INTRODUCTION TO WORD
PROCESSING
Introduction To Word
Processing
What is Word Processing?
Introduction to Word Processing
There are many software packages to do the job of word processing.
Some of them work in DOS environment. Example;
- WordStar
- Word Perfect
- Professional Write.
But in these days working in WINDOWS is becoming more and more
popular.
MS-WORD is a part of the bigger package called MS OFFICE, which
can do much more than word processing.
They are 4 main components in MS OFFICE; MS-WORD (for word
processing), MS EXCEL (for spreadsheet), MS ACCESS (for database
management) and MS POWERPOINT (for presentation purposes).
What is Word Processing?
Word Processor is a Software package that enables you to create, edit,
print and save documents for future retrieval and reference. Creating
a document involves typing by using a keyboard and saving it. Editing
a document involves correcting the spelling mistakes, if any, deleting
or moving words sentences or paragraphs.
(i) Advantages of Word Processing
One of the main advantages of a word processor over a conventional
typewriter is that a word processor enables you to make changes to a
document without retyping the entire document.
(ii) Features of Word Processing
Most Word Processor available today allows more than just creating
and editing documents. They have wide range of other tools and
functions, which are used in formatting the documents. The
following are the main features of a Word Processor
Text is typing into the computer, which allows alterations to be made
easily.
Words and sentences can be inserted, amended or deleted.
Paragraphs or text can be copied /moved throughout the document.
Margins and page length can be adjusted as desired.
Spelling can be checked and modified through the spell check
facility.
Multiple document/files can be merged.
Multiple copies of letters can be generated with different addresses
through the mail-merge facility.
(iii) Some Common Word Processing Packages
The followings are examples of some popular word processor available
Softword
WordStar
Word perfect
Microsoft word
(iv) Important Features of MS Word
Ms-Word not only supports word processing features but also DTP
features. Some of the important features of Ms-Word are listed below:
Using word you can create the document and edit them later, as and
when required, by adding more text, modifying the existing text,
deleting/moving some part of it.
Changing the size of the margins can reformat complete document or
part of text.
Font size and type of fonts can also be changed. Page numbers and
Header and Footer can be included.
Spelling can be checked and correction can be made automatically in
the entire document. Word count and other statistics can be
generated.
Text can be formatted in columnar style as we see in the newspaper.
Text boxes can be made.
Tables can be made and included in the text.
Word also allows the user to mix the graphical pictures with the text.
Graphical pictures can either be created in word itself or can be
imported from outside like from Clip Art Gallery.
Word also provides the mail-merge facility.
Word also has the facility of macros. Macros can be either attached to
some function/special keys or to a tool bar or to a menu.
It also provides online help of any option.
Simple Exercise
State True or False
a. Word processor is Software Package that enables
you to create, edit, print and save document.
b. WordStar is a popular Word processor.
c. Changing the size of the margins cannot reformat
complete document or part of the text.
d. Word has the facility of Macros.
e. Word does not allow the user to mix the graphical
pictures with text.
(v) Getting Started with MS Word
(a) (b)
Let us discuss the important components of the screen.
(i) Title Bar
The title bar displays the name of the currently active word document.
Like other WINDOWS applications, it can be used to alter the size and
location of the word window.
(ii) Tool Bars
Word has a number of tool bars that help you perform task faster
and with great ease. Two of the most commonly tool bars are the
formatting tool bar and the standard tool bar. These two toolbars are
displayed just below the title bar. At any point of time any tool bar
can be made ON or OFF through the tool bar option of View Menu.
(iii) Ruler Bar
The Ruler Bar allows you to format the vertical alignment of text in a
document.
(iv) Status Bar
The Status Bar displays information about the currently active
document. This includes the page number that you are working, the
column and line number of the cursor position and so on.
(vi) Scroll Bar
The Scroll Bar helps you scroll the content or body of document. You
can do so by moving the elevator button along the scroll bar, or by
click in on the buttons with the arrow marked on them to move up
and down and left and right of a page.
(vii) Workspace
The Workspace is the area in the document window were
you enter/type the text of your document.
(viii) Main Menu
The Word main menu is displayed at the top of the screen as shown
in the Fig. (a) . The main menu further displays a sub menu. Some of
the options are highlighted options and some of them appear as
faded options. At any time, only highlighted options can be executed,
faded options are not applicable. Infect if the option is faded you will
not be able to choose it. You may not that any option faded under
present situation may become highlighted under different situations.
Simple Exercise
Choose the best answer.
While working in Ms-Word you have to work with
i. Mouse only
ii. Keyboard only
iii. Both mouse and keyboard
In Ms- Word every command is available in
i. Print
ii. Letter
iii. Icons
You can go inside Ms-Word by the following way
i. Take the mouse pointer to START button on the task bar and click
the left mouse button.
ii. Take the mouse pointer to START button and click the right
mouse button.
iii. Move the mouse pointer on the screen.
State True or False
The title bar displays the name of the currently active word
document.
Two of the most commonly tool bars are the formatting tool bar
and the standard tool bar.
The tool bar allows you to format the vertical alignment of text.
The scroll bar helps you to scroll the content or body of
document.
The workspace is the area in the document window where you
enter/type the text.
