated execution of steps 2-5.

7. Maintenance of the program:

▪ refinement of the program to solve specific problems;

▪ compilation of documentation for a solved problem, mathematical model, algorithm, program, set of tests, use.

However, not all tasks require a clear sequence of these steps. Sometimes their number may change.

Author: Kozlova I.S.

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