Chapter 3 Learning Objectives

SECTION A

After reading Section A, you should be able to:

• define the term “software”
• discuss the relationship between software and a computer program
• list the components of a typical software package
• explain the purpose of an executable file
• explain how modular programming affects users who are installing software
• explain the role of a computer programmer
• define the term "programming language"
• outline how high-level language relates to a microprocessor’s instruction set
• differentiate between source code and object code
• describe the difference between a compiler and an interpreter
• explain how scripts are related to interpreters
• contrast application software with system software

SECTION B

After reading Section B, you should be able to:

• outline how the operating system interacts with application software, device drivers, and hardware to manage a computer’s resources
• describe the interaction between the operating system and the microprocessor
• explain how an operating system works with memory
• define the term “user interface”
• explain the difference between a graphical user interface and a command-line user interface
• explain the purpose of the “kernel”
• provide examples of Windows utilities
• discuss the different classifications of operating systems including single-user, multi-user, network, and multitasking
• identify personal computer operating systems, such as DOS, Windows, Mac OS, and Linux
• List in chronological order the various versions of Windows
• explain the relationship between Linux and UNIX
• explain the significance of DOS

SECTION C

After reading Section C, you should be able to:

• define the term “document production software”
• describe the features and uses of the three main types of document production software: word processing, desktop publishing, and Web authoring
• discuss the limitations of spelling and grammar checkers
• discuss uses for document production features such as search and replace, readability formulas, and thesaurus
• define word processing terms, such as font, point size, paragraph style, paragraph alignment, justification, leading, styles, headers, and footers
• explain the term “spreadsheet”
• correctly use spreadsheet terms, such as worksheet, cell, value, label, formula, cell reference, function, and automatic recalculation
• provide an example of a “what-if analysis”
• discuss how a formula works using spreadsheet software
• differentiate between a relative reference and an absolute reference
• correctly use terms data management terms, such as structured file, record, field, flat file, record structure, and database
• list and define the data types typically used in databases
• explain the difference between a relational database and an object-oriented database
• list three methods for making queries that can be provided by data management software
• provide examples of software that are available in the following categories: graphics, music, educational, reference, entertainment, and business

SECTION D

After reading Section D, you should be able to:

• explain the relationship between a software package and a PC’s system requirements
• outline the process a computer performs in order to install software
• discuss the different types of installation programs for downloaded software
• explain the purpose of having files “zipped”
• describe how to uninstall Windows software
• define the term “copyright”
• provide three exceptions to the copyright laws governing software
• list different forms of software licenses
• describe the copyright differences for commercial software, shareware, freeware, open source software, and public domain software