Computer Software

Learning Features
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Describe several important trends occurring in computer software. Give example of several major types of application and system software. Explain the purpose of several popular software packages for end user productivity and collaborative computing. Describe the main uses of computer programming software, tools, and language.
By. Shafiq A. Chachar

Introduction to Software
Types of Software: Lets begin our analysis of software by looking at an overview of the major types and functions of application software and system software available to computer users.
By. Shafiq A. Chachar

Programs
Program - A set of instructions that causes the computer system to perform specific actions. Programming Language - A set of rules used to write computer programs. The ability to program makes computer general purpose device.
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Software
Software are computer programs, including application programs, operating systems, compilers, interpreters, and assemblers and utilities. Two types of software Applications software Systems software
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Application Software
A combination of programs which enables a business application (e.g. a purchase ledger) to be processed by a computer. Application software written for one particular purpose is termed bespoke software.
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Application Software
computing bank account interest preparing bills creating letters and book manuscripts preparing and analyzing budgets managing files and databases playing games scheduling airline flights diagnosing patients illnesses
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Application Software
Productivity software is the class of applications software designed to make workers more productive at their jobs. For e.g., word processors, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, database management, desktop publishing, web browser
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System Software
Background programs, such as the operating system, that enable application programs to run on a computer systems hardware. For e.g. operating system, compilers, interpreters and assemblers.
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Software Package
Software package consist of one or more program disks, a printed users guide, and a printed users license inside a shrink wrapped box or plastic case. Each revision is referred to as a version or release.

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Types of Software Software

Application Software
General Purpose Application Program

Performs Information Processing Tasks for End Users

System Management Programs

System Software

Managers and Supports Operations of Computer Systems and Networks

Application Specific Programs

System Development Programs

Software Suites Web Browsers Electronic Mail Word Processing Spreadsheets Database Managers Presentation Graphics Personal Information Managers Groupware

Business- Accounting, Transaction Processing. Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Electronic Commerce etc. Science and Engineering

Operating systems Networking Management Programs Database Management Systems Application Servers System Utilities

Programming Language Translators Programming Editors and Tools Computer Aided software Engineering (CASE) Packages

Education Performance and Entertainment etc By. Shafiq A. Chachar security Monitors

Software Suites and Integrated Packages

Programs Microsoft Office
Word

Lotus Smart Suite

WordPro 1-2-3

Corel Word Sun Star Perfect Office Office

Word perfect Quattro Pro Star Writer Star Calc Star Impress Star base

Word Processor

Spreadsheet Excel

Presentation Power point Freelance Presentation Graphics Database Manager Personal Information Manager Access Outlook Approach Paradox

Organizer Corel Central Star schedule

By. Shafiq A. Chachar

Web Browsers and More:

The most important software components for many computer users today is the once simple and limited, but now powerful and feature-rich, Web browser. A browser like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer is the key software interface to point and click your way through the hyper linked resources of the World wide Web and rest of the internet as well as corporate intranets and extranets.

Electronic Mail and Instant Messaging:

The first thing many people do at work all over the world is check their e-mail.Electronic Mail has changed the way people work and communicate. Instant messaging (IM) is an e-mail/computer conferencing hybrid technology that has grown so rapidly that it has become a standard method of electronic messaging for millions of internet users worldwide.
By. Shafiq A. Chachar

Word Processing and Desktop Publishing

Software for word processing has transformed the process of writing. Word processing packages computerize the creation, editing, revision, and printing of documents (such as letters, memos, and reports) by electrically processing you text data (words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs). Word processing packages also provide advanced features. For example, a spelling checker capability can identify and correct spelling errors, and a thesaurus feature helps you find a better choice of words to express ideas. You can also identify and correct grammar and punctuation errors, as well as suggest possible improvement in your writing style, with grammar and style checker functions. End users and organizations can be desktop publishing (DTP) software to produce their own printed materials that look professionally published. That is, they can design and print their own newsletters, brochures, manuals, and books with several type styles, graphics, photos and colors on each By. Shafiq A. Chachar page.

Electronic Spreadsheets:
Electronic spreadsheet packages like Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, and Corel Quattro Pro are used for business analysis, planning, and modeling. They help you develop an electronic spreadsheet, which is a worksheet of rows and columns that can be stored on your PC or a network server, or converted to HTML format and stored as a Web page or web sheet on the World Wide Web.
By. Shafiq A. Chachar

Data base Management

Microcomputer versions of database management programs have become so popular that they are now viewed as general-purpose application software packages like word processing and spread sheet packages. Database management packages such as Microsoft Access, Lotus Approach, or Corel Paradox allow you to set up and manage databases on your PC network server, or the World Wide Web. Data base development:Define and organize the content, relationships, and structure of the data needed to build a database, including any hyperlinks to data on Web pages. Database interrogation. Access the data in a database to display information in a variety of formats. End users can selectively retrieve and display information and produce forms, reports, and other documents, including Web pages. Database maintenance. Add, delete, update and correct the data in a database, including hyper linked data on Web pages. Application Development. Develop prototypes of Web pages, queries, forms, reports, and labels for a proposed business application. Use a built in application generator to program the application .
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Presentation Graphics
Which type of display would you rather see: columns or rows of numbers, or a graphics display of the same information ? Presentation graphics packages help you convert numeric data into graphics displays such as line charts, bar graphs, pie charts and many other types of graphics. Most of the top packages also help you prepare multimedia presentation of graphics, photos, animation, and video clips, including publishing to the World Wide Web.
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Personal Information Managers

The personal information manager (PIM) is a popular software package for end user productivity and collaboration, and is a popular application for personal digital assistant (PDA) hand-held devices. PIMs such as Lotus Organizer and Microsoft Outlook help end users store, organize, and retrieve information about customers, clients, and prospects, or schedule and manage appointments meetings, and tasks.
By. Shafiq A. Chachar

Groupware
Groupware is collaboration software, that is, software that helps workgroups and team work together to accomplish group assignments. Groupware is a fast-growing category of general purpose application software that combines a variety of software features and functions to facilitate collaboration. For example, groupware products like lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, Microsoft exchange, and Netscape Communicator support collaboration through electronic mail, discussion groups and databases, scheduling, task management, data, audio and videoconferencing and so on.
By. Shafiq A. Chachar

An IS Framework for Business Professionals

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System Software : Computer System Management

System Software Overview: System software consists of programs that mange and support a computer system and its information processing activities. For example operating system and network management programs serve as a vital software interface between computer networks and hardware and the application programs of end users. System Software into two major categories: System Management programs System development programs
By. Shafiq A. Chachar

Operating System
The most important system software package for any computer is its operating system. An operating system is an integrated system of programs that manages the operations of the CPU, controls the input/output and storage resources and activities of the computer system, and provides various support services as the computer executes the application programs of users.

By. Shafiq A. Chachar

The system and application software interface between end users and computer hardware.
End Users Application Software System Software Computer Hardware System Management and Development
General-Purpose *Application Specific

End Users
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The basic functions of an operating system include a user interface, resource management, file management, and utilities and other functions

User Interface

End User / system and Network Communication

Resource Management
Managing the use of Hardware Resources

Task Management

File Management

Utilities And other Functions

Providing a variety of support services

Managing data and Managing the Accomplishment of Program Files By. Shafiq A. Chachar tasks

Programming Languages
Machine Languages Assembler Languages High-Level Languages Fourth- Generation Languages Object- Oriented Languages HTML, XML and Java

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Language Translator Programs

Assembler Compiler Interpreter

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