General Purpose Packages

Standard Grade

Application Packages

• An Application Package is a computer program that processes data using a series of instructions.

• There are lots of applications from games (like Tomb Raider) to spreadsheets (like Microsoft Excel).

• General Purpose Packages are application packages that can be used for more than one type of task.

What is a GPP

• What’s the difference between Tomb Raider & Excel?– Tomb Raider only has one (single) purpose.– You can not add any information to it you can

only follow instructions– Excel can be used for many different

purposes – But you have to supply your own information.– Therefore it is a General Purpose

Application

Types of GPP

• Word Processing• Spreadsheet• Database• Graphics• Desk Top Publishing• Presentation & Multimedia• Web Page Creation• Expert Systems

Why GPPs?

• They allow the user to solve a range of problems and carry out complex tasks

• We need to keep our information:

– Accurate

– Complete

– Up-to-date

• We need to be able to share information

What’s in a GPPWhen you buy a general purpose package it will normally include the following:

– A Installation Guide - Instructions about how to install the software from the storage media

– A Tutorial Guide - A set of lessons to teach the user how to use the main features of the software.

– A Manual - A book of instructions on how to use the software

– Software Licence - The user must read and sign this document before installing the software.

Common Features

• Run/Open application• Start a new file• Load/Open file• Insert/Amend/Delete

Data• Cut, Copy, Paste,

Move data

• Print a section of the document

• Add headers & footers• Change text appearance• Print data• Save data

Human Computer Interface• The way the user and computer

communicate

• This can be Command Driven, it is difficult to learn and use:

• Or it can be a Graphical User Interface (GUI) – This uses the WIMP environment

C:\WINDOWS>PROGRAMFILES\MICROSOFTWORD

WIMP Interface• Designed to be user friendly

• Consists of:– Windows– Icons– Menus– Pointers– Also Toolbars

• Keyboard shortcuts are available for advanced users

Customising the HCI

• Changing the HCI to suit the user

• Examples:

– Change display font and size

– Choose user dictionary

– Altering packages menus

– Change icon names and styles

– Change background (Wallpaper)

– Change colour scheme

Templates & Wizards

• A wizard is a feature that helps you through the process of creating a document

• For example: The chart wizard– Guides you through the steps of creating a chart

• Most wizards offer templates (blank documents), which you add information to.– The chart wizard offers templates for different

charts and types of charts.

Chart Wizard

Chart Sub-Type Templates

Chart Type Templates

On-Line Help & On-Line Tutorials

Online means ‘while you are using the program’ nothing to do with internet.

• On-Line Help– Provides help– In the form of

information screens, which you can open up.

• On-Line Tutorials– A series of guided

lessons on how to use the package

– Teaches the basics, enough to get started.

Software Integration

• Combine two or more GPPs in one single package– Eg word processor,

database & spreadsheet

• Advantages:– Common HCI– Links between tasks– Ease of transfer of

data

• Disadvantages:– Less powerful, fewer

tools

Static & Dynamic Linking

• Static Data Linkage– Data in each part of the package is separate– Changing it in one part will not affect any other

files using that data

• Dynamic Data Linkage– If data is changed in one part it

will change all other documents using that data

Dear Mr Tightwad,

You will be pleased to note that our sales figures have increased as shown below:-

I hope that you will reconsider my request for a pay rise.

Your sincerely

I.M. Poor

Dear Mr Tightwad,

You will be pleased to note that our sales figures have increased as shown below:-

I hope that you will reconsider my request for a pay rise.

Your sincerely

I.M. Poor

Static (change not included) Dynamic (Change included)

Integration between separate packages in a software suite

• A software suite is a collection of separate applications sold as a single package.

• For example:– Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Access– Lotus SmartSuite: Word Pro, 1-2-3, Freelance

Graphics, Organizer, Fast Site, Screen Cam, ViaVoice

– Sun Star Office: Star Writer, StartCalc, Start Office Base

• More powerful than integrated packages and can still share data between different packages

Selection of Packages

• Which package do you choose for a particular task?

• Some packages have multiple features– For example word processors can create

graphics and you can perform calculations with databases.

• To select the appropriate package consider:– What hardware & software is available– The nature of the task

Selection of PackagesPackage Main Purpose

Word processing Production of text

Spreadsheet Numbers & calculations

Database Storing, sorting, searching & organising data

Graphics Drawing pictures, graphs or charts

Desktop Publishing Page layout

Presentation Production of slides

Web page Creation Making web pages

Expert Systems Classifying data, diagnosing problems or giving advice

Data Types

• Number – 0, 1, 2, 3, 999, 0.85

• Text – ABCD, abcd

• Graphic – diagrams & pictures

• Audio – music & sound

• Photographic – Digital still images

• Animation – moving graphics

• Video – digital moving images

Calculation of Storage Requirements

Storage Capacity• 1 Kilobyte

– 1024 bytes

• 1 Megabyte– 1024 x 1024 =

1048576 bytes

• 1 Gigabyte – 1024 x 1048576

bytes

Storage• Why backup?

– If something happens to the data there

will be an recent copy available on backing storage

• Advantages of standard file formats – Text can be transferred between applications

packages provided it is stored in a standard file format which both packages can understand.

• ASCII consists of plain text, each character is coded with its own unique code which has a number

• RTF (Rich Text Format) holds information about the typefaces, sizes, colour and styles used

Advantages of GPPs

• What are the advantages over paper, ink and brainpower?

• Increased productivity because of:– Speed & accuracy of

processing– Ease of amendment– Layout flexibility– Availability of information

• Easier for many people to access the same data.