Application Software Concepts Quiz

Software Systems and Applications

• Software is categorized into application and system software.
• Application software includes word processors, spreadsheets, and circuit simulators.
• System software includes operating systems, enablers (disk drivers, display drivers), and translators (MIPS assemblers, C compilers).
• Operating systems act as coordinators, handling scheduling, load balancing, and diagnostics.
• Enablers manage the technical aspects of hardware interaction (disk drivers, display drivers).
• Translators convert high-level programming languages to machine code.

Software Objectives

• Microsoft Office includes Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, and PowerPoint.
• File management involves managing files, folders, and paths.
• Software management covers installing and removing software.
• Antivirus software protects against malicious programs.

Horizontal Applications

• Horizontal applications are used across various departments within a company, and are often popular among consumers.
• Examples of horizontal applications include word processing, spreadsheets, address books, web browsers, and email for personal productivity; and desktop publishing, photo editing, and 3D rendering for multimedia/graphics; and internet programs, personal finance, tax preparation, reference materials, and games for home/education.

Vertical Applications

• Vertical applications are designed for specific business functions.
• Types include billing programs, inventory tracking programs, point-of-sale software, and custom software, which are tailored to meet a particular company's needs.

Commercial Software, Shareware, Freeware

• Copyright protects software, prohibiting copying, altering, or using on multiple computers.
• Commercial software requires purchase before use.
• Shareware allows trial use before purchase.
• Freeware is free but not copyrightable.
• Public domain software has no copyright restrictions.
• Time-limited trial versions are free but expire after a set period.
• Beta versions are preliminary, experimental versions of programs.
• Copy protected software is designed to prevent unauthorized copying.

Software Licenses

• A license grants the right to install and use a program on one computer.
• Multiple-computer installations require site licenses.

Software Version Numbers

• Software version numbers identify program releases.
• Recent versions have higher numbers than earlier ones (e.g., Version 6.0 is later than Version 1.0).
• Whole numbers indicate major revisions (e.g., 1.0, 2.0).
• Decimal numbers represent maintenance releases and fixes (e.g., 1.1, 1.2).

Integrated Programs

• Standalone programs have a single purpose (e.g., photo editing).
• Integrated programs combine multiple programs (e.g., accounting software combining databases and spreadsheets).
• Software suites consist of several integrated programs (e.g., word processor, database, and spreadsheet).

Using Application Software

• Software installs on the hard drive, using installation utilities.
• Installations change the operating system's registry.
• Uninstall utilities are used to correctly remove programs, not direct file deletion.

Web Integration

• Web integration tools allow the creation of internet compatible documents.
• Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard format for web documents.
• Using word processors or publishing programs users can create websites, personal web pages, or email.

Chapter Summary

• Application software is categorized as horizontal or vertical.
• Horizontal software is widely used and targeted at consumers.
• Vertical software serves specific business needs.
• Copyrighted software includes commercial software, shareware, and freeware.
• Common software types include public domain, time-limited trial, and beta versions.
• Integrated programs combine various features in a single application suite.
• Software licensing grants the right to use on one or multiple computers.
• Version numbers indicate software releases (revisions & maintenance).
• Web integration enables compatibility across internet platforms.

MS Word Essentials

• Microsoft Word is used to work with documents.
• The navigation pane allows quick navigation within documents.
• The navigation pane has various views including thumbnails, document map, and reviewing pane.
• Users can format text, paragraph properties, and special formatting characters.
• The home tab provides options for font selection, formatting, alignment, indentation, line spacing, and more.

Skill 2: Formatting

• Formatting includes font size, text color, and bold, italic, and underline options.
• Paragraph formatting includes indentation, line spacing, and alignment.
• These formatting options are found in the Home tab of Word.

Skill 3: Page Layout

• To access header and footer options, double-click the top or bottom of a page.

Skill 4: Reviewing and Collaboration

• The review tab supports editing and collaboration tools.
• Users can work on documents together, making changes or suggested edits.
• Mail merge capabilities allow creating multiple documents from a single template.

Skill 5: Macros

• Macros are a series of commands used to automate tasks with one click.
• Macros can format text, insert images, and run spell checkers.

Skill 9: Templates

• Templates provide ready-made document designs.
• Users can create various documents such as letterheads, resumes, and invoices using templates.

Skill 6: References and Citations

• Using references and citations supports research integrity.
• Footnote options are found in the References tab, for creating citations.

Skill 7: Protecting Documents

• Documents can be protected with passwords to control editing/formatting.

Adding Images

• Images can be added to a document from a computer or the internet.
• Accessing stock images requires a valid Microsoft account.

Worksheet Components in Excel

• Worksheets are the individual spreadsheets in an Excel workbook.
• Each box is called a cell, containing values, labels, or formulas, and are identified by column letters and row numbers.
• Worksheets may contain cells with data such as values, formulas, and labels.
• Worksheets enable data management.
• Worksheets utilize named cells, column letters, and row numbers to access individual cells.

Spreadsheets in Excel

• Spreadsheets or worksheets are the main component of Excel.
• Workbooks can contain multiple worksheets.
• Toolbars in Excel (Ribbons, Quick Access Toolbar) are used for different purposes.
• Excel worksheets are composed of cells to facilitate data arrangements and calculations.
• Formulas in worksheets link cell contents to facilitate calculations.

Formulas in Excel

• Formulas are expressions that process data, resulting in a value or label.
• Formulas always start with an equals sign.
• Formulas can incorporate built-in functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, IF, and COUNTIF in the calculation process.
• Excel formulas use mathematical operators to perform calculations, adhering to the order of precedence.

Excel Formulas - Specifics

• A formula is a sequence of values, cell references, and operators that evaluate to a new value.
• The formula always begins with an equals sign (=).
• The formula could contain built-in functions (ex: SUM, AVERAGE, IF, COUNTIF...).
• Data precision and cell display need to be considered when writing formulas for accuracy.
• Various operators can be utilized in writing a formula including /, *, +, -, or ^.
• Operator precedence dictates the order of actions to be calculated in a formula (ex: Parentheses, Exponentiation, Multiplication & Division, Addition & Subtraction, Relational Operators)

Microsoft Excel - Vocabulary

• Workbook: Excel file with one or more sheets/pages
• Worksheet: individual spreadsheet
• Ribbon: tabbed sections
• Row: horizontal, numbers
• Column: vertical, letters
• Cell: address for data
• Values: numerical data
• Labels: text for data description
• Active Cell: selected cell
• Formula Bar: displays value/formula.

Microsoft Outlook Components

• Outlook is an email and organization tool.
• Outlook enables sending and receiving emails, maintaining calendars, scheduling meetings, and contact information storage.

Microsoft Access Components

• Access is a database management system.
• A database enables organization of data for useful and meaningful results.
• Access uses various components ranging from tables and forms to queries and reports to manage data.

Guidelines for Designing Databases

• Database design involves identifying fields, organizing data, and establishing relationships.
• Properly creating fields and using properties as constraints on data type and length ensures useful results.
• Tables are used to group related data, and a primary key is identified for each table.
• A common field is included in related tables to manage relationships.

Viewing and Modifying Field Data Types and Formatting

• Field data types can be viewed and modified within the Access program's settings.
• Changing field attributes affects how data is managed in the table and across relationships.

Creating a Table in Design View

• Designing new tables in Design View involves defining field names, data types, and descriptions.
• This step helps set up properties and attributes, such as constraints, input formats, and more.

Defining a Field in Design View

• In design view, field names, data types, and descriptions are added or modified to accommodate necessary characteristics.
• Data types will govern what values are allowed in each field.

Specifying the Primary Key

• Specifying the primary key is necessary to identify data integrity and relationships.
• Primary keys identify unique records within each table.

Moving a Field

• In design view, fields can be moved.
• Drag and drop to achieve correct field positions within a table.

Defining Table Relationships

• Defining relationships between tables using a common field.
• A relationship is needed to link the two or more tables.
• The link is the primary key of a table to a field in another table. (e.g., from a Customer table to a CreditCards table. The relationship in this case is by using the common field "card Name")

Importing Data from an Excel Worksheet

• Data from Excel spreadsheets/workbooks can be imported into Access tables.
• The data is copied into a new Access table or appends to an existing table.
• Relationships are needed to define links between Tables, and integrity will depend on data types.

Adding a Field Between Two Existing Fields

• New fields can be inserted in design view.
• A field can be added by inserting a new row between two existing fields using the insert rows functionality.

Deleting Fields from the Customer Table

• Fields can be deleted from a table.
• This process removes columns from a table, but not from any relationships established between other tables.

Renaming Fields in the Customer Table

• Field names can be changed to enhance readability or accuracy in a table.
• Existing field names can be updated within a table.

Moving Fields in the Customer Table

• Fields within a table can be repositioned to different locations.
• The position of a field in a table design is changed in design view.

Entering Records in the Customer Table

• Records relating to customers can be added.
• New records are added to the table using entry fields.

Adding Data to a Table by Importing a Text File

• Text files containing data can be imported.
• This data can be appended to an existing table.

Other aspects

• File Naming Conventions: Includes guidelines for how files are named.
• Commonly Used File Extensions: Includes typical file extensions.
• File Management Utilities: Explains features of My Computer utility.
• File Management Mode: Describes options to manage files.
• Creating Folders: Explains how to create new folders in a folder structure.
• Software Management Rules: Establishes guidelines for obtaining, installing, and removing software.
• Anti-Virus Software: Importance of anti-virus software, and the need for regular updates and use.

Test your knowledge on key concepts related to application software and relational databases. This quiz covers software suites, installation procedures, referential integrity, and table relationships. Perfect for students studying computer science or software applications.