System Requirement for Software Compatibility

Compatibility is the capacity for two systems to work together without having to be altered to

do so. Compatible software applications use the same data formats. For example, if word

processor applications are compatible, the user should be able to open their document files in

either product.

Compatibility can refer to interoperability between any two products: hardware and software,

products of the same or different types, or different versions of the same product. Products

that are designed to be compatible with future versions of themselves are referred to as

forward compatible; products designed for compatibility with older versions are said to be

backward compatible.

Compatibility Issues

The huge variety of application software available and all the versions of the same software

mean there are bound to be compatibility issues, even when people are using the same kind of

software. Compatibility issues come up when users are using the same type of software for a

task, such as word processors, that cannot communicate with each other. This could be due to

a difference in their versions or because they are made by different companies.

Compatibility issues can be small, for example certain features not working properly in older

versions of the same software, but they can also be problematic, such as when a newer

version of the software cannot open a document created in an older version.

In Microsoft Word for example, documents created in Word 2016 or 2013 can be opened in

Word 2010 or 2007, but some of the newer features (such as collapsed headings or embedded

videos) will not work in the older versions

If someone using Word 2016 opens a document created in Word 2010, the document will

open in Compatibility Mode. Microsoft Office does this to make sure that documents created

in older versions still work properly.

UPDATING SOFTWARE

More and more software providers are offering subscription services for their software. An

example of this is Microsoft’s Office 365, which gives you the full range of Microsoft Office

products and access to Microsoft’s online productivity tools, such as OneDrive (their cloud

storage service). Since Office 365 is a subscription service, you never truly own the software

and will need to renew your subscription every year, but the software is updated once a

month to make sure that you have access to the latest features.

Making sure that your software is up to date is important as you will be able to get the newest

fixes for bugs in the software, the most recent virus and malware fixes and the latest features.

This is especially important for software such as your antivirus programs and your operating

system. Microsoft Windows 10 will let you know when a new version of any of your

software becomes available so that you can update it. Some software also has the option to

check for and install updates automatically, so you do not need to remember to do so.