WORD PROCESSING

PROGRAMS
REPORT BY RAJA MOHAMMAD ALI
Abstract

 Word Processing refers to the act of using a computer to create, edit, save and print
documents. In order to perform word processing, specialized software (known as a
Word Processor) is needed. One example of a Word Processor is Microsoft Word.
These programs allow users to create a wide variety of documents including (Word
processing cycle but certainly not limited to) reports, letters, memos, newsletters and
brochures. In addition to typing text, the word processor allows you to add content such
as pictures, tables, and charts to your documents as well as decorative items including
borders and clipart.
 The editing and formatting capabilities of the word processor demonstrate the
application's true power. Text can be inserted, edited, moved, copied or deleted within
your document and the appearance of the text can be modified in numerous ways.
Word Processing Terminology
 Word processing is the act of using a computer to transform written, verbal, or recorded information
 Alignment into typewritten or printed form. This chapter will discuss the history of word processing, identify
 Application several popular word processing applications, and define the capabilities of word processors.
 Autocorrect
 Clipboard  Of all the computer applications in use, word processing is by far the most common. The ability to
 Copying 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
Cursor/ Insertion Point
documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost. A typical
 Cutting word processor enables the user to create documents, edit them using the keyboard and mouse, store
 Document them for later retrieval, and print them to a printer. Common word processing applications include
Microsoft Notepad, Microsoft Word, and Corel WordPerfect.
 Editing
 Footer
  Word processing technology allows human beings to freely and efficiently share ideas, thoughts,
Font

feelings, sentiments, facts, and other information in written form. Throughout history, the written
Formatting word has provided mankind with the ability to transform thoughts into printed words for distribution
 Header 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
Highlighting
information and express ideas with far larger audiences and the permanency of the written word.
 Landscape
 Legal Size
 Letter size
 Line Spacing
 Paragraph
 Etc.
Introduction

 Word processors have allowed users to record their thoughts, ideas,

messages, and other writings to ever-increasing audiences. Access to
inexpensive, powerful, and easy-to-use word processing technology
has radically altered the workplace, increased communications
capabilities, and made it possible for just about anyone to publish
their work. In the years to come, it is certain that word processing
technology will become even more pervasive in society as more
users take advantage of this technology.

 The power, ease of use, and sophistication of word processors will

increase, while the costs associated with its use will decrease. The
features wars are far from over, evidenced by the introduction of
exciting new capabilities such as fully automated formatting, voice
recognition, and tighter integration with operating systems and
Internet resources. Recent improvements in word processors have
introduced improved data management features and the ability to
search for and replace multiple word forms such as buy, bought, and
other forms of the same word with the corresponding forms of
purchase in a single operation. Fully integrated software suites will
become increasingly common, and will include extensive data
sharing capabilities, natural language help systems, and eventually
maybe even thought recognition capabilities. All of these exciting
new capabilities will play an important role in allowing users to tap
into the power of the world's most sophisticated computer–the
human brain. Ultimately, word processing technology will grow even
more ubiquitous as it continues to improve, becoming tightly
ingrained into people's everyday lives as they communicate with
those around them.
The following brief descriptions outline general capabilities of word processing applications.

• Formatting/layout capabilities reflect the application's ability to shape the content of a document
through page layout features.

• Composing/editing capabilities provide tools for adding and modifying text within a document.

• File management capabilities help users easily locate files and store them in an efficient manner.

• Collaboration capabilities allow users to share documents via e-mail, perform group editing, track
revisions, place comments within documents, and consolidate complex documents.

• User automation capabilities are designed to make document creation easier via tools such as
templates, macros, scripts, and mail merge features.

• Advanced capabilities allow users to customize the application to their particular needs through
macro creation and editing capabilities, customizable keyboards and menus, drawing tools, and image
handling features.

All word processors include basic capabilities such as the ability to insert, delete, cut, paste, copy, and
print text. Documents can be saved onto a storage media and later retrieved for editing. See Table III
for a cursory list of basic word processing terms and capabilities.
Comparison between Word processing and  A word processor offers many features not
type writer found in a manual typewriter. Word processors
have far more capacity than typewriters for
The most obvious advantage of word processing over using a
typewriter is that the user can make changes without retyping the
document creation and modification. Using a
entire document. If a typing mistake is made, it can be easily word processor, it is not necessary to have a
corrected. Entire paragraphs can be removed without leaving a
trace. Adding words, sentences, paragraphs, and even entire sections small bottle of Liquid Paper available just to
is just as easy. Word processors also make it easy to move text from erase an unwanted word. The user does not
one section to another within a document or even between
documents. After the user has made all the changes he or she wants, need a pair of scissors to cut and paste
the user can send the electronic file to a printer to get a fresh hard
copy.
(rearrange) text in a document as he or she
would with a manual typewriter. Everything is
Word processing software permits editing flexibility no typewriter
done electronically with a high degree of
can match, enabling the user to revise a document before speed, efficiency, and effectiveness.
committing it to paper.

Not only do word processors eliminate the tedium of retyping, they Differences between a Word Processor and an
also permit greater control over the contents of documents. Word
processors can be used to quickly and painlessly perform text entry, Electric Typewriter
correction, substitution, check spelling, cut, copy, paste, and page
layout operations well beyond the capabilities of any typewriter. If  While it can be argued that modern electronic
the user makes a typing mistake, he or she simply backs up the
cursor and corrects the mistake. If the user wants to delete a typewriters contain many of the same
paragraph, he or she simply removes it, without leaving a trace. It is
equally easy to insert a word, sentence, or paragraph in the middle
capabilities of word processors, the major
of a document. Word processors also make it possible to print difference is in the word processor's ease of
multiple copies of documents that are better reading and better
looking than that which is possible from a typewriter.
use and huge capacity to create and edit
sophisticated documents.
Types of Word Processors
Word processors are either character based or contain a GUI. Character-based word
processors do not display documents exactly as they will appear on the printed page. Some
character-based word processors, however, include a “preview” capability, allowing the
user to preview documents as they will appear on the printed page. This useful feature
allows the user to verify that the appearance of the document matches the desired
expectations.

The arrival of popular GUIs such as the Macintosh and Windows operating systems led to a
change in the way word processors handled fonts. Word processors offering a GUI allow
the user to see the document on the computer's display screen exactly as it will appear after
it is printed. In other words, with a GUI word processor what you see is what you get
(known as the acronym WYSIWYG).

Word processor types range from simple text editors to full-featured applications. As the
name implies, a simple text editor contains very limited capabilities such as the ability to
enter, store for later retrieval, modify, and print text.
Text editors lack the sophisticated features of full-featured word processors. Text editors
are easy to learn and use and are commonly used for creating generic American Standard
Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) text files as opposed to binary files created by
more sophisticated word processors. Developed by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), ASCII is the most common format for text files in computers and on the
Internet. Due to the very limited character set of ASCII text files, common text
enhancement tools such as underline, bold, and italics cannot be used.

A popular example of a text editor is Microsoft Notepad, which is an accessory

application bundled within the Microsoft operating system (see Fig. 1). Notepad enables
the user to create, store, retrieve, modify, print, and find text within a document. In
addition, certain e-mail applications also contain text editing capabilities.

TEXT EDITORS