2.1.7+Outline+the+use+of+a+range+of+application+software

Application software should include word processors, spreadsheets, database management systems,email, web browsers, computeraided design (CAD) and graphic processing software.

Word Processors
Definition:

Using a computer to create, edit, and print documents. Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common. To perform word processing, you need a computer, a special program called a word processor, and a printer. A word processor enables you to create a document, store it electronically on a disk, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print it on a printer.



Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are used mainly in accounting to organise figures in rows and columns. Formulae and various sorting options can be applied to the input data in order to arrive at the desired output. This means that spreadsheets can be very good at modelling financial possibilities as well as other numerically based operations.



Database Management Systems
Database Management Systems, such as Microsoft Access, allow users to create large arrays of information with data being stored in records. Databases can be linked to save on space and input times. They are useful for storing information like school records - a student's information can be stored in one record and easily found with searching. Another key feature of databases are the unique keys. Unique keys are, as the name suggests, unique identification numbers for each record. These keys aren't necessary but can be useful if a lot of records are stored.

E-Mail
E-Mail is, put simply, electronic mail. In order to send and receive emails you need to have an email client and an account set up with an email provider, such as Google's GMail and Microsoft's Hotmail.

Computers use the TCP/IP protocol suite to send email messages in the form of packets.

The header of an email includes the From:, To:, Cc: and Subject: fields. So you enter the name and address of the person you want to send the email to in the Fom: field, the name and address of anyone who is being copied to in the Cc: field, and the subject of the email in the Subject: field.

The part below the header of the email is called the body, and contains the message itself.



**Web Browsers**
A web browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve and also display content on the WWW, including Web pages, images, video and other files. The browser is the client run on a computer that contacts the Web server and requests information. The Web server sends the information back to the Web browser which displays the results on the computer.

Today's modern browsers can all display HTML Web pages, applications, JavaScript and so on. Besides that, many browsers also offer diverse plug-ins to enhance your web experience, as well as extending its capabilities. These include AdBlock, Greasemonkey, and a lot of other social media plugins such as Facebook or YouTube ones, as well as being able to add diverse filters that fit your needs.

The two most popular browsers in use are Internet Explorer and Firefox and Google Chrome, although the last 2 are considered to be vastly more competent than the first one. Other browsers also include Opera, Safari and Netscape.



Computer-aided Design (CAD)
A CAD system is a combination of hardware and software that allows engineers and architects to design everything from floors to ceilings to airplanes to robotized kittens. In addition to the software, CAD systems require a high-quality graphics monitor, a mouse, light pen, or digitizing tablet for drawing and a special printer.

CAD systems allow an engineer to view a design from any angle and to zoom in or out for close-ups and long-distance views. In addition, the computer keeps track of design dependencies so that when the engineer changes one value, all other values that depend on it are automatically changed to fit the changes inputted the the user.

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