What are the type of word processing

Word processing is the process of adding text to a word processing unit such as a computer or typewriter. The typed words are stored in the computer or word processor temporarily to allow for editing before a hard copy of the document. The term «word processing» is a fairly general term, so it may refer to several types of writing without the use of pen and paper. Typewriters, for example, process words directly onto a paper without storing the data, while computers use specific programs to store the typed data before printing.

Modified typewriters have been commonly used in the past for word processing. The typewriter would store the data — usually with the use of a computer chip — before printing the words onto a page. The person using the word processor could then check the writing for errors before printing the final draft. When computers became common in the workplace and at home, word processors became mostly obsolete, though some models are still used for a wide range of purposes, including as educational devices for students with special needs.

Typewriters create words directly on paper without storing any data.

Typewriters create words directly on paper without storing any data.

Computers have generally taken over word processing duties. The computers feature specific programs in which a person can type manuscripts of any length. The data is stored as an electronic document that can be opened, closed, saved, and edited at any time. This allows the user to make corrections or changes to a document multiple times before printing out a hard copy of the document. In many cases, the document is not printed out onto hard copy paper at all; instead, it can be used on the internet, in e-mails, or for other digital purposes.

Computers use specific word processing programs to store the typed data before printing.

Computers use specific word processing programs to store the typed data before printing.

Simpler programs, such as text editors or notepads, can be used to record text quickly without excess formatting options, such as multiple fonts or font sizes. Such programs are easy to use and do not come loaded with formatting features, such as color, multiple fonts, line spacing options, and so on. They are meant to be used for quick word processing that will not need to be formatted for presentation.

Word processing software often includes several features unavailable on typewriters or older word processors. Such features may include the ability to manipulate the layout of the text, the size and color of the font, the type of font used, line spacing, margin adjustments, and the ability to insert photos, web links, graphs, charts, and other objects directly into the document.

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In this post, I will explain the various types of word processor software.

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What Is Word Processor?

Word processor is a type of application software, which is being widely used in different fields at present. With the help of a word processor, you can create any type of document. Microsoft word is a very popular word processor software.

Word processors software creates many types of word files extensions like — text files (.txt), rich text files (.rtf), HTML files (.htm & .html), and Word files (.doc & .docx).

I hope you understand this.

There are various examples of word processor software, which names are given below.

  • Microsoft Word
  • Google Docs
  • iWork Pages
  • OpenOffice Writer
  • WordPerfect
  • FocusWriter
  • LibreOffice Writer
  • AbiWord
  • WPS Word
  • Polaris Docs
  • Writemonkey
  • Dropbox Paper
  • Scribus
  • Zoho Docs Writer

1. Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word

Picture of Microsoft Word Logo

Microsoft Word ( MS) is a word processing software developed by Microsoft company. It was first released on October 25, 1983, as a replacement for the Microsoft Basic program.

As of 2021, it is the most popular word processing application in the world, with over 240 million active users.

Word is used for a variety of purposes, including composing text, creating documents, formatting text, and creating tables and diagrams.

It also supports a wide range of fonts and colors, as well as advanced formatting features such as headings, subheadings, lists, and tables.

2. Google Docs

Google Doc

Google Docs — Examples of Word Processor

Google Docs is a free online application that lets you create, edit, and share documents with others.

It includes features such as an easy-to-use interface, collaboration features, and automatic updates.

Documents can be edited in any web browser, and they are stored in the Google Docs cloud.

Google Docs is a great tool for businesses of all sizes. It’s perfect for creating and sharing documents with colleagues, clients, or customers.

It also makes it easy to keep track of changes and updates to your documents.

3. iWork Pages

iWork Page is a cloud-based platform that allows users to create and manage their own websites and online portfolios.

It includes features such as a drag-and-drop website builder, unlimited storage space, and the ability to add custom domains.

iWork Pages also offers a variety of marketing tools, including social media integration, email marketing, and AdWords campaigns.

4. OpenOffice Writer

OpenOffice Writer is a free and open-source office suite that includes a word processor, a spreadsheet application, and a presentation program.

It is available for all major operating systems, and it has been downloaded more than 100 million times.

OpenOffice Writer is perfect for anyone who wants to create professional-grade documents easily and quickly.

It has all the features you would expect in a top-of-the-line word processor, including support for spell checking, grammar checking, and syntax highlighting.

It also has a wide range of features for working with documents, including support for embedding images and videos, creating tables and charts, and more.

5. WordPerfect

WordPerfect

Examples of Word Processor — WordPerfect

WordPerfect is a software suite that was first released in 1987 and is still used by millions of people today.

It includes a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation program, and a graphics program.

It is popular for its ease of use and its ability to handle long documents with ease.

WordPerfect is versatile and reliable, and it can be used by both small businesses and professionals who need a high-quality word processing solution.

If you’re looking for affordable, reliable software that’s been around for years, WordPerfect is definitely worth considering.

6. FocusWriter

The FocusWriter platform provides users with detailed writing instructions, as well as a range of helpful tools and resources that make it easy to create high-quality content.

In addition, the platform offers a variety of customization options that allow users to create content that is specific to their needs and interests.

FocusWriter is perfect for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills, increase their online presence, or boost the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns.

It’s also a great resource for individuals who want to learn more about various business topics.

7. LibreOffice Writer

LibreOffice Writer is a free, open-source office productivity software that enables users to create, edit, and format documents using a variety of standard text and graphics editors.

It includes a word processor, spreadsheet application, presentation software, and more.

LibreOffice Writer is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS operating systems.

8. AbiWord

AbiWord is a word processing program that can be used to create documents in a variety of languages, including English.

It offers a variety of features, such as support for spell checking, grammar checking, and hyphenation.

It is also able to generate PDF and EPUB files from your documents.

AbiWord is free to download and use, and it is available on most major platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

9. WPS Word

WPS Word is an all-in-one word processing and office suite that provides a user with everything they need to create and edit professional documents.

It includes a word processor, a spreadsheet application, a presentation tool, and a password manager.

WPS Word is available as a free download on the Microsoft Windows platform.

10. Polaris Docs

Polaris Docs is a cloud-based document management service that helps small businesses and freelancers to easily manage and share their PDF files, documents, and presentations.

It offers a wide range of features such as password protection, tracking, versioning, and collaboration.

Polaris Docs is also HIPAA compliant and can be used for a variety of purposes such as legal filings, marketing materials, and more.

11. Writemonkey

Writemonkey is a popular online word processor that’s been around since 2001.

It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a simple, yet powerful tool to help them write and edit text.

Some of the features that make Writemonkey stand out include A wide variety of formatting options, including text formatting, table formatting, and image formatting.

The ability to add links, graphics, and tables directly into your document.

A user-friendly interface that makes editing easy. Support for multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese

12. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is a new way to save and share your work with coworkers, clients, or friends.

It’s an online platform that lets you add documents, images, and videos to a library and share them with others. You can also comment on and rate each item.

Dropbox Paper is perfect for Help Desk workers who need to share workarounds, solutions, or screenshots with other team members.

It can also be helpful for clients who need quick access to product documentation or customer service responses.

13. Scribus

Scribus is a free, open-source document production system designed for the professional desktop publishing market.

It is a cross-platform application that runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and various UNIX platforms.

It can be used for tasks such as content creation, layout, design, printing, and exporting to various formats.

14. Zoho Docs Writer

Zoho Docs Writer is a simple, fast, and affordable online document editor that lets you easily create, edit, and share documents with others.

It’s perfect for creating and editing documents such as resumes, cover letters, business proposals, and more.

You can also use it to create PDFs and DOCs files that can be shared with others.

Zoho Docs Writer is available free of charge to everyone who registers for a Zoho account. It’s easy to use and requires no special skills or knowledge.

Features of Word Processor Software

There are various features of word processor software, which features are given below.

  • Text formatting
  • Text Copy
  • Text Cut
  • Text Paste
  • Multimedia
  • Spelling and Grammar
  • Adjust the layout
  • Find Feature
  • Search and Replace
  • Indentation and lists
  • Insert table
  • Word wrap
  • Header and footer
  • Thesaurus
  • Multiple windows
  • AutoCorrect
  • Mailers and labels
  • Import data
  • Merge
  • Macros
  • Collaboration

What are the Types of Word Processor?

There are various types of word processor software, which are given below.

  • Microsoft Word
  • Google Docs
  • iWork Pages
  • OpenOffice Writer
  • WordPerfect
  • FocusWriter
  • LibreOffice Writer
  • AbiWord
  • WPS Word
  • Polaris Docs
  • Writemonkey
  • Dropbox Paper
  • Scribus
  • Zoho Docs Writer
  • These all are types of word processor software.

    Conclusion

    Although Microsoft Word is a very popular word processor software around the world. But like Microsoft Word, there are many processor software that you can use.

    Today there are many options of word processor software in front of you, but you have to choose which word processor software is right for you, although what we have told about the word processor, all the word processor software is very good.

    Today, due to the presence of many word processors, you must be a little worried, about which word processor will be best for me, although the interface of all word processor software is different, you have to choose which word processor software is good for you.

    FAQ Related to Word Processor

    What are the 5 examples of word processor?

    5 examples of word processor, which are given below.

    1. WordPad
    2. Notepad
    3. WordPerfect
    4. Microsoft Word
    5. Lotus word Pro

    What are the 7 examples of word processor?

    1. Microsoft Word
    2. Google Docs
    3. iWork Pages
    4. OpenOffice Writer
    5. WordPerfect
    6. FocusWriter
    7. LibreOffice Writer

    What is the most popular word processor?

    Microsoft Word is the most popular word processor software worldwide.

    Is Google Docs a word processor?

    Yes, Google Docs is a online word processor.

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    WordPerfect, a word processor first released for minicomputers in 1979 and later ported to microcomputers, running on Windows XP

    A word processor (WP)[1][2] is a device or computer program that provides for input, editing, formatting, and output of text, often with some additional features.

    Early word processors were stand-alone devices dedicated to the function, but current word processors are word processor programs running on general purpose computers.

    The functions of a word processor program fall somewhere between those of a simple text editor and a fully functioned desktop publishing program. However, the distinctions between these three have changed over time and were unclear after 2010.[3][4]

    Background[edit]

    Word processors did not develop out of computer technology. Rather, they evolved from mechanical machines and only later did they merge with the computer field.[5] The history of word processing is the story of the gradual automation of the physical aspects of writing and editing, and then to the refinement of the technology to make it available to corporations and Individuals.

    The term word processing appeared in American offices in early 1970s centered on the idea of streamlining the work to typists, but the meaning soon shifted toward the automation of the whole editing cycle.

    At first, the designers of word processing systems combined existing technologies with emerging ones to develop stand-alone equipment, creating a new business distinct from the emerging world of the personal computer. The concept of word processing arose from the more general data processing, which since the 1950s had been the application of computers to business administration.[6]

    Through history, there have been three types of word processors: mechanical, electronic and software.

    Mechanical word processing[edit]

    The first word processing device (a «Machine for Transcribing Letters» that appears to have been similar to a typewriter) was patented by Henry Mill for a machine that was capable of «writing so clearly and accurately you could not distinguish it from a printing press».[7] More than a century later, another patent appeared in the name of William Austin Burt for the typographer. In the late 19th century, Christopher Latham Sholes[8] created the first recognizable typewriter although it was a large size, which was described as a «literary piano».[9]

    The only «word processing» these mechanical systems could perform was to change where letters appeared on the page, to fill in spaces that were previously left on the page, or to skip over lines. It was not until decades later that the introduction of electricity and electronics into typewriters began to help the writer with the mechanical part. The term “word processing” (translated from the German word Textverarbeitung) itself was created in the 1950s by Ulrich Steinhilper, a German IBM typewriter sales executive. However, it did not make its appearance in 1960s office management or computing literature (an example of grey literature), though many of the ideas, products, and technologies to which it would later be applied were already well known. Nonetheless, by 1971 the term was recognized by the New York Times[10] as a business «buzz word». Word processing paralleled the more general «data processing», or the application of computers to business administration.

    Thus by 1972 discussion of word processing was common in publications devoted to business office management and technology, and by the mid-1970s the term would have been familiar to any office manager who consulted business periodicals.

    Electromechanical and electronic word processing[edit]

    By the late 1960s, IBM had developed the IBM MT/ST (Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter). This was a model of the IBM Selectric typewriter from the earlier part of this decade, but it came built into its own desk, integrated with magnetic tape recording and playback facilities along with controls and a bank of electrical relays. The MT/ST automated word wrap, but it had no screen. This device allowed a user to rewrite text that had been written on another tape, and it also allowed limited collaboration in the sense that a user could send the tape to another person to let them edit the document or make a copy. It was a revolution for the word processing industry. In 1969, the tapes were replaced by magnetic cards. These memory cards were inserted into an extra device that accompanied the MT/ST, able to read and record users’ work.

    In the early 1970s, word processing began to slowly shift from glorified typewriters augmented with electronic features to become fully computer-based (although only with single-purpose hardware) with the development of several innovations. Just before the arrival of the personal computer (PC), IBM developed the floppy disk. In the early 1970s, the first word-processing systems appeared which allowed display and editing of documents on CRT screens.

    During this era, these early stand-alone word processing systems were designed, built, and marketed by several pioneering companies. Linolex Systems was founded in 1970 by James Lincoln and Robert Oleksiak. Linolex based its technology on microprocessors, floppy drives and software. It was a computer-based system for application in the word processing businesses and it sold systems through its own sales force. With a base of installed systems in over 500 sites, Linolex Systems sold 3 million units in 1975 — a year before the Apple computer was released.[11]

    At that time, the Lexitron Corporation also produced a series of dedicated word-processing microcomputers. Lexitron was the first to use a full-sized video display screen (CRT) in its models by 1978. Lexitron also used 514 inch floppy diskettes, which became the standard in the personal computer field. The program disk was inserted in one drive, and the system booted up. The data diskette was then put in the second drive. The operating system and the word processing program were combined in one file.[12]

    Another of the early word processing adopters was Vydec, which created in 1973 the first modern text processor, the «Vydec Word Processing System». It had built-in multiple functions like the ability to share content by diskette and print it.[further explanation needed] The Vydec Word Processing System sold for $12,000 at the time, (about $60,000 adjusted for inflation).[13]

    The Redactron Corporation (organized by Evelyn Berezin in 1969) designed and manufactured editing systems, including correcting/editing typewriters, cassette and card units, and eventually a word processor called the Data Secretary. The Burroughs Corporation acquired Redactron in 1976.[14]

    A CRT-based system by Wang Laboratories became one of the most popular systems of the 1970s and early 1980s. The Wang system displayed text on a CRT screen, and incorporated virtually every fundamental characteristic of word processors as they are known today. While early computerized word processor system were often expensive and hard to use (that is, like the computer mainframes of the 1960s), the Wang system was a true office machine, affordable to organizations such as medium-sized law firms, and easily mastered and operated by secretarial staff.

    The phrase «word processor» rapidly came to refer to CRT-based machines similar to Wang’s. Numerous machines of this kind emerged, typically marketed by traditional office-equipment companies such as IBM, Lanier (AES Data machines — re-badged), CPT, and NBI. All were specialized, dedicated, proprietary systems, with prices in the $10,000 range. Cheap general-purpose personal computers were still the domain of hobbyists.

    Japanese word processor devices[edit]

    In Japan, even though typewriters with Japanese writing system had widely been used for businesses and governments, they were limited to specialists who required special skills due to the wide variety of letters, until computer-based devices came onto the market. In 1977, Sharp showcased a prototype of a computer-based word processing dedicated device with Japanese writing system in Business Show in Tokyo.[15][16]

    Toshiba released the first Japanese word processor JW-10 in February 1979.[17] The price was 6,300,000 JPY, equivalent to US$45,000. This is selected as one of the milestones of IEEE.[18]

    Toshiba Rupo JW-P22(K)(March 1986) and an optional micro floppy disk drive unit JW-F201

    The Japanese writing system uses a large number of kanji (logographic Chinese characters) which require 2 bytes to store, so having one key per each symbol is infeasible. Japanese word processing became possible with the development of the Japanese input method (a sequence of keypresses, with visual feedback, which selects a character) — now widely used in personal computers. Oki launched OKI WORD EDITOR-200 in March 1979 with this kana-based keyboard input system. In 1980 several electronics and office equipment brands entered this rapidly growing market with more compact and affordable devices. While the average unit price in 1980 was 2,000,000 JPY (US$14,300), it was dropped to 164,000 JPY (US$1,200) in 1985.[19] Even after personal computers became widely available, Japanese word processors remained popular as they tended to be more portable (an «office computer» was initially too large to carry around), and become necessities in business and academics, even for private individuals in the second half of the 1980s.[20] The phrase «word processor» has been abbreviated as «Wa-pro» or «wapuro» in Japanese.

    Word processing software[edit]

    The final step in word processing came with the advent of the personal computer in the late 1970s and 1980s and with the subsequent creation of word processing software. Word processing software that would create much more complex and capable output was developed and prices began to fall, making them more accessible to the public. By the late 1970s, computerized word processors were still primarily used by employees composing documents for large and midsized businesses (e.g., law firms and newspapers). Within a few years, the falling prices of PCs made word processing available for the first time to all writers in the convenience of their homes.

    The first word processing program for personal computers (microcomputers) was Electric Pencil, from Michael Shrayer Software, which went on sale in December 1976. In 1978 WordStar appeared and because of its many new features soon dominated the market. However, WordStar was written for the early CP/M (Control Program–Micro) operating system, and by the time it was rewritten for the newer MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System), it was obsolete. Suddenly, WordPerfect dominated the word processing programs during the DOS era, while there was a large variety of less successful programs.

    Early word processing software was not as intuitive as word processor devices. Most early word processing software required users to memorize semi-mnemonic key combinations rather than pressing keys such as «copy» or «bold». Moreover, CP/M lacked cursor keys; for example WordStar used the E-S-D-X-centered «diamond» for cursor navigation. However, the price differences between dedicated word processors and general-purpose PCs, and the value added to the latter by software such as “killer app” spreadsheet applications, e.g. VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3, were so compelling that personal computers and word processing software became serious competition for the dedicated machines and soon dominated the market.

    Then in the late 1980s innovations such as the advent of laser printers, a «typographic» approach to word processing (WYSIWYG — What You See Is What You Get), using bitmap displays with multiple fonts (pioneered by the Xerox Alto computer and Bravo word processing program), and graphical user interfaces such as “copy and paste” (another Xerox PARC innovation, with the Gypsy word processor). These were popularized by MacWrite on the Apple Macintosh in 1983, and Microsoft Word on the IBM PC in 1984. These were probably the first true WYSIWYG word processors to become known to many people.
    Of particular interest also is the standardization of TrueType fonts used in both Macintosh and Windows PCs. While the publishers of the operating systems provide TrueType typefaces, they are largely gathered from traditional typefaces converted by smaller font publishing houses to replicate standard fonts. Demand for new and interesting fonts, which can be found free of copyright restrictions, or commissioned from font designers, occurred.

    The growing popularity of the Windows operating system in the 1990s later took Microsoft Word along with it. Originally called «Microsoft Multi-Tool Word», this program quickly became a synonym for “word processor”.

    From early in the 21st century Google Docs popularized the transition to online or offline web browser based word processing, this was enabled by the widespread adoption of suitable internet connectivity in businesses and domestic households and later the popularity of smartphones. Google Docs enabled word processing from within any vendor’s web browser, which could run on any vendor’s operating system on any physical device type including tablets and smartphones, although offline editing is limited to a few Chromium based web browsers. Google Docs also enabled the significant growth of use of information technology such as remote access to files and collaborative real-time editing, both becoming simple to do with little or no need for costly software and specialist IT support.

    See also[edit]

    • List of word processors
    • Formatted text

    References[edit]

    1. ^ Enterprise, I. D. G. (1 January 1981). «Computerworld». IDG Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via Google Books.
    2. ^ Waterhouse, Shirley A. (1 January 1979). Word processing fundamentals. Canfield Press. ISBN 9780064537223. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via Google Books.
    3. ^ Amanda Presley (28 January 2010). «What Distinguishes Desktop Publishing From Word Processing?». Brighthub.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    4. ^ «How to Use Microsoft Word as a Desktop Publishing Tool». PCWorld. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
    5. ^ Price, Jonathan, and Urban, Linda Pin. The Definitive Word-Processing Book. New York: Viking Penguin Inc., 1984, page xxiii.
    6. ^ W.A. Kleinschrod, «The ‘Gal Friday’ is a Typing Specialist Now,» Administrative Management vol. 32, no. 6, 1971, pp. 20-27
    7. ^ Hinojosa, Santiago (June 2016). «The History of Word Processors». The Tech Ninja’s Dojo. The Tech Ninja. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
    8. ^ See also Samuel W. Soule and Carlos Glidden.
    9. ^ The Scientific American, The Type Writer, New York (August 10, 1872)
    10. ^ W.D. Smith, “Lag Persists for Business Equipment,” New York Times, 26 Oct. 1971, pp. 59-60.
    11. ^ Linolex Systems, Internal Communications & Disclosure in 3M acquisition, The Petritz Collection, 1975.
    12. ^ «Lexitron VT1200 — RICM». Ricomputermuseum.org. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    13. ^ Hinojosa, Santiago (1 June 2016). «The History of Word Processors». The Tech Ninja’s Dojo. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    14. ^ «Redactron Corporation. @ SNAC». Snaccooperative.org. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    15. ^ «日本語ワードプロセッサ». IPSJコンピュータ博物館. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
    16. ^ «【シャープ】 日本語ワープロの試作機». IPSJコンピュータ博物館. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
    17. ^ 原忠正 (1997). «日本人による日本人のためのワープロ». The Journal of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. 117 (3): 175–178. Bibcode:1997JIEEJ.117..175.. doi:10.1541/ieejjournal.117.175.
    18. ^ «プレスリリース;当社の日本語ワードプロセッサが「IEEEマイルストーン」に認定». 東芝. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
    19. ^
      «【富士通】 OASYS 100G». IPSJコンピュータ博物館. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
    20. ^ 情報処理学会 歴史特別委員会『日本のコンピュータ史』ISBN 4274209334 p135-136

    Goals

    • Students will recognize the major types of word processing programs.
    • Students will discriminate the types of problems that are best solved
      with various types of word processors.
    • Students will recognize the major tools that are available in word
      processor application programs.
    • Students will use a text editor to create and modify a simple ASCII
      text file.
    • Students will use a high end word processing program to practice
      common text formatting problems.

    Prereqs

    • Comfort with the keyboard and mouse
    • Experience with the STAIR process for solving problems
    • Familiarity with principles of data encoding
    • Familiarity with differences between hardware and software
    • Understanding of the attributes of RAM
    • Familiarity with operating systems, file names and directories

    Discussion

    Word processing is one of the most common applications for computers
    today. It would be difficult to spend a day in a modern office or
    university without coming into contact with a word processing program.
    Most people have had some contact with word processing. We shall
    examine the concept in some detail, so you will be familiar with a
    number of levels of word processing software applications, the types
    of tools such programs make available to you, and so you will know
    what kinds of problems are best solved with this type of program.

    How Word Processors Work

    The advantages of word processing programs can best be illustrated by
    thinking of some of the disadvantages of typewriters. When we use a
    typewriter to create a document, there is a direct connection between
    the keys and the paper. As soon as you press a key on the keyboard,
    there is an impact on the paper, and the document has been modified.
    If you catch a mistake quickly, you can fix it with correction tape or
    white-out. If your mistake is more than one character long, it is
    much harder to fix. If you want to add a word, move a
    paragraph, or change the margins, you have to completely retype the
    page. Sometimes this necessitates changes on other pages as well. A
    one word change could lead to retyping an entire document.

    Word processing is a type of software that focuses on the ability to
    handle text. The computer does this by assigning each letter of the
    alphabet and each other character on the keyboard a specific numeric
    code. These numeric codes are translated into computer machine language,
    and stored in the computer’s memory. Because the information is in memory,
    it is very easy to change and manipulate. This is the key to the
    success of word processing.

    Example

    Information in memory can be moved very quickly and easily. If we
    want to change a word in a document, what happens in the computer is
    something like this:

    Imagine Darlene has started out her resume with the following word:

    REUME
    

    Obviously she has forgotten a letter. If she were using a typewriter,
    the page would be trashed, and she would have to start over. Since
    this is a word processor, Darlene can manipulate the memory containing
    codes for the word «REUME» and add the «S» to it. When she tries, the
    following things happen:

    She moves her cursor to the spot in the text where she wants the S to
    show up. The «cursor» is a special mark on the screen that indicates
    at which place in the document the computer is currently focused. In this
    case, Darlene wants to put an S between the E and the U. Her word
    processor won’t let her put the cursor between two letters (although
    some will), so she puts it on the U.

    By moving the cursor, Darlene is telling the program to move around in
    memory as well. When she place her cursor on the U on the screen, she
    is telling the program to point to the corresponding spot in the
    computer’s memory. The computer is now concentrating on the memory
    cell that contains the code for the character «U».

    She checks to be sure she is in insert mode (more on that later),
    and she types the letter «S».

    When Darlene does this, the computer shifts all the letters one memory
    cell to the right, and inserts the code for the S in its proper
    place.

    Word processors and RAM

    It sounds like a lot is happening. That’s true, but computers do all
    these things so quickly that it seems instantaneous to us. You don’t
    really have to know exactly where the stuff is in memory, or how it
    gets moved around. The important thing to understand is that all the
    information in your document is stored in some kind of digital
    format in the computer’s memory. When you modify a document, you are really
    modifying the computer’s memory. A word processing program handles
    all the messy memory manipulation, so all you have to do is concentrate
    on writing your paper.

    RAM (Random Access Memory), where all the action is happening, has
    one serious drawback. It only lasts as long as the computer is receiving
    electrical power. Obviously this will cause some problems, because you
    can’t just carry a computer around to show people your documents.
    (Imagine the extension cord!) You also might run into some serious
    problems if your computer were suddenly hit by a monsoon or something,
    and you lost electrical power. In short, you cannot count on RAM memory
    alone.

    Word processing programs (as well as almost every type of program) are
    designed to allow you to copy your information. Computer scientists
    refer to the information your program is using as data. The data in
    RAM can easily be duplicated to floppy disks or a hard drive. This is
    called saving. Copying the data from RAM to a printer is called
    printing. You can also copy data from other places to RAM. Copying the data
    from the disk is referred to as loading the data. You might already
    know what saving and printing are. We don’t mean to insult you by
    telling you again. We just want to illustrate that it all boils down
    to copying binary information to and from RAM.

    Types of Word Processing Programs

    There are many flavors of word processing programs. Different
    programs are better for different types of jobs. One common problem
    is deciding which program you will use to do a certain type of job.
    It is important to know your options.

    Text Editors

    The simplest programs that do word processing are known as text
    editors. These programs are designed to be small, simple, and cheap.
    Almost every operating system made has at least one built in text
    editor. Most text editors save files in a special format called
    ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange — Whew!)
    ASCII is a coding convention that almost all computers understand.
    Each letter is assigned a numeric value that will fit in eight digits
    of binary notation. «a» is 97 in ASCII, and «A» is 65. All the
    numeric digits, and most punctuation marks also have numeric values in
    ASCII. You certainly don’t need to memorize all the codes, (That’s
    the text editor’s job.) but you should recognize the word « ASCII».
    The biggest advantage of this scheme is that almost any program
    can read and write ASCII text.

    Text editors can be wonderful programs. The biggest advantage is the
    price. There is probably already one or more installed on your
    computer. You can find a number of text editors for free on the
    Internet. Text editors are generally very easy to learn. Since they don’t
    do a lot of fancy things, they are generally less intimidating than
    full fledged word processor packages with all kinds of features.
    Finally, text editors are pretty universal. Since they almost all use
    the ASCII standard, you can read a text file written on any text
    editor with just about any text editor. This is often not the case
    when using fancier programs.

    The ability to write ASCII text is the biggest benefit of text
    editors. ASCII is also the biggest disadvantage of most text editors.
    It is a very good way of storing text information, but it has no way
    of handling more involved formatting. Text editors generally do not
    allow you to do things like change font sizes or styles, spell
    checking, or columns. (If you don’t know what those things are, stay
    tuned. We will talk about them later in this chapter.)

    Text editors aren’t all simple, though. Text editors are actually the
    workhorses of the computing world. Most computer programs and web
    pages are written with specialized text editors, and these programs
    can be quite involved. You won’t need to learn any hard-core text editors
    for this class, but you may end up learning one down the road.

    If all you want to do is get text written, and you aren’t too
    concerned about how fancy it looks, text editors are fine. (In fact,
    this book was written entirely in emacs, a unix-based text editor.)

    Common text editor programs:

    • Windows: Notepad
    • Macintosh: SimpleText
    • Linux: vi, emacs
    • Multi-platform: notepad++, jedit, synedit, many more

    Integrated Packages

    Frequently these software packages are included when a person buys a
    new computer system. An integrated package is a huge program that
    contains a word processor, a spreadsheet, a database tool, and other
    software applications in the same program. (Don’t worry if you don’t
    know what a spreadsheet or a database is. We’ll get there soon
    enough!) An integrated application package is kind of like a «Swiss
    army knife» of software.

    The advantages of an integrated package derive from the fact that all
    the applications are part of the same program, and were written by the
    same company. It should be relatively easy to use the parts of an
    integrated package together. These programs tend to be smaller, older
    versions of larger programs, so they might be less complicated to use.
    Since they were presumably written together, they should all have the
    same general menu structure, and similar commands. (The command to
    save a file would be the same set of keystrokes in all the programs,
    for example.) Integrated packages are often designed with casual
    users in mind. This might make them easier to use than more robust
    programs. The word processor built into an integrated package is
    probably more powerful than a typical text editor. Integrated
    packages are often already installed on new computers, so they might
    not cost you any more than the original purchase price of the
    computer. The word processor on an integrated package will almost
    certainly give you some features you would not expect to find on plain
    text editors.

    Integrated packages have some disadvantages. With the advent of
    graphic user interfaces and modern operating systems, programs have
    become more and more standard even if they were written by completely
    different companies. Almost every program for Windows uses Alt-F-S to
    save, for example. Also, as in the Swiss army knife analogy, the
    programmers had to make some compromises in order to make all the
    applications fit in one program. A Swiss army knife does contain a
    saw, but if you had to cut down a tree, wouldn’t you rather use a real
    saw? The programs in an integrated package are usually stripped down
    or older versions of the company’s high end software. They certainly
    have fewer features, and might be less friendly. Word processing
    programs that are part of integrated packages generally have their own
    special code for storing text information, although they can usually
    read and write ASCII as well. (However, if you choose to save in
    ASCII, you cannot save all the special formatting commands).

    Common Integrated Packages:

    • Microsoft Works
    • Lotus Works
    • Claris Works

    Today the trend is to package all the high-level programs together, so
    MS-Office and OpenOffice.org both contain fully-featured Word
    Processors, Databases, Spreadsheets, and more.

    High-End Word Processors

    Word processing programs have evolved a great deal from the early
    days of computing. A modern word processing program can do many
    things besides simply handling text.

    Since the early ’90s, most word processors feature a WYSIWYG
    interface. WYSIWYG (pronounced «whizeewig») stands for «What You See
    Is What You Get.» This means that the screen will look reasonably
    like the printed document. This feature is important because the
    real strength of word processors is in the formatting they allow.
    Formatting is the manipulation of characters, paragraphs, pages, and
    documents. Most of the word processor features we will discuss below
    are various ways of formatting the text, or changing the way it looks
    on the page. Formatting was possible before WYSIWYG, but it required
    more imagination from the writer, because you couldn’t see the effects
    of the formatting until you printed out the document.

    Modern word processors also are designed to have numerous features for
    advanced users. Since a large portion of most people’s computer time
    is spent with a word processing program, it is important that these
    programs have features to make editing documents easier. Some of the
    additional features that one can expect to find on a modern word
    processor are spelling and grammar checkers, ability to handle
    graphics, tables, and mathematical formulas, and outline editors. The
    word processing market is a very competitive one, and the major
    software companies are always competing to have the word processor
    with the most advanced features available.

    Software companies are also interested in making their programs as
    easy to learn as possible. With this goal in mind, most word
    processors come with tutorial programs, extensive on-line help, and
    clear menus.

    These full featured word processors sound wonderful, and they are.
    You might wonder if they have any drawbacks. Of course they do.
    Word processing programs as have been described often cost hundreds of
    dollars. The cost seems prohibitive for something that doesn’t even
    have a physical presence! Many of the features of full-fledged
    word processors are not needed by casual users. Sometimes the sheer
    number of unneeded features can be intimidating. Using a full-power
    word processor just to write a couple of letters a week is like
    killing flies with a chain saw. You simply might not need that much
    power to do the job properly. High end word processing programs
    almost always save documents in special proprietary codes rather than
    as ASCII code. This means the programs can save all the special
    formatting that ASCII cannot handle (like font sizes, columns,
    graphics, and so on.) It also means that if you write a document in
    WordPerfect, you may not be able to read it in Word. Even
    different versions of the same program might not be able to read each
    other’s documents directly. There are ways you can work around this
    problem, but you should know it exists.

    High-end Word Processing Packages:

    • WordPerfect
    • Microsoft Word
    • OpenOffice.org Write

    Ironically, there is now a trend away from WYSIWYG towards
    «semantic markup.» The idea is not to put all the formatting details
    in place, but to explain the meaning of the text in the document. The
    actual markup of each meaning is defined in a separate document. For
    example, here’s the semantic markup of this paragraph:

    <p class = "update">
    Ironically, there is now a trend away from WYSIWYG towards
    "semantic markup."  The idea is not to put all the formatting details
    in place, but to explain the meaning of the text in the document. The
    actual markup of each meaning is defined in a separate document.  For
    example, here's the semantic markup of this paragraph:
    </p>
    

    In another part of the document I describe how to format «updates»:

      .update {
        border: 1px black solid;
        background-color: #FFFFCC;
        padding-left: .5em;
      }
    

    It’s completely OK if you don’t understand any of the code. The
    important idea is how markup can be separated from meaning.

    Desktop Publishing

    Another classification of programs you should know about has an
    uncertain future. These programs are called desktop publishing
    applications. Desktop publishing takes text that has already been
    created, and applies powerful formatting features to that text.
    Traditionally, applications that allowed the integration of text and
    graphics, and allowed the development of style sheets were thought of
    as desktop publishing. Such a program makes it easy to create other
    kinds of documents rather than just plain pages. With a desktop
    publisher, there are already style sheets developed to help you create
    pamphlets, cards, signs, and other types of documents that you wouldn’t
    be able to create on a typewriter.

    The higher end word processing programs give you most of the features
    you could want in a desktop publishing program. It is possible to do
    many of the same things. Desktop Publishers are still very popular in
    certain specialty fields (graphic arts, printing, and publishing,) but
    the effects can be duplicated with skillful use of a word processing
    program.

    Common Desktop Publishing programs:

    • Pagemaker
    • Microsoft Publisher

    Sign / Banner Programs

    Another level of desktop publishing that has become very popular is
    the advent of specialty printing programs such as «The Print Shop» or
    «Print Master +». These programs are designed specifically to help the
    user create signs, banners, and greeting cards. They are very easy to
    use, and much less expensive than full-feature desktop publishing
    applications, but again the effects can be duplicated with a higher
    end word processor.

    How Do You Choose Which Word Processor You Use?

    As always, the critical question is: «What kinds of problems are you
    trying to solve?» For most beginners, the lower end word processor
    that came with their computer is a fine start. If it does what you
    need, and you are happy with it, don’t spend money unnecessarily.
    Many people find that if they do a lot of writing, they begin to yearn
    for the features of a more powerful word processing program. As you
    gain experience, you will find a favorite program and learn its
    commands and idiosyncrasies well. You will find if you concentrate on
    the concepts, that all word processors of a certain level are pretty
    much the same, although the exact layout and command structure may
    differ. You will also probably discover if you do a lot of writing
    with the computer that you have several programs you use
    interchangeably. A skilled computer user often chooses the program to
    solve a specific problem much like a golfer chooses a different club
    for each type of shot. Sometimes a text editor is sufficient, and
    sometimes only the best, most powerful, and most expensive program
    will do the job properly. Learning what is best for you is part of
    the process.

    Layout of Word Processors

    Word processing programs of any type usually share the most basic
    features. They universally reserve most of the screen for the text
    being edited. Most word processing programs also contain a
    menu structure with most of the programs commands available in a
    hierarchical organization scheme. Many word processors have graphic
    toolbars with icons representing the most critical commands. Almost
    all such programs have scroll bars or some other mechanism for
    allowing the user to move around in large documents. All word
    processors also have a cursor, which is usually a small box or line,
    which shows the user where in the document she is currently typing.

    Commands Available In Most Word Processing Programs:

    Different types of word processing programs will have different
    commands available. Generally, text editors have the fewest commands.
    More complex programs often start with the same types of commands and
    add to them. Commands may be available in a number of ways; by
    locating them on the menu system, by looking up shortcut keys, or by
    pressing an icon on a graphic tool bar. If in doubt, utilize the
    on-line help to locate the command you want.

    File Handling Commands

    Any level of text editor or word processor will have commands to save,
    load, and print your text. These commands are so frequent that you
    will usually see many ways to invoke them.

    Save Document
    Allows you to save your document onto some kind of disk.
    If you have already saved this document at least once, it will save
    the document to the same drive, directory, and file name you used last
    time. Saving a document really means making a copy of the codes in
    memory that represent the document, and copying those codes onto a
    disk file. If you have never given this document a name, a Save
    command often acts like a Save As. (see below) You might also look for
    a Write command, a picture of a disk, or a Save As command.
    Save As…
    Often you will see this command in addition to a save command. There
    is a subtle difference between the two commands. Save As {it always}
    asks you for the name and location of your file. Most of the time,
    the Save command does not ask for this information. If the Save
    command does not know what to call the file (because you have never
    saved it before) it will automatically invoke a Save As. The only
    time you absolutely must use a Save As is when you want to load a
    file, make some changes to it, and save it as a NEW file with a
    DIFFERENT name. If you use the Save command, the new changes will be
    written on top of the old document. With Save As, you can force the
    changed document to be in a new file. This really doesn’t happen very
    much. Many people spend their whole lives using nothing but Save.
    Load or Open
    You will almost always see a command that allows you to open or load a
    document. These terms usually mean the same thing. You will usually
    get some sort of a dialog box asking you for the directory and file
    name of a text document, and the program goes to the disk, grabs the
    file, and loads it into the editing area of the screen. (Actually, it
    loads the file into memory, and then shows a copy of the memory onto
    the screen.)
    Print
    A print command takes the document and copies it to the printer.
    Obviously, for this to work, you must have a printer attached to your
    machine. There are occasional variations to this command. You might
    get a dialog box that asks you which pages to print, how many copies you
    want, which printer you want to use (if more than one is set up on
    your computer), and so on. You might also see a Print Preview command
    that shows a picture of what the page will look like when printed.
    This is especially useful when you are using a program that does not
    support WYSIWYG.

    Editing Commands and Block Manipulation

    There are a number of commands you will find on nearly any word
    processor that enable you to manipulate text in special ways.
    Frequently you will find these commands on an Edit menu. The editing
    commands are based on a concept called block manipulation.

    Block manipulation simply means taking a «chunk» of text and marking
    it in some way so it can be treated as one unit. Once a block of text
    is marked as such, it can be deleted or manipulated easily.

    Marking a Block
    Many modern programs allow you to mark a block of text with the mouse.
    Simply point the mouse at the beginning of the text you want to mark,
    hold down the mouse button, and drag to the end of the block. You
    will probably see the text you have dragged over change color. Some
    programs put highlighted text in inverse video. Many programs also
    allow you to select text with the Shift key and the arrow keys in
    combination. This is sometimes more precise than the mouse
    techniques. Some older programs require you to move the cursor to the
    beginning of the text, mark it as the beginning of a block, move to
    the end of the text you want to manipulate, and mark it as the end of
    the block. Learn how your program does it. It is worth the effort.
    Copying a Block
    You will usually find some kind of command called Copy. It only works
    after you have marked a block of text. Copy by itself doesn’t do
    anything on the screen, but it is still a very important command.
    What it does is to take the block of text and make a copy of it in a
    special part of memory called the clipboard (or sometimes the buffer).
    The copy command does not change the original text; it just places a
    copy of the text in the clipboard.
    Cutting a Block
    Cutting is very similar to copying. You must start by marking a block
    of text. When you activate a cut command, the original block will
    disappear. It isn’t gone forever, though. A copy of it has been made
    in the clipboard.
    Pasting a Block
    The paste command doesn’t make much sense until you have cut or copied
    a block of text into the clipboard. The paste command copies the
    contents of the clipboard into the document at whatever point the
    cursor was sitting when the paste command was activated.
    How Block Manipulation Works
    These commands really need to be used together to be useful. Which
    ones you use depend on the kind of problem you are trying to solve.
    If you had to write «I will not talk out in class» 100 times, you
    might write the phrase once, mark it as a block, copy it, and then
    paste it 99 times.

    If you have written a document and realize that the last line really
    belongs at the beginning of the document, you might mark the line you
    want to move as a block, cut the block move the cursor to the
    beginning of the document, and activate the paste command.

    Formatting Commands

    Another set of commands are found less frequently on text editors, but
    are common on higher-level word processors. These commands are for
    formatting various elements of a document. You may find a format
    menu. Many of these commands also are available on toolbars.

    Formatting a Character

    A character is one letter or other symbol. There are many ways to
    format characters in word processing programs. It is possible to make
    characters bold, italic, underlined, or perhaps some other attribute.
    Not all word processors will do all these things, but most will do
    bold, italic, and underline. Often you activate the command by
    choosing it from a menu, clicking on a toolbar icon, or activating a
    key sequence. Once you have started the command, anything you type
    will be typed in that style. When you want to go back to standard
    letters, you activate the same command again. Commands that turn off
    and on like this are called toggles, because they are reminiscent of
    toggle switches. Many word processors allow you to enter the text
    without any format, then to select a set of characters as a block
    (like you did to copy and paste), then to activate the command.
    Experiment with your word processor to see how it works.

    Word processors that feature WYSIWYG frequently support the use of
    fonts. A font is defined in computing as a combination of a special
    character set and type size. In the typewriter world, you were pretty
    much stuck with the size and style of letters the typewriter came
    with. Some of the later typewriters had the characters on a ball you
    could change, but you still had very little control of exactly how the
    letters looked. In a modern word processing application, you have a
    great deal of control. You can choose different type faces that look
    like script, handwriting, Old English, or whatever. After you have
    chosen a basic look for your letters, you can choose what size the
    letters are.

    Fonts are measured by typesetters in points. 72.25 points is
    equivalent to an inch. Most standard text is 10 points. A newspaper
    headline might be 200 points. You may be able to control other
    attributes of each letter, such as its color, a shadow, and other advanced
    features.

    Formatting Paragraphs}

    Most writing is organized into paragraphs. These divisions make a
    document easier to read. There are ways you can control how
    paragraphs look on the screen. You can control how your program
    handles indention. You can often force the computer to indent the
    first line of every paragraph automatically. You can also frequently
    control the line spacing inside the paragraph, the amount of spacing
    between paragraphs, and the justification.

    Justification refers to how the text is lined up between the margins.
    Most documents created with a typewriter or word processor are
    left-justified. That means that the left margin is lined up perfectly, but
    the right margin is a little ragged. The computer keeps track of the
    right margin for you when you use a word processor, so you don’t have
    to press the «Enter» key at the end of every line (in fact you
    shouldn’t press «Enter» at the end of every line. The only time you
    should press «Enter» is when you want to end a paragraph!) The
    automatic process the computer uses to send text to the next line is
    called word wrap. If you want to have the right margin line up
    cleanly, but let the left one be a little ragged (Maybe as you type
    the return address and date of a business letter) you can choose a
    right justify command. If you look at books and magazines, you will
    see that both the right and left columns are justified. Many word
    processors will allow you to justify both margins. This works by
    adjusting the amount of space between letters and words so the margins
    work out perfectly. The computer does it automatically when you ask
    it to do so. Another form of justification is centering. When you
    center a line, you tell the program to give it equal left and right
    margins, regardless of the length of the line. Centering is useful
    for headlines, but is often distracting when used for body text.

    The other major element of a document is the page. There are some
    page formatting commands you should be able to find in any word
    processor as well. You will probably have some way to adjust the
    margins of the page. Note that there are top and bottom margins, as
    well as left and right margins.

    You can also frequently find some kind of header/footer command.
    Headers and footers are special areas at the top and bottom,
    respectively, of the page. These areas are not used for regular text,
    but reserved for special things like a title at the top of every page,
    page numbers, and footnotes. You will have to experiment a little
    to see how your word processor handles these features, but they are
    well worth learning. You will never go back to the old way of writing
    footnotes once you have mastered using footers to automate the
    process.

    One more page formatting command you might find useful is page
    orientation. Many word processors allow you to choose how information
    is printed on the page. The «up and down» orientation we are used to
    seeing on typewritten documents is called portrait mode. (If you
    think about painted portraits, they are usually up-and-down rectangles.)
    When your document is printed «sideways» it is referred to as landscape
    mode. (Landscape paintings are often oriented in this way.)

           __________
           |  ___   |       ________________
           | /o o  |       |              |
           ||  L  | |       |    /WWW     |
           ||___/| |       |  /          |
           |    /  |       |/            |
           |_/_____|       |______________|
           Portrait             Landscape
             mode                 mode
    

    Most of the time you should use portrait mode, but sometimes landscape
    mode is appropriate, especially when you are doing something special
    like tables, graphics, or fancy desktop publishing.

    Commands Found in More Advanced Programs

    High-End Formatting Tools

    There are a few more elaborate formatting tools generally found
    only in the higher end word processors. These tools border on desktop
    publishing, and allow you better control of your document. You
    probably won’t use them every day, but they are wonderful when you
    need them.

    Tables
    On a typewriter, creating a table required judicious use of the TAB
    key and very careful planning. Most advanced word processors allow
    you to create tables very easily. You can usually select the number
    of rows and columns, change the size and format of rows and columns,
    and easily copy and paste specific cells. The table tool is worth
    learning.
    Columns
    Sometimes you will want to have a page formatted into two or more
    vertical columns. This was quite tedious on a typewriter, but there
    is usually some kind of tool to make column creation easier on a
    modern word processor.
    Lists
    You will frequently find tools for making lists. Lists can have
    automatic numbering (like an outline) or each list item might have a
    small icon marking, called a bullet. Most modern word processing
    programs have some kind of tool to make list management easier.
    Graphics
    Most high-end word processing programs enable you to incorporate
    graphics into text documents with relative ease. Often they
    incorporate small painting programs so you can generate your own
    graphics as well. To make graphics and text easier to work with, many
    word processing programs include frames, which are boxes on the screen
    that can hold text and graphics. When you mix text and graphics on a
    page, you may want to investigate frames in the on-line help so you can
    have more control over how the text and graphics interact.

    Composition Tools

    Many word processors have other advanced features that help a writer
    with the mechanics of writing properly. These tools can be
    instrumental in avoiding common writing mistakes.

    Spell Checking
    A spell checker is a program that looks at a document and compares
    each word in the document to an electronic dictionary. If it finds
    the word in the dictionary, it moves on to the next word. If it does
    not find the word, it stops and asks the user for guidance. Good
    spell checkers try to guess what word the user was trying to type and
    make suggestions. Even if you are a very good speller, you should get
    in the habit of running your materials through a spell checker. It is
    a quick and relatively painless way to keep typos from marring your
    paper.

    Keep in mind that spelling checkers are not perfect, and they cannot
    catch every mistake. The following poem excerpt points out the
    problem:

    				Ode To The Spell Checker
    
                                 I have a spelling checker. 
                                  It came with my PC. 
                              It plane lee marks four my revue, 
                               Miss steaks aye can know sea. 
                                Eye ran this poem threw it, 
                                Your sure reel glad two no. 
                               Its vary polished in it's weigh, 
                                My checker tooled me sew. 
    
        

    (This poem can be found in its entirety at:
    http://selma.ucd.ie/~pdurkin/Jokes/spellcheck.html It is attributed
    to Jerry Zar, the Dean of the Graduate School, NW Ill. U)

    Grammar Checkers
    There are also tools available on most high end word processors that
    will check your grammar for common mistakes. Grammar checkers are
    wonderful at catching mechanical problems like incomplete sentences
    and subject-verb agreement. Grammar tends to be more subjective
    than spelling, so the advice of a grammar checker might or might not
    be useful to you. It is worth running to check your mistakes, but it
    will never replace the lessons you learned from your English teachers
    or a skilled editor. When grammar checkers first came on the market,
    a reporter tried testing the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln.
    The program gave the speech extremely poor marks. Many people
    consider it to be one of the most beautiful passages of American
    English ever. Use a grammar checker if you have one, but also use
    your judgment.
    Outline Editors
    These features allow you to organize your thoughts in outline format.
    The advantage is that you can choose to see only your main ideas or
    headings, and have all the text hidden. This feature allows you to
    move the main headings around and all the text associated with the
    headings will automatically move appropriately. If you are going to
    do term papers or other serious writing, you should investigate this
    feature.

    Vocabulary/Important Ideas

    Word Processing
    A type of software that specializes in handling text. Word processing
    programs typically contain commands for handling and formatting text
    documents.
    Insert/Overwrite Modes
    Most word processors allow you to choose one of these modes. When you
    are in {bf insert} mode, any text you type is inserted into the
    document at the cursor position. {it Overwrite} mode also types text
    at the cursor position, but it writes over the top of existing text,
    much like a typewriter with correcting tape. Most experienced word
    processor users prefer insert mode for most of their work.
    Text Editors
    A classification of word processing software characterized by its low
    cost, ready availability, tendency to work only in ASCII format, and
    inability to do high-powered formatting.
    ASCII
    American Standard C}ode for Information
    Interchange. A standard convention used to encode text, numbers, and
    common punctuation in numeric format so they can be stored in a
    computer’s memory. Nearly all computers and programs can work with
    some form of ASCII. Text editors are designed especially to work with
    ASCII-based documents.
    Integrated Packages
    Programs that contain all the major applications within one «super
    application». These programs are useful, but often lack some of the
    more advanced features of full-fledged application packages.
    WYSIWYG
    What You See is What You Get.
    A capability often found on higher-level word processing
    programs. The screen mimics the output of the printer, so the typist
    can see pretty much what the final output of the document will be.
    Proprietary
    The term {it proprietary} is frequently used when discussing software to
    denote a certain idea that is particular to a specific brand of
    software. When a program uses a proprietary scheme to save word
    processing documents, for example, other programs may not be able to
    read these documents without some kind of translation.
    Desktop Publishing
    A classification of word processing software that concentrates on
    incorporation of graphics, powerful formatting, and development of
    complex styles including newsletters, signs, and pamphlets.
    Style Sheet
    In desktop publishing, a template that specifies how a certain type of
    document will be created. Style sheets are used to define a uniform
    look and feel for documents of the same general type. For example, a
    company might issue a standard style sheet for intra-corporation
    memoranda. Many high-end word processors incorporate this feature.
    Sometimes style sheets are referred to as templates.
    Scroll Bars
    Horizontal or vertical bars which indicate the cursor position in a
    document. Usually scroll bars can be used with the mouse to
    facilitate moving through the document.
    Cursor
    A small mark on the screen, usually a rectangle, underline, or
    I-shaped design. The cursor indicates the exact position within the document
    (and memory) where any commands and typing will be executed.
    Save
    The Save command saves a document without prompting for the file
    name, unless the file has never been saved before. If this is the
    case, it invokes a Save As command instead.
    Save As
    This command always prompts for a file name. It is used when
    you want to save the changes to file without changing the file already
    saved on the disk.
    Load (or Open)
    This command prompts the user for a file name, then loads the document
    into the application.
    Print
    A print command is used to send a copy of the document to the
    printer.
    Print Preview
    This command is especially useful in non-WYSIWYG environments. It
    allows you to see a preview of the document exactly as it will be
    printed. It is often a good idea to invoke this command before you
    print a document, to be sure it will turn out exactly as you plan.
    Block Manipulation
    The process of defining a section of text so it can be copied, pasted,
    or otherwise manipulated as one unit.
    Copy
    A copy command takes a block of text and copies it to a memory
    buffer without removing the original text. Used to it
    duplicate sections of a document.
    Cut
    This command copies a block of text to a memory buffer, and removes
    the original text from the document. Used to {it move} sections of a
    document.
    Paste
    This command takes the block of text last placed in the buffer by a
    cut or copy command, and inserts it into the document at the current
    cursor position.
    Formatting
    The process of defining how a document will look. Formatting can
    occur at the character level, as well as at the paragraph and page
    level.
    Character Attributes
    The special modifications to letters, such as {bf boldface} and {it
    italic}
    Font
    The combination of character set and size that defines how an
    individual character looks. Most word processing packages allow the
    user to choose from many fonts.
    Toggle
    A command is referred to as a {it toggle} if repeated execution of
    the command causes something to switch between two modes. Insert
    and Overwrite modes are good examples of toggles. Often character
    attributes are also considered toggles.
    Point
    A point is a type setter’s measurement of character size. Officially,
    there are 72.25 points to an inch.
    Justification
    The way the lines of text are arranged on the page. The usual options
    are left-justified, right-justified, centered, and both-justified.
    Left-Justified
    The text is lined up so that the left margin is even. The right
    margin will not be even in left-justified text.
    Right-Justified
    The text is lined up so that the left margin is ragged, but the right
    margin is even. Often used to line up dates and return addresses on
    business letters.
    Both-Justified
    The text is lined up so that both the left and right margins are lined
    up, as in a newspaper or magazine.
    Centered
    The text is lined up with an equal distance from the left and right
    margins. Usually used in headlines.
    Word Wrap
    A behavior of word processing programs which automatically moves words
    too large to fit the current line onto a new line. Eliminates the
    need to press «return» at the end of each line.
    Headers, Footers
    Special areas at the top and bottom of word processing documents.
    These sections are reserved for information that will appear on {it
    each page} of the document. Usually page numbers, document name, or
    document author will be in the header/footer area. The footer is
    also useful for holding footnotes.
    Landscape Mode
    Documents in this mode print the long part of the page horizontally, as
    in a landscape painting.
    Portrait Mode
    Documents in this mode print the long part of the page vertically,
    as in a portrait painting.
    Table
    A section of a document organized into rows and columns. Higher-end
    word processors often have a number of tools to help make tables
    easier to create and manage.
    Column
    Vertical separation of text into two or more sections. Newspapers and
    newsletters are often arranged in columns. High-end word processing
    programs and desktop publishing programs usually include some tools to
    make column manipulation easier.
    Spell Checker
    A feature of higher-end word processing programs that compares each
    word in a document to a dictionary of proper spellings. Most spell
    checkers «guess» which word the user was trying to type and give the
    user some guesses to choose from.
    Grammar Checker
    A feature in word processing programs that checks a document for
    common grammatical errors. Grammar checkers can also grade documents
    for readability and complexity. Sometimes grammar checkers are
    separate programs.
    Outline Editors
    A feature or program that easily enables the user to create and
    manipulate outlines. Most of these programs allow you to hide the
    body text so you can see and modify the subject headings. The
    associated body text is automatically moved with the appropriate heading.

    Summary

    Word processing programs are a type of software that make
    it easier to create and modify text documents. Word Processing
    applications are organized into a number of categories according to
    their complexity: Simple programs that manipulate ASCII are called
    Text Editors. More complex programs that feature formatting commands
    are called Word Processors. Some word processors are included in
    integrated application packages, which also feature other application
    programs. Such packages are convenient, but may not have all the
    features of larger programs. Full-featured word processing programs
    contain many options for formatting text and documents. They also
    might contain special utilities for more complex formatting and
    composition. Desktop publishing programs are designed for more
    complex formatting, especially the integration of text and graphics.

    Most word processing programs contain the same types of commands,
    although the exact ways to access these commands may vary. You will
    almost always see file handling commands, including commands to Load,
    Save, Save As, and Print. Frequently, you will also see commands for block
    manipulation, including Copy, Cut, and Paste. More advanced programs
    may contain special commands for formatting characters and paragraphs,
    as well as other commands to deal with tables, columns, and lists.
    The fanciest word processing programs may also contain commands to
    assist with composition, such as spelling and grammar checkers and
    outline editors.

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    Word Processing Software :
    The word “word processor” means it processes words with pages and paragraphs. Word processors are of 3 types which are electronic, mechanical, and software.

    The word processing software is used to apply the basic editing and design and also helps in manipulating the text to your pages whereas the word processor, is a device that provides editing, input, formatting, and output of the given text with some additional features.

    It is a type of computer software application or an electronic device. In today’s generation, the word processor has become the word processing software or programs that are running on general-purpose computers.

    Examples or Applications of a Word Processing Software :
     

    • Wordpad
    • Microsoft Word
    • Lotus word pro
    • Notepad
    • WordPerfect (Windows only),
    • AppleWorks (Mac only),
    • Work pages
    • OpenOffice Writer

    Features :
     

    1. They are stand-alone devices that are dedicated to the function.
    2. Their programs are running on general-purpose computers
    3. It is easy to use
    4. Helps in changing the shape and style of the characters of the paragraphs
    5. Basic editing like headers & footers, bullets, numbering is being performed by it.
    6. It has a facility for mail merge and preview.

    Functions :
     

    • It helps in Correcting grammar and spelling of sentences
    • It helps in storing and creating typed documents in a new way.
    • It provides the function of Creating the documents with basic editing, saving, and printing of it or same.
    • It helps in Copy the text along with moving deleting and pasting the text within a given document.
    • It helps in Formatting text like bold, underlining, font type, etc.
    • It provides the function of creating and editing the formats of tables.
    • It helps in Inserting the various elements from some other types of software.

    Advantages :
     

    • It benefits the environment by helping in reducing the amount of paperwork.
    • The cost of paper and postage waste is being reduced.
    • It is used to manipulate the document text like a report
    • It provides various tools like copying, deleting and formatting, etc.
    • It helps in recognizing the user interface feature
    • It applies the basic design to your pages
    • It makes it easier for you to perform repetitive tasks
    • It is a fully functioned desktop publishing program
    • It is time-saving.
    • It is dynamic in nature for exchanging the data.
    • It produces error-free documents.
    • Provide security to our documents.

    Disadvantages :
     

    • It does not give you complete control over the look and feel of your document.
    • It did not develop out of computer technology.

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    Some of the functions of word processing software include:

    • Creating, editing, saving and printing documents.
    • Copying, pasting, moving and deleting text within a document.
    • Formatting text, such as font type, bolding, underlining or italicizing.
    • Creating and editing tables.

    What is word processing and its features?

    A word processor is software or a device that allows users to create, edit, and print documents. It enables you to write text, store it electronically, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print it. Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common.

    What are the four features of word processor?

    List four important feature of a word processor ? Name any two word processor

    • – Creating, editing, saving and printing documents.
    • – Copying, pasting, moving and deleting text within a document.
    • – Formatting text, such as font type, bolding, underlining or italicizing.
    • – Creating and editing tables.

    What are the features and advantages of word processing?

    Advantages of Word Processing

    • Quality : It produces error free documents.
    • Storage of Text : We can take any number of copies with word processor.
    • Time Saving : We can get any number of copies of document in future without retyping.
    • Security : We can protect the documents in word processing by giving passwords.

    What is the importance of word processing?

    Furthermore, word processing benefits the environment by reducing the amount of paperwork needed to perform daily tasks (e.g., archiving, sending out letters, sending meeting agendas). By sending documents via a secured email, the cost of postage and paper waste are reduced significantly.

    What are the benefits of word processing in education?

    With word processing software, students can easily review and revise their compositions, highlight key ideas, rearrange sentences or paragraphs to flow more logically, and try out alternative sentences or words to communicate their ideas better.

    What are the basic elements of Microsoft Word?

    MS- Word Window Elements:

    • Title bar.
    • Menu Bar.
    • Toolbars.
    • Workspace.
    • Status Bar.
    • Scroll Bars.
    • Scroll Box.
    • Task Pane.

    How do you describe computer skills?

    Computer skills are abilities and knowledge which allow you to use computers and related technology. They let you use word processing software, access the Internet, manage files, or create presentations. Advanced computer skills would let you access databases, use spreadsheets, and even code.

    What are some common word processing applications?

    Two of the most widely used examples of word processing software are Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Both Word and Google Docs provide the business writer with the formatting tools needed to create professional documents.

    What are examples of word processing?

    • Adobe InCopy.
    • Corel WordPerfect (up to v. 9.0)
    • Hangul.
    • Ichitaro.
    • Kingsoft Writer.
    • Microsoft Word.
    • Scrivener.
    • StarOffice Writer.

    What are the word processing tools?

    5 Great Word Processing Tools For Writing Your Novel

    • Microsoft Office. Microsoft Word is pretty much the standard in the traditional business world, and for good reason – it’s fairly easy to use, compatible across a wide range of platforms (there’s even an iphone app currently in the works!), and great customer service.
    • Apache OpenOffice.
    • Google Drive.
    • iWork Pages.
    • Scrivener.

    How many types of word processing are there?

    3 types

    Which software is best for word processing?

    1. LibreOffice Writer. All-singing, all-dancing word processors for any text-based work.
    2. WPS Office Free Writer. A word processor with cloud storage and support for all text files.
    3. FocusWriter. The ideal word processor for first drafts, with no fussy formatting.
    4. FreeOffice TextMaker.
    5. Writemonkey.

    What are Microsoft Word functions?

    Given below are the basic functions of Microsoft Word:

    • Creating text documents.
    • Editing and Formatting the existing documents.
    • Making a text document interactive with different features and tools.
    • Graphical documents, comprising images.
    • Used by Authors and Researchers.
    • Detect grammatical errors in a text document.

    Which one is not a function in MS Word?

    The NOT function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Logical Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the NOT function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

    What are the basic functions of Microsoft Excel?

    You may be familiar with common functions like sum, average, product, and count, but there are hundreds of functions in Excel, even for things like formatting text, referencing cells, calculating financial rates, and analyzing statistics.

    What is MS Word and Excel?

    Microsoft Word is a word processing program used for writing letters, memos, reports and paper presentations. Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program used for calculations, making charts and recording data about all sorts of business processes.

    What is the full form of MS Excel?

    Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Excel forms part of the Microsoft Office suite of software.

    What is the use of MS Office?

    Microsoft Office has become a leading platform to drive productivity at home and in the workplace. Whether it’s managing email in Outlook, or building analysis spreadsheets in Excel, Office has made carrying out many computer based tasks easier for all of us.

    Word Processing

    Andrew Prestage, in Encyclopedia of Information Systems, 2003

    I. An Introduction to Word Processing

    Word processing is the act of using a computer to transform written, verbal, or recorded information into typewritten or printed form. This chapter will discuss the history of word processing, identify several popular word processing applications, and define the capabilities of word processors.

    Of all the computer applications in use, word processing is by far the most common. The ability to perform word processing requires a computer and a special type of computer software called a word processor. A word processor is a program designed to assist with the production of a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost. A typical word processor enables the user to create documents, edit them using the keyboard and mouse, store them for later retrieval, and print them to a printer. Common word processing applications include Microsoft Notepad, Microsoft Word, and Corel WordPerfect.

    Word processing technology allows human beings to freely and efficiently share ideas, thoughts, feelings, sentiments, facts, and other information in written form. Throughout history, the written word has provided mankind with the ability to transform thoughts into printed words for distribution to hundreds, thousands, or possibly millions of readers around the world. The power of the written word to transcend verbal communications is best exemplified by the ability of writers to share information and express ideas with far larger audiences and the permanency of the written word.

    The increasingly large collective body of knowledge is one outcome of the permanency of the written word, including both historical and current works. Powered by decreasing prices, increasing sophistication, and widespread availability of technology, the word processing revolution changed the landscape of communications by giving people hitherto unavailable power to make or break reputations, to win or lose elections, and to inspire or mislead through the printed word.

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    Computers and Effective Security Management1

    Charles A. Sennewald, Curtis Baillie, in Effective Security Management (Sixth Edition), 2016

    Word Processing

    Word processing software can easily create, edit, store, and print text documents such as letters, memoranda, forms, employee performance evaluations (such as those in Appendix A), proposals, reports, security surveys (such as those in Appendix B), general security checklists, security manuals, books, articles, press releases, and speeches. A professional-looking document can be easily created and readily updated when necessary.

    The length of created documents is limited only by the storage capabilities of the computer, which are enormous. Also, if multiple copies of a working document exist, changes to it should be promptly communicated to all persons who use the document. Specialized software, using network features, can be programmed to automatically route changes to those who need to know about updates.

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    Globalization

    Jennifer DeCamp, in Encyclopedia of Information Systems, 2003

    II.D.2.c. Rendering Systems

    Special word processing software is usually required to correctly display languages that are substantially different from English, for example:

    1.

    Connecting characters, as in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and Hebrew

    2.

    Different text direction, as in the right-to-left capability required in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Hindi, or the right-to-left and top-to-bottom capability in formal Chinese

    3.

    Multiple accents or diacritics, such as in Vietnamese or in fully vowelled Arabic

    4.

    Nonlinear text entry, as in Hindi, where a vowel may be typed after the consonant but appears before the consonant.

    Alternatives to providing software with appropriate character rendering systems include providing graphic files or elaborate formatting (e.g., backwards typing of Arabic and/or typing of Arabic with hard line breaks). However, graphic files are cumbersome to download and use, are space consuming, and cannot be electronically searched except by metadata. The second option of elaborate formatting often does not look as culturally appropriate as properly rendered text, and usually loses its special formatting when text is added or is upgraded to a new system. It is also difficult and time consuming to produce. Note that Microsoft Word 2000 and Office XP support the above rendering systems; Java 1.4 supports the above rendering systems except for vertical text.

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    Text Entry When Movement is Impaired

    Shari Trewin, John Arnott, in Text Entry Systems, 2007

    15.3.2 Abbreviation Expansion

    Popular word processing programs often include abbreviation expansion capabilities. Abbreviations for commonly used text can be defined, allowing a long sequence such as an address to be entered with just a few keystrokes. With a little investment of setup time, those who are able to remember the abbreviations they have defined can find this a useful technique. Abbreviation expansion schemes have also been developed specifically for people with disabilities (Moulton et al., 1999; Vanderheiden, 1984).

    Automatic abbreviation expansion at phrase/sentence level has also been investigated: the Compansion (Demasco & McCoy, 1992; McCoy et al., 1998) system was designed to process and expand spontaneous language constructions, using Natural Language Processing to convert groups of uninflected content words automatically into full phrases or sentences. For example, the output sentence “John breaks the window with the hammer” might derive from the user input text “John break window hammer” using such an approach.

    With the rise of text messaging on mobile devices such as mobile (cell) phones, abbreviations are increasingly commonplace in text communications. Automatic expansion of many abbreviations may not be necessary, however, depending on the context in which the text is being used. Frequent users of text messaging can learn to recognize a large number of abbreviations without assistance.

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    Case Studies

    Brett Shavers, in Placing the Suspect Behind the Keyboard, 2013

    Altered evidence and spoliation

    Electronic evidence in the form of word processing documents which were submitted by a party in litigation is alleged to have been altered. Altered electronic evidence has become a common claim with the ability to determine the changes becoming more difficult. How do you know if an email has been altered? What about a text document?

    Case in Point

    Odom v Microsoft and Best Buy, 2006

    The Odom v Microsoft and Best Buy litigation primarily focused on Internet access offered to customers in which the customers were automatically billed for Internet service without their consent. One of the most surprising aspects of this case involved the altering of electronic evidence by an attorney for Best Buy. The attorney, Timothy Block, admitted to altering documents prior to producing the documents in discovery to benefit Best Buy.

    Investigative Tips: All evidence needs to be validated for authenticity. The weight given in legal hearings depends upon the veracity of the evidence. Many electronic files can be quickly validated through hash comparisons. An example seen in Figure 11.4 shows two files with different file names, yet their hash values are identical. If one file is known to be valid, perhaps an original evidence file, any file matching the hash values would also be a valid and unaltered copy of the original file.

    Figure 11.4. Two files with different file names, but having the same hash value, indicating the contents of the files are identical.

    Alternatively, Figure 11.5 shows two files with the same file name but having different hash values. If there were a claim that both of these files are the same original files, it would be apparent that one of the files has been modified.

    Figure 11.5. Two files with the same file names, but having different hash values, indicating the contents are not identical.

    Finding the discrepancies or modifications of an electronic file can only be accomplished if there is a comparison to be made with the original file. Using Figure 11.5 as an example, given that the file having the MD5 hash value of d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e is the original, and where the second file is the alleged altered file, a visual inspection of both files should be able to determine the modifications. However, when only file exists, proving the file to be unaltered is more than problematic, it is virtually impossible.

    In this situation of having a single file to verify as original and unaltered evidence, an analysis would only be able to show when the file was modified over time, but the actual modifications won’t be known. Even if the document has “track changed” enabled, which logs changes to a document, that would only capture changes that were tracked, as there may be more untracked and unknown changes.

    As a side note to hash values, in Figure 11.5, the hash values are completely different, even though the only difference between the two sample files is a single period added to the text. Any modification, no matter how minor, results in a drastic different hash value.

    The importance in validating files in relation to the identification of a suspect that may have altered a file is that the embedded metadata will be a key point of focus and avenue for case leads. As a file is created, copied, modified, and otherwise touched, the file and system metadata will generally be updated.

    Having the dates and times of these updates should give rise to you that the updates occurred on some computer system. This may be on one or more computers even if the file existed on a flash drive. At some point, the flash drive was connected to a computer system, where evidence on a system may show link files to the file. Each of these instances of access to the file is an opportunity to create a list of possible suspects having access to those systems in use at each updated metadata fields.

    In the Microsoft Windows operating systems, Volume Shadow Copies may provide an examiner with a string of previous versions of a document, in which the modifications between each version can be determined. Although not every change may have been incrementally saved by the Volume Shadow Service, such as if the file was saved to a flash drive, any previous versions that can be found will allow to find some of the modifications made.

    Where a single file will determine the outcome of an investigation or have a dramatic effect on the case, the importance of ‘getting it right’ cannot be overstated. Such would be the case of a single file, modified by someone in a business office, where many persons had common access to the evidence file before it was known to be evidence. Finding the suspect that altered the evidence file may be simple if you were at the location close to the time of occurrence. Interviews of the employees would be easier as most would remember their whereabouts in the office within the last few days. Some may be able to tell you exactly where other employees were in the office, even point the suspect out directly.

    But what if you are called in a year later? How about 2 or more years later? What would be the odds employees remembering their whereabouts on a Monday in July 2 years earlier? To identify a suspect at this point requires more than a forensic analysis of a computer. It will probably require an investigation into work schedules, lunch schedules, backup tapes, phone call logs, and anything else to place everyone somewhere during the time of the file being altered.

    Potentially you may even need to examine the hard drive of a copy machine and maybe place a person at the copy machine based on what was copied at the time the evidence file was being modified. When a company’s livelihood is at stake or a person’s career is at risk, leave no stone unturned. If you can’t place a suspect at the scene, you might be able to place everyone else at a location, and those you can’t place, just made your list of possible suspects.

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    When, How, and Why Do We Trust Technology Too Much?

    Patricia L. Hardré, in Emotions, Technology, and Behaviors, 2016

    Trusting Spelling and Grammar Checkers

    We often see evidence that users of word processing systems trust absolutely in spelling and grammar checkers. From errors in business letters and on resumes to uncorrected word usage in academic papers, this nonstrategy emerges as epidemic. It underscores a pattern of implicit trust that if a word is not flagged as incorrect in a word processing system, then it must be not only spelled correctly but also used correctly. The overarching error is trusting the digital checking system too much, while the underlying functional problem is that such software identifies gross errors (such as nonwords) but cannot discriminate finer nuances of language requiring judgment (like real words used incorrectly). Users from average citizens to business executives have become absolutely comfortable with depending on embedded spelling and grammar checkers that are supposed to autofind, trusting the technology so much that they often do not even proofread. Like overtrust of security monitoring, these personal examples are instances of reduced vigilance due to their implicit belief that the technology is functionally flawless, that if the technology has not found an error, then an error must not exist.

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    Establishing a C&A Program

    Laura Taylor, Matthew Shepherd Technical Editor, in FISMA Certification and Accreditation Handbook, 2007

    Template Development

    Certification Packages consist of a set of documents that all go together and complement one another. A Certification Package is voluminous, and without standardization, it takes an inordinate amount of time to evaluate it to make sure all the right information is included. Therefore, agencies should have templates for all the documents that they require in their Certification Packages. Agencies without templates should work on creating them. If an agency does not have the resources in-house to develop these templates, they should consider outsourcing this initiative to outside consultants.

    A template should be developed using the word processing application that is the standard within the agency. All of the relevant sections that the evaluation team will be looking for within each document should be included. Text that will remain constant for a particular document type also should be included. An efficient and effective C&A program will have templates for the following types of C&A documents:

    Categorization and Certification Level Recommendation

    Hardware and Software Inventory

    Self-Assessment

    Security Awareness and Training Plan

    End-User Rules of Behavior

    Incident Response Plan

    Security Test and Evaluation Plan

    Privacy Impact Assessment

    Business Risk Assessment

    Business Impact Assessment

    Contingency Plan

    Configuration Management Plan

    System Risk Assessment

    System Security Plan

    Security Assessment Report

    The later chapters in this book will help you understand what should be included in each of these types of documents. Some agencies may possibly require other types of documents as required by their information security program and policies.

    Templates should include guidelines for what type of content should be included, and also should have built-in formatting. The templates should be as complete as possible, and any text that should remain consistent and exactly the same in like document types should be included. Though it may seem redundant to have the exact same verbatim text at the beginning of, say, each Business Risk Assessment from a particular agency, each document needs to be able to stand alone and make sense if it is pulled out of the Certification Package for review. Having similar wording in like documents also shows that the packages were developed consistently using the same methodology and criteria.

    With established templates in hand, it makes it much easier for the C&A review team to understand what it is that they need to document. Even expert C&A consultants need and appreciate document templates. Finding the right information to include the C&A documents can by itself by extremely difficult without first having to figure out what it is that you are supposed to find—which is why the templates are so very important. It’s often the case that a large complex application is distributed and managed throughout multiple departments or divisions and it can take a long time to figure out not just what questions to ask, but who the right people are who will know the answers.

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    Speech Recognition

    John-Paul Hosom, in Encyclopedia of Information Systems, 2003

    I.B. Capabilities and Limitations of Automatic Speech Recognition

    ASR is currently used for dictation into word processing software, or in a “command-and-control” framework in which the computer recognizes and acts on certain key words. Dictation systems are available for general use, as well as for specialized fields such as medicine and law. General dictation systems now cost under $100 and have speaker-dependent word-recognition accuracy from 93% to as high as 98%. Command-and-control systems are more often used over the telephone for automatically dialing telephone numbers or for requesting specific services before (or without) speaking to a human operator. Telephone companies use ASR to allow customers to automatically place calls even from a rotary telephone, and airlines now utilize telephone-based ASR systems to help passengers locate and reclaim lost luggage. Research is currently being conducted on systems that allow the user to interact naturally with an ASR system for goals such as making airline or hotel reservations.

    Despite these successes, the performance of ASR is often about an order of magnitude worse than human-level performance, even with superior hardware and long processing delays. For example, recognition of the digits “zero” through “nine” over the telephone has word-level accuracy of about 98% to 99% using ASR, but nearly perfect recognition by humans. Transcription of radio broadcasts by world-class ASR systems has accuracy of less than 87%. This relatively low accuracy of current ASR systems has limited its use; it is not yet possible to reliably and consistently recognize and act on a wide variety of commands from different users.

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    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0122272404001647

    Prototyping

    Rex Hartson, Pardha Pyla, in The UX Book (Second Edition), 2019

    20.7 Software Tools for Making Wireframes

    Wireframes can be sketched using any drawing or word processing software package that supports creating and manipulating shapes. While many applications suffice for simple wireframing, we recommend tools designed specifically for this purpose. We use Sketch, a drawing app, to do all the drawing. Craft is a plug-in to Sketch that connects it to InVision, allowing you to export Sketch screen designs to InVision to incorporate hotspots as working links.

    In the “Build mode” of InVision, you work on one screen at a time, adding rectangular overlays that are the hotspots. For each hotspot, you specify what other screen you go to when someone clicks on that hotspot in “Preview mode.” You get a nice bonus using InVision: In the “operate” mode, you, or the user, can click anywhere in an open space in the prototype and it highlights all the available links. These tools are available only on Mac computers, but similar tools are available under Windows.

    Beyond this discussion, it’s not wise to try to cover software tools for making prototypes in this kind of textbook. The field is changing fast and whatever we could say here would be out of date by the time you read this. Plus, it wouldn’t be fair to the numerous other perfectly good tools that didn’t get cited. To get the latest on software tools for prototyping, it’s better to ask an experienced UX professional or to do your research online.

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    URL: 

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128053423000205

    Design Production

    Rex Hartson, Partha S. Pyla, in The UX Book, 2012

    9.5.3 How to Build Wireframes?

    Wireframes can be built using any drawing or word processing software package that supports creating and manipulating shapes, such as iWork Pages, Keynote, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Word. While such applications suffice for simple wireframing, we recommend tools designed specifically for this purpose, such as OmniGraffle (for Mac), Microsoft Visio (for PC), and Adobe InDesign.

    Many tools and templates for making wireframes are used in combination—truly an invent-as-you-go approach serving the specific needs of prototyping. For example, some tools are available to combine the generic-looking placeholders in wireframes with more detailed mockups of some screens or parts of screens. In essence they allow you to add color, graphics, and real fonts, as well as representations of real content, to the wireframe scaffolding structure.

    In early stages of design, during ideation and sketching, you started with thinking about the high-level conceptual design. It makes sense to start with that here, too, first by wireframing the design concept and then by going top down to address major parts of the concept. Identify the interaction conceptual design using boxes with labels, as shown in Figure 9-4.

    Take each box and start fleshing out the design details. What are the different kinds of interaction needed to support each part of the design, and what kinds of widgets work best in each case? What are the best ways to lay them out? Think about relationships among the widgets and any data that need to go with them. Leverage design patterns, metaphors, and other ideas and concepts from the work domain ontology. Do not spend too much time with exact locations of these widgets or on their alignment yet. Such refinement will come in later iterations after all the key elements of the design are represented.

    As you flesh out all the major areas in the design, be mindful of the information architecture on the screen. Make sure the wireframes convey that inherent information architecture. For example, do elements on the screen follow a logical information hierarchy? Are related elements on the screen positioned in such a way that those relationships are evident? Are content areas indented appropriately? Are margins and indents communicating the hierarchy of the content in the screen?

    Next it is time to think about sequencing. If you are representing a workflow, start with the “wake-up” state for that workflow. Then make a wireframe representing the next state, for example, to show the result of a user action such as clicking on a button. In Figure 9-6 we showed what happens when a user clicks on the “Related information” expander widget. In Figure 9-7 we showed what happens if the user clicks on the “One-up” view switcher button.

    Once you create the key screens to depict the workflow, it is time to review and refine each screen. Start by specifying all the options that go on the screen (even those not related to this workflow). For example, if you have a toolbar, what are all the options that go into that toolbar? What are all the buttons, view switchers, window controllers (e.g., scrollbars), and so on that need to go on the screen? At this time you are looking at scalability of your design. Is the design pattern and layout still working after you add all the widgets that need to go on this screen?

    Think of cases when the windows or other container elements such as navigation bars in the design are resized or when different data elements that need to be supported are larger than shown in the wireframe. For example, in Figures 9-5 and 9-6, what must happen if the number of photo collections is greater than what fits in the default size of that container? Should the entire page scroll or should new scrollbars appear on the left-hand navigation bar alone? How about situations where the number of people identified in a collection are large? Should we show the first few (perhaps ones with most number of associated photos) with a “more” option, should we use an independent scrollbar for that pane, or should we scroll the entire page? You may want to make wireframes for such edge cases; remember they are less expensive and easier to do using boxes and lines than in code.

    As you iterate your wireframes, refine them further, increasing the fidelity of the deck. Think about proportions, alignments, spacing, and so on for all the widgets. Refine the wording and language aspects of the design. Get the wireframe as close to the envisioned design as possible within the constraints of using boxes and lines.

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    URL: 

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123852410000099

    By Louise Balle

    Updated September 28, 2017

    A word processor is an application that allows you to type in, edit, format, save, and print text. The text shows on screen the same or very similar to how it will appear in hard copy format. Word processors are commonly used by students, writers, authors, desktop publishing professionals and layout artists. Before you purchase a word processor, try several out. Some can be downloaded for free, and other can be downloaded for a trial period.

    Microsoft Word

    One of the most well-known and widely used word processing applications on the market is Microsoft Word. Word has more than 90 percent of the word processing market and more than 450 million users. Microsoft Corp. first released this program to the market in 1989, and since then there have been a number of upgrades to the software. Word can be purchased as part of the Microsoft Office suite of programs, which include Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Publisher. Word can be used to format text and build layout documents.

    WordPerfect

    WordPerfect is a word processing application from Corel Corp.. WordPerfect was popular in the early 1990s. It is best for writing simple essays and articles. Though it isn’t used as much today, WordPerfect is compatible with Microsoft Word, meaning that you can open and edit WordPerfect files in the Word program, then save them as WordPerfect files again. WordPerfect also can be used for formatting and laying out documents.

    Lotus Word Pro

    If you use Lotus Notes or Lotus 1-2-3—common in corporate environments—Lotus Word Pro is an ideal program for your word processing needs. This program works in concert with Lotus applications to allow you to create and distribute formatted text documents. It is produced and distributed by IBM Corp. Lotus Word Pro is also compatible with Microsoft Word and ideal for writing reports, memos and proposals.

    iWork Pages

    Pages is a word processing program offered by Apple Incorporated, so if you own a Mac computer this might be the ideal option for your needs. It is a part of Apple’s iWork suite of programs. Pages allows you to perform basic word processing functions—writing and formatting—as well as more complex graphical layout actions. You can open and save Pages files in Microsoft Word.

    And the Rest

    There are dozens of word processors on the market. Other lesser-known word processors include OpenOffice Writer, Adobe InCopy, AbiWord, Microsoft Works and Scrivener. A growing number of online word processors are available and include Google Docs and Microsoft Office Web Apps.

    Word processing is the act of using a word processor to create, edit, customize, preserve and print a document. A Word processor is a computer program that facilitates word processing, a good example is Microsoft Word.

    Word processing was one of the earliest applications for personal computers in office productivity. Modern word processors provide users with a graphical user interface (GUI). GUIs allow users some form of what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editing.

    A word processing application is a type of software that displays characters based on a user’s input on an external or internal keyboard. Simply put, with a word processor you can type, edit and print documents on the go.

    There are popular word processors or word processing applications that are widely in use. They include Corel Word Perfect, OpenOffice, LibreOffice, WordPad, Google Docs, etc.

    With a word processing application, you can create different kinds of documents including letters, resume, memo, books, newsletter, cards, etc. Though word processing applications are not originally meant for creating graphics, in recent times, they can create amazing graphic docs.

    Word processing applications allow the user to edit, modify, and format documents based on display preferences. By this, we mean that you can customize the text in your document to look the way you want it. This is done by formatting the size, color, and other features in your document. 

    Among the core functionality of word processing applications is the ability to insert images, clipart, tables, and WordArt. There are also inbuilt commands to create a table of contents, bibliography, and document borders. Word processors have lots of commands and functionalities which have made them common use in education, business, and industry.

    There are different word processing applications available; Microsoft Word and WordPerfect are the most commonly used.

    Basic Commands

    Using word processing applications, creating and editing documents is made easy through the use of some of the following commands:

    1. Copy (CTRL + C) – The process of duplicating existing texts either in the same document or in another document.
    2. Cut (CTRL + X) – The process of moving existing text from one location to another in the same or another document.
    3. Autocorrect – A command that automatically corrects misspelled words using the inbuilt dictionary of words.
    4. Font – A set of letters that represents a typeface such as Arial, Times new roman, Tahoma, etc.
    5. Bold (CTRL + B) – A command that darkens the color of selected texts in a document.
    6. Underline (CTRL + U) – A command that underlines selected texts in a document. 
    7. Formatting – A process of customizing the text and layout of a document to suit its purpose. Some formatting commands include alignment (CTRL+L, CTRL+R, CTRL+J), font color, font size, page setup, etc.

    There are many commands in word processing applications that enable its users to achieve their aim. To get started learning how to use a word processor, continue below.

    Uses of Word Processor

    1. Word processors are used in creating letters, letterheads, memos, and reference documents in business.
    2. Word Processing software can be used to type, Save, Format, Preview & Print text.
    3. It can also be used to create and edit pictures, images, symbols, and
    4. One can use word processors to search and replace words; cut/copy and paste words.
    5. It can be used to perform the following: Spelling and grammar check, Thesaurus (Dictionary), Mail Merging, and create tables.

    Examples of Word Processors

    The following are some examples of word processing software:

    1. WordPad,
    2. Microsoft Word,
    3. Microsoft Works,
    4. WordPerfect,
    5. AppleWorks,
    6. OpenOffice Writer

    Task one

    Identify at least two most popularly used word processing software in your environment. If they are not on the above list, add them. Use the comment section to respond to this task.

    Using Word Processor

    Loading Microsoft Word

    To load Microsoft Word, do the following:

    1. In Win XP, Click Start >>> All Programs >>> Microsoft Office >>> Microsoft Word.
    2. what is word processing: Load word in XP

    3. In Win Vista and 7, Click Start >>> Type ‘word’ in the Search box >>> select Microsoft Word from the list.
    4. Load word in vista

    5. In Win 8, 8.1 & 10, press the WINDOWS LOGO button on the keyboard
    6. From the tiled menu, select Word 2013 as shown below.

    Open word in win 8.1

    In general, whichever windows you are working with, you can load Microsoft Word by doing the following:

  • Press the key combination WINDOWS LOGO + R to display the Run dialog box shown below.
  • Open Word in Run

  • Type ‘Winword’ in the box and press Enter or click OK.
  • MS Word opens.

    Create a Document in Microsoft Word

    To create a file, load Microsoft Word application, type text such as letter, memo, or anything you want to do. (See uses of a word processor)

    Save a File in Microsoft Word

    In an already opened Microsoft Word application, do the following:

    1. Click File and select Save As, from the menu list, the Save As dialog box will appear as shown below.

    Save document

    1. Type the name of the file in the File Name box and click the save button. The file will be saved in My documents by default.

    Open/ retrieve a saved file

    To retrieve a saved file from any application, do the following:

    1. Open the folder where you saved the file (e.g. my documents): To open my documents folder; double-click my documents icon on the desktop OR right-click Documents icon on the desktop and select Open from the list.
    2. Locate the name of the file you want to open or retrieve in the folder (files are arranged in alphabetical order).
    3. Double-click the ‘file’s name’ icon in the folder OR right-click the ‘file’s name’ icon and choose Open from the list. The application opens with contents of the file.
    4. If you want to retrieve the file for safe keeping in another location, then you can save the file again by selecting a different location from the Save in the drop-down list in the Save As dialog box.

     

    Exiting Microsoft word

    To close an already opened Microsoft Word do the following:

    1. Press the key combinations CTRL + F4 to close an open word document without exiting word.
    2. Press the key combinations ALT + F4 to exit Word application.
    3. Click the [X] icon in the top right corner of the open Word application as shown below.

    close MS Word

    Printing in MS Word

    To print your document is very simple.
    Before you print, you must have a printer connected to your computer system.
    If you do not have a printer, you can print to Pdf or XPS files, then copy the file to a system that has a printer.
    To print do the following:

    1. Select File >> Print. The print and print preview window will show

    Printing in Word

    The left pane of the window shows the print options while the right pane shows your printable document.
    In the left pane, check the print options. For example:

    1. Choose a printer from the Printer drop-down arrow. You can choose pdf or XPS document writer here.
    2. If you want to print all the pages, select “Print All Pages”. If you want to print the current page only, select “Print Current Page”, under
    3. When you are set to print, click the Print

     

    word_processing, software, review, technical_writingWhat is a Word Processor?

    You might have heard the widely thrown around term of ‘paperless office’ or ‘paperless environment’. Although we’re still a long way off from realizing that dream, but there are instances where paper as such is no longer required to any type of official business level communication.

    Most of the credit for this definitely goes to word processor programs and applications that help employees put in their communication through digital means. Not only have such word processors allowed for quick and easy communication internally (or externally) within an organization but also has helped improve effectiveness and efficiency of a workplace – since waiting times have been reduced drastically.

    So before we dive deep into the different types of word processors available in the market, let’s have a look at how it all began.

    The History of Word Processor – How It All Began?

    Take today’s word processors as an extension or an evolved form of a type writer. Originally marketed back in 1867, a manual typewriter was first introduced in to the market by a gun manufacturing company.

    The first phase of this evolution involved electric typewriters, which could be used for typing of letters automatically while adding/removing specific letters in case of any corrections.

    Automatic Typewriters

    This was as ‘automatic’ as you could get – a type writer person would manually type something, then proof read it for any mistakes. Once he/she was satisfied, a final re-type would be needed to actually finish the document.

    The operators in charge of these word processors were trained typists, who had to be very careful with specifics of a page like orientation, line spacing, page width and all of these details had to be taken into consideration manually. Later on, change in font was added as a new feature enjoyed by some of the leading newspaper agencies for their print production and newsletters. The default ‘typing ball’ font slowly was replaced by a collection of changeable fonts.

    From Typewriters to Word Processors

    At that time, there were no personal computers. Machines would specifically be built for the purpose of word processing. Rather than evolving through ideas of mathematicians and computer geeks, the word processor was in fact born out of the necessity of writers. Later on, as the computers started to trickle down into our personal lives did we see word processors integrated with the personal computer.

    As such, the actual introduction of word processing software that we see today is not marked for sure with a historical timeline. But it’s safe to say that with the mass division of personal computers and printers in the early 1990’s, typewriters as such were fully replaced with dedicated word processing software and programs rather than having to resort to separate machines for typing text on to paper.

    Let us fast forward to present time and see what exactly are Word Processors used for nowadays.

    Word Processors – What Are They Used For?

    In a contemporary office (or a professional) environment, a word processing software is used to create documents and reports like for example a resume or a marketing proposal. Text is entered by typing letters using a keyboard on to a software that takes care of the functions of editing, copying, pasting, deleting and other formatting methods.

    Features of a Word Processor

    Some of the basic features of a word processor includes:

    • Copying, editing, saving and printing reports and documents
    • Copying, deleting, pasting, and shifting text within a certain page/document
    • Formatting of text like changing size (font size), italicizing (italics), bolding (bold) or strikethroughs and underlines
    • Formatting tables (drawing/inserting rows and columns to make full-fledged tables)
    • Placing pictures, graphs and all sorts of illustrations within and around the text document
    • Correction of spelling mistakes and a fully functioning dictionary in most cases

    Word processing software should not be confused with simple text editors. Text editors (like Window’s Notepad) can also allow you to type in text with a few basic formatting inputs but don’t have the more advanced features like underlining, different fonts, adding pictures and graphs etc.

    Top Three Popular and Best Word Processors

    So let us now look at what word processors are the best options available out there in the market. We will start off with the most popular one as of yet; Microsoft Word.

    Microsoft Word

    Microsoft Word, word_processor, ms_word, word_2013Microsoft Word is hands down the most popular of all word processing software out there. According to the company Microsoft itself, the estimation is that around half a billion people on this planet currently use Microsoft Word for the purpose of word processing. It is therefore no surprise that 90 percent of the word processing market share is captured by Microsoft Word.

    Originally introduced to the public back in the year 1989, the current version of Microsoft Word has seen numerous updates (multiple times each year) and comes as a package with the suite of Office applications along with PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, and Outlook.

    WordPerfect

    WordPerfect, word_processor, softwareIf you ask someone knowledgeable in the computer industry to name a software other than Microsoft Word itself, the word WordPerfect will be the obvious answer. More suited towards writing short essays and quick articles, WordPerfect best strength is its compatibility with Microsoft Word. A bit ironic but it definitely does the trick when you need to open up WordPerfect documents with Microsoft Word.

    Lotus Word Pro

    Lotus Word Pro, word_processor, software, word_processingIf your office computers are integrated on Lotus portal, then Lotus Word Pro is your ideal for all your needs. Lotus Word Pro can be connected with all your Lotus applications to produce properly formatted documents. Although it’s produced and distributed by IBM Corporation, it’s also compatible with Windows based programs particularly Microsoft Word.

    Author: Bilal Ibrar

    A marketing graduate with a passion for writing on topics related to social media, technology and business in general. Hobbies include gaming, animation and motorsports

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