Page 128 - DCAP303_MULTIMEDIA_SYSTEMS

Multimedia Systems

notes • Copy: Allows you to duplicate a section of text.
• page size and margins: Allows you to define various page sizes and margins, and the word
processor will automatically readjust the text so that it fits.
• search and replace: Allows you to direct the word processor to search for a particular word
or phrase. You can also direct the word processor to replace one group of characters with
another everywhere that the first group appears.
• Word wrap: The word processor automatically moves to the next line when you have filled
one line with text, and it will readjust text if you change the margins.
• print: Allows you to send a document to a printer to get hardcopy.
Word processors that support only these features (and maybe a few others) are called text editors.
Most word processors, however, support additional features that enable you to manipulate
and format documents in more sophisticated ways. These more advanced word processors are
sometimes called full-featured word processors. Full-featured word processors usually support the
following features:
• file management: Many word processors contain file management capabilities that allow
you to create, delete, move, and search for files.
• Font specifications: Allow you to change fonts within a document. For example, you can
specify bold, italics, and underlining. Most word processors also let you change the font
size and even the typeface.

• footnotes and cross-references: Automate the numbering and placement of footnotes and
enables you to easily cross-reference other sections of the document.

• Graphics: Allow you to embed illustrations and graphs into a document. Some word
processors let you create the illustrations within the word processor; others let you insert
an illustration produced by a different program.
• Headers, footers, and page numbering: Allow you to specify customized headers and
footers that the word processor will put at the top and bottom of every page. The word
processor automatically keeps track of page numbers so that the correct number appears
on each page.

• Layout: Allows you to specify different margins within a single document and to specify
various methods for indenting paragraphs.

• Macros: A macro is a character or word that represents a series of keystrokes. The keystrokes
can represent text or commands. The ability to define macros allows you to save yourself
a lot of time by replacing common combinations of keystrokes.
• Merges: Allows you to merge text from one file into another file. This is particularly useful
for generating many files that have the same format but different data. Generating mailing
labels is the classic example of using merges.

• spell checker: A utility that allows you to check the spelling of words. It will highlight any
words that it does not recognize.

• tables of contents and indexes: Allow you to automatically create a table of contents and
index based on special codes that you insert in the document.

• thesaurus: A built-in thesaurus that allows you to search for synonyms without leaving
the word processor.

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