Various editing facilities are also available. After the

cursor has been moved to the required position, characters can be

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deleted or inserted. When this happens, the rest of the text is

automatically moved along to keep the spacing of the text cor-

rect. Other facilities allow sections of the text to be moved or

copied to another position without having to key in the charac-

ters again. There may also be a facility for the program to se-

arch for all the occurences of a given and replace it with anot-

her word.

By inserting special command codes into the text (embedded

codes), the user can control how it will be printed out e.g.

words may be underlined, printed in bold type or in italics. It

may also be possible to create an index by marking words with em-

bedded codes. After the text has been keyed in, the program will

automatically print out an index of the marked words and page re-

ferences of where they occur in the text.

Some word processors have a built-in spelling checker which

will compare words in the text with a dictionary of words in the

computer`s memory. Is any unknown word or spelling is found, it

will be indicated to the user.

When the text is complete, it can be permanently stored in a

backing store. This allows the text to be used again at a diffe-

rent time without having to retype it. It may also be possible to

merge two or more stored texts to give one longer text.

The text can be printed out on paper using a printer. Before

this is done, the user can determine the print layout. This inc-

ludes deciding on such things as page numbering, line spacing,

size of margins and justification i.e. whether to have the left

or right edge of the text straight.

Mail merging facilities combine a database with the word

processor. This enables names and addresses stored in the databa-

se to be automatically inserted into the text. In this way, stan-

dard letters can be addressed to a number of different people.

Task 3

Each of these figures illustrates a feature of word processing.

Label each figure with the correct term from this list.

word-wrap spelling checker

edditing facilities embedded codes

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mail merging left and right justification

1

An ordinary typewriter cannot do this but a word processor can

automatically adjust the spacing of the text so that both edges

are straight.

2

Before: This feature compairs words in the text with a dictio-

nary stored in the memory.

After: This feature compares words in the text with a dictio-

nary stored in the memory.

3

Before: It is very difficult to do on a typewriter without re-

typing the entire line.

After: It is very difficult to do this on a typewriter without

the line.

4

Dear ......... Mr E.H.Jones

Winspur Avenue

You have been specially srelected

from all the residents of ....... Mrs F.Jones

............ to receive an offer 3 Station Road

which is unrepeatable.

5

These features control the way the text be printed out.

6

Typewriter: This feature makes keying in much simpler on a word

processor than on a typewriter.

Word This feature makes keying in much simpler on a word

processor: than on a typewriter.

Task 4

Fill in each space in this description with a suitable time

word from this list.

when before after until once as

..... 1 ...... a text is being keyed in, the screen displays the

number of bytes remaining. The user can continue to input text

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.....2..... no more space remains in the memory. ....3..... this

happens, the text must be transferred to backing store ....4.....

more text is input.

......5..... the text has been completed, it should be saved.

...6... printing is done, the user should decide on the layout. A

spelling checker can be used to check for errors ....7.... the

final version is printed. ....8..... the layout has been chosen

and the spelling checked, the text can be printed out.

Task 5

Fill in each space in this description with one word.

Word processors allow texts ...1.... be produced more quick-

ly .....2..... ordinary typewriters. Mistakes can ...3... correc-

ted easily and even the final layout ...4... the text can be

planned before printing. ...5... text can be stored ...6... a

backing store, they ...7... be used again and again. ...8... avo-

id unnecessary work. In ...9... way word processors simplify the

work ...10... writing and editing texts.

Task 6

Fill in each space in this description with a suitable pre-

position.

Spreadsheet programs are used ...1... business people

...2... financial planning. A spreadsheet is like a very large

sheet of paper divided ...3... vertical columns and horizontzl

rows. Each column is labelled ...4... a number ...5... easy refe-

rence. Because the spreadsheet is large, only part of it can be

displayed ...6... a time but it is simple for the user to go qu-

ickly ...7... one section ...8... another.

Writing

Task 7

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List the similarities and differences between a word proces-

sor and a typewriter. List the main advantages of a word proces-

sor. Then write a short text comparing and contrasting the typew-

riter and word processor.

U N I T 6 B

C O M P U T E R S O F T W A R E

Start-up

Task 1

In the magazine article which follows, a number of software

developers express their opinions on the future of software tech-

nology. Read the article and tick ( ) the relevant boxes to show

which opinions are expressed by the speakers.

Opinions Mary Gerry Matt Bob

Evans Harper Andrews Bolton

In general,customers are getting

what they want.

In general,customers are not

getting what they want.

Software is too complex.

Software is not complex enough.

Software developes know what

users want.

Software developers don't

know what users want.

CATHERINE BULL I N V E S T I G A T E S

THIS WEEK: SOFTWARE

Software technology is getting more complicated. Developers ha-

ve to cut through a jungle of computer languages,operating envi-

ronments, and shifting standards to choose how they'll create

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their software. It's not an easy job. Software purchasers will

have to live with the results for years to come. Which advances

in software technology will prevail? Which ones will be just a

flash in the pan?

I chose four well-known software developers and asked each

to talk about current and future trends in software technology.

Their comments reveal some common and diverse themes.

I began by asking them if they thought that software purcha-

sers are getting what they heed? What should developers be doing

differently to give purchasers a better product?

MARY EVANS In general,I think people are getting what they want

- there are a lot of creative things being done with paint soft-

ware,word processing, DTP (desktop publishing) systems,and the

like. Do users want more? Of course! Users will always want more.

The computer is an incredibly powerful tool,and any software that

makes it easier, faster, more creative, or more cost-effective

will inevitably be in demand. But I'm generally optimistic about

the way things are going at the moment. I think most of the major

software manufacturers are able to read the market quite well.

GERRY HARPER I'm afraid I completely disagree with Mary. I just

don't think that software purchasers are getting the technical

support they need. While the products are getting more and more

complex,and more and more expensive,it seems that support is

starting to be thought of as an additional business opportunity.

More generally,I've thought for some time that applications are

getting too big,and that they're trying to do too much.

Yes,they're versatile and powerful,but they're also often overw-

helming. I think what we need are simple little programs that are

easy to understand and use,and that work together to accomplish

more complex tasks.

MATT ANDREWS I really can't agree with that. To imagine we can

just go back to "simple little programs" just ignores the complex

needs of many of today's software users. No,I'm sure that you

can't stop progress. Suppliers know what their customers want -

they just can't supply it quickly enough. I've studied the market

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