Integrated software packages. An integrated package is a set of interconnected application programs focused on solving a complex of tasks and
Integrated packages are a set of several software products combined into a single handy tool. The most developed of them include a text editor, organizer, spreadsheet, DBMS, support tools Email, a program for creating presentation graphics.
The results obtained by individual subroutines can be combined into a final document containing tabular, graphical and textual material.
Integrated packages, as a rule, contain some kind of kernel, which provides the possibility of close interaction between components.
Example: integrated package for writing books containing illustrations. It contains:
spelling corrector for 80,000 words (spelling error detection program);
text fusion program;
a program for generating tables of contents and compiling indexes;
automatic search and replacement of words and phrases;
means of telecommunications;
spreadsheet;
database management system;
graphic design modules;
graphics editor;
the ability to print hundreds of different fonts, etc.
The most famous integrated packages:
Microsoft office. This powerful professional package includes: necessary programs like a text editor winword , spreadsheet excel , presentation software PowerPoint , DBMS Access , email support tool Mail. Moreover, all parts of this package form a single whole, and even outwardly all programs look the same, which facilitates both their development and daily use.
Microsoft Works - this is a very simple and convenient package that combines a text editor, spreadsheets and databases, as well as telecommunications tools for connecting to other computers via telephone lines. The package is aimed at people who do not have time to master complex products, for novice users, as well as for home users.
Network software
Network software is designed to organize joint work of a group of users on different computers. Allows you to organize a common file structure, common databases available to each member of the group. Provides the ability to send messages and work on common projects, the ability to share resources.
Functions and characteristics of network operating systems (OS)
(Based on the materials of the www-site of the Omsk State Technical University http://edu.omgtu.omskelecom.ru)
The main functions of network operating systems include:
directory and file management;
resource management;
communication functions;
protection against unauthorized access;
ensuring fault tolerance;
network management.
Managing directories and files in networks is to provide access to data physically located in other network nodes. Management is carried out using a special network file system. The file system allows you to access files by using the usual local work linguistic means. When exchanging files, the necessary level of exchange confidentiality (data secrecy) must be ensured.
Resource management includes serving requests for resources available over the network.
Communication functions provide addressing, buffering, direction selection for data movement in an extensive network (routing), data flow control, etc.
Protection against unauthorized access- an important function that contributes to maintaining the integrity of data and their confidentiality. Security tools may allow access to certain data only from certain terminals, at a specified time, a certain number of times, and so on. Each user in the corporate network may have their own access rights with a limited set of available directories or a list of possible actions, for example, changing the contents of some files may be prohibited.
fault tolerance characterized by the preservation of system performance under the influence of destabilizing factors. Fault tolerance is ensured by the use of independent power supplies for servers, by displaying or duplicating information in disk drives. Mapping is usually understood as the presence in the system of two copies of data with their location on different disks, but connected to the same controller. Duplication differs in that different controllers are used for each of the disks with copies. Obviously, duplication is more reliable. A further increase in fault tolerance is associated with duplication of servers, which, however, requires additional costs for the purchase of equipment.
Network management associated with the use of appropriate management protocols. Network management software usually consists of managers and agents. manager A program that generates network commands is called. Agents are programs located in various nodes of the network. They execute managers' commands, monitor the status of nodes, collect information about the parameters of their functioning, signal events, detect anomalies, monitor traffic, and protect against viruses. Agents with a sufficient degree of intelligence can participate in restoring information after failures, in adjusting control parameters, etc.
Network OS software is distributed over the network nodes. Available OS kernel, that performs most of the functions described above, and additional programs (services) focused on implementing upper-level protocols, performing specific functions for switching servers, organizing distributed computing, etc. Network software also includes network card drivers. For each type of LAN, different types of boards and drivers have been developed. Within each type of LAN, there can be many varieties of boards with different characteristics of intelligence, speed, and buffer memory size.
Currently, the most widely used are three main network operating systems - UNIX, Windows NT and Novell NetWare.
OS UNIX are used mainly in large corporate networks, since this system is characterized by high reliability, the possibility of easy network scaling. Unix has a number of commands and programs that support them for networking. First, these are the commands ftp, telnet, implementing file exchange and remote node emulation based on protocols TCP/IP. Second, the protocol, commands and programs uucp, designed with a focus on asynchronous modem communication over telephone lines between remote Unix nodes in corporate and territorial networks.
OS Windows NT includes server (Windows NT Server) and client (Windows NT Workstation) parts and thus ensures operation in "client/server" networks. Windows NT is typically used in medium-sized networks.
Novell NetWare OS consists of back end and shells shell, hosted on client nodes. Allows users to share files, printers, and other equipment. Contains a directory service, a shared distributed database of users and network resources. This OS is more often used in small networks.
E-office provides for integrated packages application programs, including specialized programs and information technologies that provide a comprehensive implementation of the tasks of any subject area. Part office software may also include:
– analysis and scheduling program;
- presentation program;
- graphics editor;
– Fax modem service program;
– network software;
- translation programs.
Office software products used both independently and as part of integrated packages(IP). The integrated package for e-office includes software products that interact with each other. The core of the package is:
- text editor;
– spreadsheet;
– database management system;
– means of telecommunications;
those. everything that is necessary for the most common types of work in any of the offices.
In addition to them, the integrated package may include other office products.
The main distinguishing feature of the programs that make up the integrated package is common interface user interface that allows you to apply the same (or similar) methods of working with different applications of the package. Interaction of programs is carried out at the level of documents. This means that a document created in one application can be pasted into another application and modified as needed. The commonality of the interface reduces the cost of user training. In addition, the price of a set of three or more applications supported by the same manufacturer is significantly lower than the total price if purchased separately.
Currently, three suites dominate the office product market:
Novell's Borland Office of Windows (currently Cogel Office);
Smart Suite by Lotus Development (currently a division of IBM);
Microsoft Office by Microsoft.
The purpose of office software packages is to provide office and enterprise employees with a wide range of tools for everyday collaboration, automate routine operations, and help in a comprehensive solution of enterprise problems as a whole.
The most popular set of office applications is the integrated package Microsoft Office. Until recently, the leading developers of this type of software were three well-known companies - microsoft,, Novell and lotus DeveIorept. The software packages they have created offer many of the same tools and capabilities and are geared towards almost the same market sector (for the “simple” user).
Integrated packages are software complexes, which includes all the software products necessary for daily activities.
At first, packages appeared that combined a word processor, spreadsheets, a DBMS and a graphics editor, for example, FRAME WORK, SIMPHONY, etc. Their goal was to seamlessly move information between applications-parts of a common package.
A few words should be said about graphics packages that are part of the integrated systems. The advantage of such systems is the natural use of the original data in the spreadsheet or database of the integrated system. Typically, large integrated systems provide users with pie charting or line charting environments. The user must first select and mark on the spreadsheet a range of cells whose contents should be displayed as a graph, and then, using a few key commands, generate the corresponding graph or chart.
The output method is consistent with the general style of working in a particular framework. For example, in the Framework system, graph images are displayed in display windows and are automatically scaled depending on the size of the window.
Currently, integrated packages belong to tools for working with 3D graphics, information manager, electronic document recognition system, e-mail. Such packages are called "electronic office". Consider the composition of several of the most common office suites.
Microsoft Office 2000/XP
Standard Edition:
· Microsoft Word – multifunctional text editor;
· Microsoft Excel - a program for creating and processing spreadsheets;
· Microsoft Access – a program for creating and administering databases;
· Microsoft PowerPoint - a program for preparing presentations, including graphic, text, sound and even video elements;
· Microsoft Outlook - the most powerful office manager that combines an email program, a program for creating and sending faxes, a Scheduler of Meetings and Contacts, notebook and much more. Works better in a local than in a global network;
· Microsoft Image Editor - a simple image editor;
· Microsoft Internet Explorer - a program for browsing the Internet.
Professional Edition:
· Microsoft Access 2000 – a program for creating and editing databases;
· Microsoft Publisher 2000 - a program for layout and design of text publications.
Extended Edition:
· Microsoft Front Page 2000 - a program for creating and designing Internet pages;
· Microsoft PhotoDrow 2000 - graphics editor.
Small Business Edition:
· Contact Manager - special tools for small businesses.
Microsoft Works is a monolithic program of the Universal Household Worker, consisting of a text editor, a simple spreadsheet, and a simple database. Each module is simplified compared to Microsoft Office. Microsoft Works is designed to perform a wide range of business, educational and other tasks.
Works package tools:
1) word processor, designed for creating and editing notes, reports, catalogs, letterheads and other combined documents.
2) Spreadsheet allowing to solve financial, statistical and other tasks related to computing.
3) Diagrams to convert numerical spreadsheet data into various graphical representations.
4) Database with the ability to develop reports designed to collect, process and print information about customers, goods, invoices, payrolls, etc.
5) Communication system, which allows you to connect to operational information systems and exchange information with other computers on which modems are installed.
In addition, the Works package includes Microsoft program Drow, which can be used to improve the look of word processor documents.
User information in Works is stored on disk in files with various extensions: *.WPS; *.WKS; *.wdb.
Russian office (Arsenal), a set of independent software products focused on home use:
· Text editor "Lexicon" , a new version can work with spreadsheets.
· Translation program "Socrates" can translate ordinary texts in any text editors and Internet pages.
· Descartes - a program for accounting for household finances.
· DISCO rocking chair is a program for copying the contents of entire Internet sites to a hard drive.
· Things are alright – personal document manager.
· Tri-O-Count - an extensive number of Russian fonts.
· pictureman - a set of programs for working with graphics.
In the electronic office of domestic development SKAT(Comprehensive Trade Automation System) in the Lotus Notes system for WINDOWS, DBMS, e-mail, information security tools, application development tools are integrated: text, graphic editors, spreadsheet. SCAT subsystems: component warehouse, finished product warehouse, invoices, contracts, purchase orders, certificates (system setup, documentation).
Staroffice(Sun) is a free product (developed and distributed in Linux system, now under Windows) is a single integrated system: all operations with documents, regardless of their format, are performed from a single shell program.
The StarOffice desktop is also an Internet browser with StarMail & Discussion email and news client and StarShedule scheduling software included.
StarOffice includes:
· starwriter - a text editor equivalent to MS Word;
· StarCalc – Spreadsheet editor, identical to MS Excel;
· adabase – a program for creating and managing databases;
· Star Impress - presentation program;
· Star Image - editor of digitized, raster images with a library of special effects;
· StarDraw - a semi-professional program for working with vector graphics;
· StarMath – formula editor;
· starchart - a program for creating diagrams;
· font work - a program for creating spectacular text "caps";
· StarForm - program for the development of forms.
Offices-"additions":
Cognitive office(Cognitive Technologies) is an electronic document management system. Consists of two powerful programs:
¨ CuneiForm – scanned text recognition program with a built-in text editor;
¨ "Euphrates" - a package designed to organize all the documents available on the computer and facilitate work with them (electronic document management system).
Prompt Translation Office(Promt) is a computer translation system. Via special program SmarTool its modules can be built into almost all major MS Office 2000 applications - Word, Excel, Access, FrontPage, Outlook. It consists of:
¨ PROMT2000 - a translator program that integrates with MS Office 2000, and also has its own text editor;
¨ webview – browser with simultaneous translation of Web pages;
¨ Qtrans - a program for quickly translating small fragments of text;
¨ clipboard translator – quick transfer the contents of the clipboard;
¨ Integrator – provides fast access to all programs of the package;
¨ Electronic dictionary - with it you can get everything possible options translation of both individual words and idioms.
¨ Promt Internet 2000 – a program for translating Internet pages, supplied separately and includes:
§ R-Express and Promt-E– modules for adding translation functions to Internet browser explorer,
§ webview– browser with simultaneous translation of web pages,
§ Mail Translator- is built into MS Outlook and can translate incoming and outgoing email messages.
Integrated packages use OLE (Object Linked and Embedding) technology to link objects created by different ITs into a single document. OLE has three properties:
The concept of compound documents. For example, in a document WORD editor You can insert an Excel chart or a Corel Draw drawing. Two components of this technology are possible: binding and embedding. If one document (object) is linked to another, then changing the original changes the linked object. If a document is linked to several other documents, then changes to the original are made to all linked documents. If a document is embedded in another, then changing the original does not change the embedded object;
Editing in place. Both linked and embedded documents can be edited in the merged document (not in the original);
Dragging an object. For example, to open a file for editing, you can drag its icon onto the editor icon.
The integrated package for the office includes software products interacting with each other. The package is based on a text editor, spreadsheet and DBMS (besides them, other office products may also be included in the integrated package). The main distinguishing feature of the programs that make up the integrated package is a common user interface that allows you to apply similar techniques when working with different applications in one application, you can insert into another application and change it if necessary. The commonality of the interface reduces the cost of user training.
Currently, three suites dominate the office product market (Table 4.3):
- Borland Office for Windows Novell (currently Corel Office).
- SmartSuite Lotus Development (currently under IBM division) .
- Microsoft Office Microsoft firm.
Table 4.3. Integrated packages for the office
The most popular set of office applications is the integrated Microsoft Office suite.
Microsoft Office 97 brings together smart, easy-to-use applications that provide automation and user support to help reduce the time it takes to complete regular, day-to-day tasks.
The Microsoft Office 97 family has extensive built-in support for Internet technologies. As a result, Microsoft Office 97 is the best set tools for creating and managing intranet documents, as well as for quick and easy access to data on intranet networks.
Office 97 is designed to provide the user with easy installation, configuration, and network administrators the ability to effectively manage the installation and operation process. information systems and Microsoft Office 97 solutions.
Recently, as part of Microsoft Office 97, new program elements- assistants.
office assistant. When working with complex software a serious problem is the search for information about the performance of a particular operation. In order to provide the user of Microsoft Office 97 with a simple and convenient help system, the new Microsoft version Office has included a unique element - Microsoft Assistant.
It helps to quickly find answers to most of the questions that arise and, if necessary, suggests how a particular operation is performed, and even offers assistance in organizing more efficient work.
Microsoft Assistant fits nicely into the Microsoft Office interface.
office art. When compiling a document, a heading design problem often arises. When a non-trivial design is needed, emphasizing the importance of what is written, Office Art is used. With it, create colorful headlines and inscriptions, use 3D graphics, shadows, colors, rotate the text along any axis, bend it along a whimsical curve or stretch it in any direction.
The standout feature of the new Office Art is that it is available across all applications in the Microsoft Office family.
New toolbars. Microsoft Office 97 introduces new toolbars that differ from the toolbars familiar to users of Microsoft Office versions 95 and 4.x. The new panels respond to the movement of the mouse pointer over the field of each button (an innovation first introduced in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 and approved by users).
In Microsoft Office 97, toolbars are as common across applications as Office Art or the spell checker. Once installed, they are used by all Microsoft Office 97 applications, which saves disk space, reduces load random access memory and provides a consistent look and feel across applications. Menu items are provided with icons to make them easier to read.
office binder. Its purpose is to provide the user with a tool that allows you to collect several heterogeneous documents related to one topic or one project in one folder. For example, you can put a Word report, several Excel workbooks, and a Power Point presentation into the Office Binder. Access to the documents of one project is greatly simplified - just run the Office Binder file.
Office Binder allows the printer to print consecutively numbered documents included in a single binder. In addition, it is possible to display single headers and footers for several different documents. The new Office Binder includes an integrated print preview feature. In Preview mode, you can view all the documents included in the binder.
Microsoft Outlook–desktop information manager based on products Microsoft Exchange Client (e-mail client) and Microsoft Schedule+ (personal schedule manager). Outlook is not just a new version of these programs, but a fundamentally new type of business application - an integrated desktop information manager. It unites following features: Email; personal calendar and group planning; personal information(book of contacts and list of tasks); log of completed and planned actions; viewing and sharing Exchange documents, files, and public folders; collaboration applications.
Outlook is included in Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0, Microsoft Office 97, and also exists as a separate product.
Outlook has been carefully designed with the ergonomics and work in mind in the modern office. Many convenient features make it especially enjoyable to use.
- Preview. The first three lines of the mail message are displayed so that users can quickly assess the degree of its importance.
- Automatic date recognition. Outlook automatically converts a text description of a date (such as "first Wednesday of February") to a calendar date ("April 1, 1998").
- Automatic check names. Outlook checks the typed email address in the address book. Incorrect names are underlined with a wavy red line. Automatic address checking reduces the number of errors in the address field and ensures that messages are sent to the correct recipient.
- Automatic logging. The manager automatically records all actions (letters, phone calls, documents, meetings) associated with certain people, organizations or projects.
- Checkbox for the message. To return to an important letter later, you can mark it with a red flag. At the specified time, a reminder will appear on the screen that you need to read this letter, write a response to it, or perform any other actions.
- Recall messages. The manager allows you to recall back an already sent message if it has not yet been read by the recipient. Users can also replace the sent message with another one.
- Contact manager. From Outlook you can dial telephone number(and record the call in a log), send a mail message, fax, go to a personal Web page.
Outlook is an efficient Internet communication client that provides full set functions that can be used both when working with Microsoft Exchange Server and when connecting directly to an Internet Service Provider. Outlook users can send and receive e-mail messages over the Internet. With Outlook, you can schedule appointments and send meeting requests over the Internet to other Outlook or Schedule+ users.
Using Outlook, remote users can connect to Microsoft Exchange Server over the Internet in order to have full access to e-mail, schedules and shared folders on their main office network.
Integrated packages - is a collection software tools for various purposes with a single user interface sharing the same data.
The most common integrated packages, the components of which are:
· text editor;
organizer;
e-mail support tools;
programs for creating presentations;
· graphics editor.
The components of integrated packages can work in isolation from each other, but the main advantages of integrated packages come when they are judiciously combined with each other. Users of integrated packages have a unified interface for various components, thereby ensuring the relative ease of the process of mastering them.
Distinctive features of this class of software are:
completeness of information technologies for end users;
the same type of end user interface for all programs included in the integrated package - general commands in the menu, standard icons of the same functions (saving to disk, printing, spell checking, font designs, etc.), standard construction and work with dialog boxes and etc.;
· general service for programs of the integrated package (for example, a dictionary and spell checkers, a chart builder, a data converter, etc.);
Ease of exchange and references to objects created by programs of the integrated package (two methods are used: DDE - dynamic data exchange and OLE - dynamic linking of objects), uniform transfer of objects (drag-and-drop method);
the presence of a single language platform for parsing macros, custom programs;
the ability to create documents that integrate the capabilities various programs included in the integrated package.
Integrated packages are also effective in group work on a network of many users. For example, from the application program in which the user works, you can send documents and data files to another user, while supporting standards for transferring data in the form of objects over a network or via e-mail.
The main distinguishing feature of the programs that make up the integrated package is a common user interface that allows you to apply the same (or similar) methods of working with various applications of the package. Interaction of programs is carried out at the level of documents. This means that a document created in one application can be pasted into another application and modified as needed. The commonality of the interface reduces the cost of user training. In addition, the price of a set of three or more applications supported by the same manufacturer is significantly lower than the total price if purchased separately.
