Cambridge International AS and A level IT
• text wrap • indentation and tabs. TASK If you are unfamiliar with any of the features above, then find out about them and try using them. A website that may help you with this is www.teach-ict.com/ videohome.htm or the official Microsoft video tutorials on Microsoft’s Office support site.
EXAMPLE Question: Give reasons for the use of word processing software for creating a menu for a restaurant. Think of the features you would expect to find on a menu and how it might be produced. Then relate them to the features of word processing soft ware that could be used to create the menu.
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Answer: Alignment could be used to centre the name of the restaurant and the word ‘Menu’ at the top of the page. The name of the restaurant could be formatted using a different font in a larger size to the rest of the text and in a different colour. Frames could be used to include images of each dish on the menu. Text wrap could be used so that text wraps around the images of each dish. Automated numbering could be used to give each dish a number that can be used when ordering.
Spreadsheet
1 2 3
A
B
C
Starting distance
Ending distance
Distance travelled
20,035
19,829
=A2–B2
Figure 2.18 - Spreadsheet formula.
1 2 3
A
B
C
Starting distance
Ending distance
Distance travelled
20,035
19,829
206
Figure 2.19 - Spreadsheet calculation.
Spreadsheet soft ware is used mainly for performing calculations and modelling. Spreadsheets are often used for financial and statistical information. Spreadsheets work on the basis of input–process–output whereby data is input, then formulae and functions process that data to generate an output. When input data changes, the output data automatically changes because the formulae and functions are automatically recalculated. This allows users to experiment with values and ask ‘What-if’ questions such as ‘What will happen if we try to sell another 10 000 cars this month?’ Spreadsheets contain cells which form the intersection of rows and columns. In Figure 2.19, cell C2 contains the value 206.
The spellchecker could be used to ensure that all descriptions of the dishes have been spelt correctly.
TASK
Footnotes could be used to identify dishes which contain nuts or are vegetarian options. Styles could be used so that subheadings are kept consistent by applying a style rather than manually formatting each subheading.
Open CD 2.01 Lease pricing model.xlsx and experiment with changing the input values in the yellow cells in the Pricing Model spreadsheet. This spreadsheet calculates the total cost of a hire car based upon different variables including the list price and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the vehicle.
TASK
1 Watch what happens to the total cost of the lease when you adjust the input values. 2 Compose a list of at least three ‘What-if’ questions that could be asked using this spreadsheet model.
CD 2.01 Lease pricing model
Give reasons for the use of word processing soft ware for writing a book.
You will learn more about spreadsheets in Chapter 8.