Chapter 3 Diagnostic routines test main memory, CPU, and

other hardware.
Software: Tools for Productivity
& Creativity Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) programs are
copied to main memory.
UNIT 3A: System Software: The Power behind
the Power BIOS contains instructions for operating the
hardware. The computer needs those instructions to
Application software; is software that has been operate the hardware and find a copy of the OS.
developed to solve a particular problem for users—to
perform useful work on specific tasks or to provide Boot program obtains the OS and loads it into
entertainment. computer’s main memory.
System software: runs at the most basic level of Cold boot—turn on computer’s “on” system
your computer and enables the application software to
interact with the computer and helps the computer to Warm boot—restart a computer that is already on
manage its internal and external resources, as well as Boot disk—use a CD or flash drive containing all files
manage the hardware. to launch OS
There are three basic components of system Boot from the cloud – boot into the virtual o.s from the
software that you need to know about: internet servers.
1. Operating systems: An operating system is the
principal component of system software in any
computing system.  CPU Management
2. Device drivers: it helps the computer control CPU is the central processing unit.
peripheral devices.
Supervisor (kernel) is the software that manages CPU
3. Utility programs: Utility programs are generally
used to support, enhance, or expand existing programs in Remains in memory while the computer runs
a computer system. Directs other programs not in memory to perform
tasks that support application programs
 3.1 The Operating System
Queues, Buffers, Spooling
The operating system manages the entire computer
system. Queue: First-in, first-out (FIFO) sequence of data or
programs that waits in line for its turn to be processed
The operating system (OS) consists of the low-level,
master system of programs that manage the basic Buffer: The place where the data or programs sit
operations of the computer. while they are waiting
Every general-purpose computer must have OS to To spool: The act of placing a print job into a buffer.
run other programs. (Needed because the CPU is faster than printers. The
CPU can work on other tasks while the print jobs wait.)
OS allows users to concentrate on applications rather
than on complexities of the computer.
Each application program is written to run on top of  Memory Management
a particular OS.
OS keeps track of memory locations to prevent
The OS manages: programs and data from overlapping each other
Booting, CPU management, File management, Task Swaps portions of programs and data into the
management, Security management. same memory but at different time
 Booting Keeps track of virtual memory
The process of loading an OS into the computer’s
main memory
Booting involves four steps:
Turn the computer on.
  File Management When you buy a computer, many device drivers come
with the system software.
A file is either a
Device drivers also come with new hardware (on
Data File: a named collection of data
CDs/DVDs) or can be downloaded from the
Program File: a program that exists in a computer’s manufacturer’s website.
secondary storage
 Utilities
Service programs that perform tasks related to
Files are located in many places on secondary the control and allocation of computer resources.
storage devices; OS locates files and facilitates access to
them Examples: Backup, virus protection, data recovery, data
compression, file defragmentation, disk cleanup, remove
The file system arranges files in a hierarchical
temp files
manner
Top level is directories (folders) Some come with the OS, others can be bought separately
(e.g., Norton SystemWorks, McAfee Utilities).
Subdirectories come below folders
 3.3 Common Features of the User Interface
 Task Management
User-interface use graphics to facilitate a person’s
Computers are required to perform many interaction with the computer.
different tasks at once—to do task management.
The user-controllable display screen you use to interact
Task: An operation such as storing, printing, or
with the computer, using keyboard or mouse.
calculating
Keyboard & Mouse
Multitasking: Handling more than one program
concurrently Special-purpose keys: used to enter, delete, edit data, and
OS directs processor to alternate time on each program to execute commands.
until processing is complete. Function keys (F1, F2, etc.): used to execute commands
 Security Management specific to the software being used.

Operating Systems permit users to control Macros: keyboard shortcuts to activate series of
access to their computers. commands.
Users gain access using an ID and password. Mouse pointer: moved to particular place on screen or to
You set the password the first time you boot up a new point to little symbol icons.
computer.
 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
After that, when you boot up, you’ll be prepared
to type in your username and password. Allows you to use a mouse or keystrokes to select
icons and commands from menus.
 3.2 Other System Software
Three main features of GUI are desktop,
Device Drivers & Utility Programs
icons, and menus.
Drivers and utility programs add functionality to your
Desktop: The system’s main interface screen.
computer and help it perform better.
Icons: Small pictorial figures that represent programs,
data files, or procedures.
 Device Drivers Rollover: A small text box that explains the icon when
Specialized software programs that allow you roll your mouse over it.
input and output devices to communicate with the Menus: Lists of built-in commands and/or options from
rest of the computer system. which to choose pull-down, cascading, pull-up, pop-up.
Most operating systems use GUIs with the following:
Title Bar: runs across the top of the display window and Proprietary OS
shows the name of the folder you are in.
Mac OS X from 2000 is based on Unix
Menu Bar: shows the names of the pull-down menus
Mac OS 10.8 = Mountain Lion (2011)
available.
Mac OS 10.9 = Mavericks (2013)
Toolbar: Displays menus and icons representing
frequently used options or commands. Apple iOS runs mobile devices
Taskbar: The bar across the bottom of the Windows Microsoft Windows
screen that contains the Start button and icons that show
open files/programs. Most common operating system for desktop and portable
PCs.
Windows: Rectangular portion of the display screen
through which you can view a file of data or an Windows early versions:
application program. 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP, Vista
 3.4 Common Operating Systems Windows 7: still most commonly used OS
The main operating systems for general computer Windows 8: Has both desktop (“classic”)
users are Windows, Mac OS, and Unix/Linux. and tile views
Platform Tile view allows gesture manipulation of
The particular processor model and operating system on on-screen items (touch screens)
which a computer system is based. 2. Network operating systems
Three principle categories of operating systems: Novell’s Open Enterprise Server (OES)
1. Stand-alone operating systems Used for coordinating microcomputer-based local area
Often called a desktop operating system, an networks (LANs) throughout a company or campus
operating system that works on a single desktop or Network OS usually located on a main server
notebook (laptop) computer.
Windows Server
Two principal stand-alone systems:
Designed to run on network servers in businesses of all
Mac platforms—run Apple Macintosh sizes
PC platforms—run Microsoft Windows Multiple users share resources, such as data, programs,
Some legacy systems still used—outdated but still printers
functional
DOS (Disk Operating System) (original  Unix, Solaris, BSD
Microsoft OS)—hard-to-use command-driven user
interface Unix is a multitasking operating system with multiple
users that has built-in networking capability and versions
Mac OS X (“Ten”) for all kinds of computers
OS that runs on Apple Macintosh computers; is popular Is particularly stable—used to run backbone of Internet
for desktop publishing, graphics, and educational
settings Used by large organizations—for airplane design,
currency trading
Pioneered the easy-to-use GUI (based on work done at
Xerox) Versions include Solaris, BSD
Unix interface is command-line interface
Linux
Free (nonproprietary) version of Unix 5. Shareware
Continual improvements from thousands of volunteer Copyrighted software that is distributed free for a trial
programmers period, but users must then pay the software developer
to continue using it.
Linux is open-source software—anyone may make
suggested improvements 6. Rentalware
May legally be downloaded and used for free Online software that users lease for a fee and download
whenever they want it.
May legally be modified for free, as long as
modifications aren’t copyrighted 7. Web application (web app)
Uses command-line-interface or GUI Software that runs on a remote Internet server rather
than on a person’s own personal computer.
Linux vendors give away software but sell services,
products Commercial (packaged) software is copyrighted, users
must get license from owner and sign a contract in which
Is the basis of Google’s Chrome OS
they agree not to make copies of the software to give
 3. Embedded Operating Systems away or resell.

Embedded OS—resides on CPU chip Software license types:

Specialized system that is part of larger system or Site licenses

machine allow software to be used on all computers at a specific
location

Used in mobile devices: Google Android, BlackBerry, Concurrent-user licenses

Windows Phone, iOS, Embedded Linux allow a number of copies to be used at one time
 3.5 Application Software Multiple-user license
Application software comprises the programs that do specifies number of people who may use the software
the work that users are directly interested in. The
availability of software depends on how it is licensed or Single-user license
copyrighted by its creators or owners.
limits software to one user at a time
Software can be obtained in a variety of ways:
Pirated software: Software obtained illegally
1. Custom Software in violation of copyright

Tailor-made software crafted by an individual or team Abandonware: Software that is no longer being sold
of programmers for a particular function or business or supported by its publisher (but may still not be legally
purpose. copied)

2. Packaged software  Tutorials & Documentation

Copyrighted, mass-produced software that’s offered Tutorial: Instruction book or program that helps you
for sale in stores or on the web to a variety of users. [See learn to use the product by taking you through a series of
next slides.] steps

3. Public-domain software
Software that is not protected by copyright and thus Documentation: All information that describes a
may be duplicated by anyone at will, with no fear of product to users, including a user guide or reference
legal prosecution. manual that provides a narrative and graphical
description of the program.
4. Freeware
Types of Application Software
Copyrighted software that is distributed free of charge.
 May be classified as entertainment, personal, database records, spreadsheets, and word processing
education/references, productivity, and specialized uses files (also on movies and songs nowadays)
Productivity software: Purpose is to make users more Lossy compression:
productive at particular tasks.
techniques permanently discard some data during
Word processing, spreadsheets, database managers compression. Lossy data compression involves a certain
loss of accuracy in exchange for a high degree of
 3.6 Data Files & Program Files compression.
Data files: Data files contain data, such as words, Examples of two lossy compression file formats
number, pictures, and sounds. are .jpeg and .mpeg, used for graphics files and sound
Program files: contain software instructions that files.
execute, or run, when the program is opened.
 3.7 Word Processing Software
Source program files: contain high-level computer
Word Processing
instructions in the original form written by the
computer programmer. uses computers to create, edit, format, print, and
store text.
Executable files: To be made useful to the computer for
processing, a source program file must be translated into Word processing allows you to delete, insert, and
an executable file, which contains the instructions that replace text
tell the computer how to perform a particular task.
Microsoft Word best known
You use an executable file by running it, as when you
select the spreadsheet program Microsoft Excel open Additional features: creating, formatting, printing,
it. saving
Others: Corel WordPerfect, Apple iWork Pages, Google
Apps, Zoho Writer
 Exchanging files
Cursor: movable symbol to show where to enter
Importing: getting data from another source and then
text
converting it into a format compatible with the program
in which you are currently working Scrolling: moving quickly up, down, or sideways
Exporting: transforming data into a format that can Word wrap: automatically continues text to next
be used in another program and then transmitting it. line
Data compression: Head hierarchy: Outline View puts tags on
headings within a document to organize it according to
is a method of removing repetitive elements
head level
from a data file so that it requires less storage space and
therefore less time to transmit. Later the data is Footnote numbering can be done
decompressed—the repeated patterns are restored. automatically
Editing: Making alterations in content
Lossless compression: Inserting: adding text to documents
uses mathematical techniques to replace repetitive Deleting: removing text from documents
patterns of bits with a kind of coded summary. During
decompression, the coded summaries are replaced with
the original patterns of bits -- the data that comes out is
exactly the same as what went in.
Find & Replace
Lossless techniques are used when it’s important that
nothing be lost—for instance, for computer data, Find: lets you go straight to any text in your
document
 Replace: lets you automatically replace it with You can specify borders, shading, tables, and
something else footnotes
Cut, Copy, & Paste You can also import graphics, such as clip art
Select the text you want to move Default Settings
Copy (or cut) to clipboard, then paste in new location These are the settings automatically used by the
program unless you change them
Spelling Checker: tests for incorrectly spelled words
 Output: Printing, Faxing, or Emailing
[Note: Do not rely on spelling and grammar checkers to
Documents
be 100% accurate!]
Print individual pages, the whole document, or several
Grammar Checker: highlights poor grammar,
copies
wordiness, incomplete sentences, and awkward phrases
You can fax or email finished documents
Thesaurus: offers suggestions for alternative words with
the same meaning Previewing: gives you a look at how document will
look when printed, before you print
 Formatting Documents with the Help of
Templates Saving documents: store a document as an electronic
file on, e.g., hard disk, CD or flash drive. [SAVE your
Formatting: determining appearance of a document
work often!!!!!!!!!!!]
A template is a preformatted “form” that provides basic
Word processing allows formatting of documents in
tools for structuring a final document—text, layout, page
HTML (for the web)
design, etc.
 3.8 Spreadsheet Programs
Every word processing program comes with standard
templates (for letters, memos, etc.) A spreadsheet program uses rectangular grids for
laying out linked, usually financial, data in a very
 Aspects of Formatting
organized fashion.
Font
Spreadsheets are used to create tables and financial
The typeface and size of the text you use schedules.

Also lets you specify underlined, italic, or bold and color Enter data and formulas into rows and columns on
screen
Spacing & Columns
Organized into columns and rows on a worksheet
Choose the line spacing (single- or double-spaced, or
other) Labels are descriptive text

Choose single-column or multi-columned text for your Cells are where a row and a column meet
document
Cell address is the position of the cell
Margins & Justification
Range is a group of adjacent cells
Indicate width of left, right, top, and bottom margins
Values are numbers or dates entered into a cell
Justify text left, right, or center
Cell pointer shows where data is to be entered
Headers, footers, page numbers
 Formulas, Functions, Recalculation, What-If
A header is text printed at the very top of the Analysis
page
Formulas are instructions for calculations
A footer is text (like page number) at the page
Define mathematically how one cell relates to another
bottom
Other Formatting
Example: @SUM(A5:A15) sums the values of the cells Relational database: Data organized into related tables
A5, A6, A7, and so forth up through cell A15
Each table contains rows (records) & columns (fields)
Functions are built-in formulas, such as SUM()
Key is field used to sort data
Recalculation is the process of re-computing values
Most frequent key field is social security number. Tables
What-if analysis allows users to see what happens to with the same key field are linked together
totals when one or more numbers change in cells
Querying and displaying records
Worksheet templates—custom-designed for
Database software offers a quick way to locate records
particular work
Saving, Formatting, Printing, Copying,
Multidimensional spreadsheets—link one to
Transmitting
another
Can save results, format them in different ways, print as
Analytical Graphics: Worksheet and workbook data
reports, copy to other documents, & transmit as email
that are displayed in graphic form.
Spreadsheet programs allow you to automatically
create graphs
Graphical forms make numeric data easier to analyze  3.10 Software Suites & Integrated Packages
Examples of types of analytical graphics: Software suite: Collection of individual programs
Column charts bundled together in a single package.

Bar charts Most popular are productivity suites (office suites),

professional-level application programs frequently used
Line graphs in business—usually word processing, spreadsheet,
database management, and presentation programs.
Pie charts
Best-known productivity suite is Microsoft Office.
Scatter charts
Others are Apple iWork, Corel WordPerfect Office,
 3. 9 Database Software Lotus SmartSuite, and StarOffice.

A database is a collection of data that is organized so Cloud suites, or online office suites, include Microsoft
that its contents can easily be accessed, managed, and Web Apps, Google Docs, and Zoho.
updated.
Integrated package: Single program for
Database: Structured collection of interrelated files in a microcomputers that combines the functionality of
computer system. word processing, spreadsheet, and database
management.
Database software sets up and controls the structure of
a database and access to data. Personal information manager: Software that
helps you keep track of and manage information used on
Principal microcomputer databases: Microsoft Access, a daily basis, such as addresses, telephone numbers,
FileMaker Pro appointments, to-do lists, and miscellaneous notes.
Benefits of databases: (*Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes)

Data redundancy is minimized.  3.11 Specialty Application Software

Data is integrated and stored in a structured fashion. Presentation Graphics Software

Data in databases has more integrity. Uses graphics, animation, sound, data, and
information to make visual presentations
Data may include text, numbers, and graphics.
Some packages: Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel
The main type of microcomputer database program is Presentations, Harvard Graphics
the relational database.
 Graphics programs that allow users to simulate
painting on-screen
Includes design and content templates
Produce bit-mapped or raster images (tiny dots)
Allows presentation to be dressed up with clip art, sound
clips, special visual effects, animation, and video clips Common Graphics File Formats

 Financial Software .bmp (BitMaP) – used on PCs (Native to MS Windows)

Ranges from personal-finance managers to entry-level .gif (Graphic Interchange Format) – format used in
accounting programs to business financial-management web pages
packages
.jpeg (Joint Photographic Experts Group) – used in
Personal-finance programs include Quicken, high-resolution images, especially photos
Moneydance, YNAB
.tiff (Tagged Image File Formats) – used on PCs &
Common features of financial software Macs for high-resolution images to print

Track income & expenses .png (Portable Network Graphics) – used as

alternative to .gif (background can be erased)
Allow checkbook management
 Video-Editing Software
Do financial reporting
Allows import to and editing of video footage on
Offer tax categories to assist with tax recordkeeping
computer
May offer financial planning & portfolio management
Some video editing packages: Adobe Premiere
Tax, accounting, investment software also available Elements, Corel Video Studio, Sony Pictures Digital
Vegas, Apple Final Cut Express, Pinnacle Studio DV, &
 Desktop Publishing Ulead VideoStudio
Involves mixing text & graphics to produce high-  Audio-Editing Software
quality output for commercial printing
Allows import to and editing of sound files on
Uses a mouse, scanner, printer, and DTP software computer
Professional DTP programs: QuarkXPress, Adobe Sound editing packages: Windows Sound Recorder,
InDesign Sony Pictures Sound Forge, Audacity (freeware), Felt
Tip Software’s Sound Studio (shareware), GoldWave, &
WavePad.
Has the following features:
 Animation Software
Mix of text with graphics
Simulates movement by rapidly displaying a series
Offers varied type & layout styles of still pictures, or frames
Allows import of files from other programs Computer animation:
Becoming a DTP professional requires training Creation of moving images by means of computer
 Drawing Programs
Graphics software used to design & illustrate GIF animation:
objects & products
First format to be widely used for web pages
Create vector images—created from geometrical
formulas
Examples: CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator Packages:
GIF Construction Professional, 3D GIF Designer,
 Painting Programs
Easy GIF Animator
 CAD/CAM programs: allow CAD programs to
be input into computer-aided manufacturing systems that
 Multimedia Authoring Software make products.
Combines text, graphics, video, animation, and
sound in an integrated way to create stand-alone
multimedia applications
Content can be put on CDs/DVDs or delivered
via the web
Two examples: Adobe Director & Macromedia
Authorware

 Web Page Design/Authoring Software

Used to create web pages with sophisticated
multimedia features.
Packages: Adobe Dreamweaver, Seamonkey, Coffee
Cup, RealMac Rapid Weaver, etc.

 Project Management Software

A program used to plan and schedule the people,
costs, and resources required to complete a project on
time
Packages: Mindjet MindManager, MatchWare
MindView, Microsoft Project, etc.
Portable Document Format (PDF)
Multiplatform file format developed by
Adobe Systems that allows documents to be used with
any operating system.
Captures text, graphic, and formatting information
from a variety of applications on different platforms,
making it possible to send documents and have them
appear on the recipient’s monitor as they were intended
to be viewed.

 Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Programs intended for 2D and 3D design of products,
structures, civil engineering drawings, and maps.
Examples include Autodesk, AutoCAD, TurboCAD,
Alibre Design, and PowerCADD.
CAD programs help design buildings, cars,
planes, electronic devices, roadways, bridges,
subdivisions.