Chapter 3

Computer Software
 3 Chapter Contents
Section A: Software Basics
Section B: Popular Applications
Section C: Buying Software
Section D: Installing Software and Upgrades
Section E: Security Software

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 3
SECTION A
Software Basics
Software Categories
Application Software
Utility Software
Device Drivers

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 3 Software Categories

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 3 Application Software
Productivity software can
be defined as any type of
application software that
has the potential to help
people do their work more
efficiently
Groupware is designed to
help several people
collaborate on a single
project using local networks
or Internet connections

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 3 Utility Software
Utility software (a type of
system software) is designed
to help you monitor and
configure settings for your
computer system equipment,
the operating system, or
application software
A desktop widget is a
specialized utility program that
appears on a computer’s
screen-based desktop

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 3 Device Drivers
A device driver is software
that helps a peripheral
device establish
communication with a
computer
Windows Device Manager

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 3
SECTION B
Popular Applications
Document Production Software
Spreadsheet Software
“Number Crunching” Software
Database Software
Graphics Software

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 3
SECTION B
Popular Applications
Music Software
Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software
Educational and Reference Software
Entertainment Software
Business Software

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 3 Document Production
Software
Assists you with composing, editing,
designing, printing, and electronically
publishing documents
– Word processing
– Desktop publishing
– Web authoring

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 3 Document Production
Software

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 3 Document Production
Software
Document production software may include:
– Spelling checker
• Spelling dictionary
– Thesaurus
– Grammar checker
– Feature to analyze the reading level
• Readability formula
– Search and Replace feature

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 3 Document Production
Software
The format for a document refers to the way that all elements
are arranged on the page

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 3 Document Production
Software

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 3 Document Production
Software

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 3 Document Production
Software
Mail merge automatically creates personalized letters by
combining the information in a mailing list with a form letter
Additional capabilities of word processing software include:
– Automatically generating table of contents and index
– Numbering and positioning footnotes
– Providing document templates
– Exporting to HTML format

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 3 Spreadsheet Software
A spreadsheet uses rows
and columns of numbers to
create a model or
representation of a real
solution
Spreadsheet software, such
as Microsoft Excel or
OpenOffice Calc, provides
tools for creating
worksheets

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 3 Spreadsheet Software
When a cell contains
a formula, it displays
the result of the
formula rather than
the formula itself. To
view and edit the
formula, you use the
Formula bar.

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 3 Spreadsheet Software
A formula tells the computer how to use the contents of cells
in calculations
– Cell references
• Relative reference
• Absolute reference
– Mathematical operators
– Functions
– Automatic recalculations

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 3 Spreadsheet Software
As shown in the
examples, relative
references within a
formula can change
when you change
the sequence of a
worksheet’s rows
and columns. An
absolute reference
is anchored so that it
always refers to a
specific cell.

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 3 “Number Crunching” Software
Provides a structured environment dedicated to a particular
number crunching task
– Statistical software
– Mathematical modeling software
– Money management software
• Personal finance software
– Tax preparation software

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 3 Database Software
A database is a collection of data
– Database software helps you enter, find, organize,
update, and report information stored in a database

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 3 Database Software

Database
software
provides tools
for specifying
fields for a series
of records.

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 3 Database Software
A query language such as SQL (Structured Query
Language) provides a set of commands for locating and
manipulating data
– Natural language query
– Query by example

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 3 Graphics Software
Designed to help you
create, manipulate, and
print graphics
– Paint software
– Photo editing software
– Drawing software
– 3-D graphics software
– CAD software
– Presentation software

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 3 Graphics Software

A computer-based
presentation
consists of a
series of slides,
created with
presentation
software.

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 3 Music Software
Allows you to make your own digital voice and music
recordings
– Audio editing software
– CD ripper software
– Audio encoding software
– Ear training software
– Notation software
– Computer-aided music software
– MIDI sequencing software

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 3 Video Editing and
DVD Authoring Software
Provides a set of tools for
– Transferring video footage
from a camcorder to a
computer
– Clipping out unwanted
footage
– Assembling video segments
– Adding special visual effects
– Adding a sound track
DVD authoring software creates
DVDs with Hollywood-style
menus
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 3 Educational and Reference
Software
Educational software
– Helps you learn and practice new skills
Reference software
– Provides a collection of information and a way to access
that information
– Generally shipped on CD or DVD, or accessed on the
Web

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 3 Entertainment Software
Computer games are the most popular type of entertainment
software
– Role-playing
– Action
– Adventure
– Puzzle
– Simulation
– Sports
– Strategy

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 3 Business Software
Vertical market software is designed to automate specialized
tasks in a specific market or business
Horizontal market software is generic software that just
about any type of business can use
– Payroll software
– Accounting software
– Project management software

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 3
SECTION C
Buying Software
Consumer Basics
Software Copyrights and Licenses

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 3 Consumer Basics
Most operating systems
include a handful of small
applications and a good
variety of useful utility
software

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 3 Consumer Basics
A software suite is a collection of application software sold as
a single package

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 3 Consumer Basics
Available in many types of stores
Software contained on distribution media
Make sure your computer meets the system requirements

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 3 Software Copyrights and
Licenses
A copyright is a form of legal protection that grants the author
of an original “work” exclusive rights
– Copyright notice
Software licenses define the ways in which you may use a
computer program
– Single-user
– Site
– Multiple-user
– Concurrent
– Shrink-wrap

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 3 Software Copyrights and
Licenses
End-User License Agreement
Different types of software licenses
– Public domain
– Proprietary
– Commercial software
– Demoware
– Shareware
– Freeware
– Open source
– BSD
– GPL
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 3
SECTION D
Installing Software and Upgrades
Installation Basics
Installing Local Applications
Installing Portable Software and Web Apps
Software Updates
Uninstalling Software

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 3 Installation Basics
Software installation is a process that places a program into
a computer so that it can be run or executed

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 3 Installing Local Applications

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 3 Installing Local Applications

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 3 Installing Portable Software
and Web Apps
Portable software is designed to run from removable
storage, such as a CD or USB flash drive
– Installation is simply a matter of getting program files to
the media on which they are supposed to run
A Web application is software that is accessed with a Web
browser
– May require client-side program to be installed

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 3 Software Updates
Software publishers regularly update their software
– Add new features
– Fix bugs
– Update security
Software patches replace part of the software you currently
have installed
Service packs correct problems and address security
vulnerabilities

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 3 Software Updates
Updates are usually available online for registered software
Always install patches and service packs when they become
available
Many software publishers require users to type in a
validation code to complete an update

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 3 Uninstalling Software
Uninstall routines delete the
software’s files from the
various folders on your
computer’s hard disk

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 3
SECTION E
Security Software
Security Software Basics
Security Suites
Antivirus Modules

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 3 Security Software Basics
Security software is designed to protect computers from
various forms of destructive software and unauthorized
intrusions
The terms malicious software and malware refer to any
computer program designed to surreptitiously enter a
computer, gain unauthorized access to data, or disrupt
normal processing operations
A blended threat describes malware that combines more
than one type of malicious program

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 3 Security Software Basics
Computer virus
Computer worm
– Mass-mailing worm
Trojan horse
– Keylogger
– Remote Access Trojan (RAT)
Bot
– Zombie
– Botnet
Spyware

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 3 Security Software Basics
What does malware do?

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 3 Security Software Basics
The term rootkit refers to software tools used to conceal
malware and backdoors that have been installed on a
victim’s computer
A virus hoax usually arrives as an e-mail message containing
dire warnings about a supposedly new virus on the loose

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 3 Security Suites
A security suite integrates several security modules to
protect against the most common types of malware,
unauthorized access, and spam
A security suite costs less than purchasing standalone
security modules

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 3 Security Suites

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 3 Antivirus Modules
Antivirus software is a type of utility software that looks for
and eradicates viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and bots
– A virus signature is a section of program code, such as a
unique series of instructions, that can be used to identify
a known malicious program, much as a fingerprint is used
to identify an individual
– Virus signatures and other information that antivirus
software uses to identify and eradicate malware is stored
in one or more files usually referred to as virus definitions

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 3 Antivirus Modules

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 3 Antivirus Modules
Most experts recommend
that you configure your
antivirus software to
periodically scan all the files
on your computer
If, during the scanning
process, your virus protection
software identifies a virus,
worm, Trojan horse, or bot in
a file or attachment, it can try
to remove the infection, put
the file into quarantine, or
simply delete the file

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Chapter 3 Complete
Computer Software