INTRODUCTION
Microsoft (MS) office word and CorelDraw are software packages that are meant to solve users’ problem(s). As a result, the two and their likes are there fore referred to as a application software packages. While the former is a word processor, the latter is a graphic design or a vector-based illustration program. Moreover, in a broad sense, the two packages are used for data processing and the target of the two is to produce meaningful desired information, which can be used in form of soft or hard copy
MS Office word is produced by Microsoft Corporation in the United State and founded by Allen Paul and Bill Gate in the year 1975, while CorelDraw is produced by Corel Corporation in Canada, which was single handedly founded by Dr. Micheal Cowpland in the year 1985. Microsoft Office Word and CorelDRAW were therefore initially produced in 1985 and 1989 respectively. Some, however, refer to them as almighty application software packages because of their dynamism in functions and structures.
In a nut shell, here therefore in this paper, will be driven to the explanation of some related concepts, general functions of Application Software Packages (ASPs), Ms Office Word as an all-round word processor (WP), its forms, features and functions and CorelDraw as an almighty Desktop Publisher (DTP), its forms, features and functions.
DEFINITIONS OF SOME RELATED CONCEPTS
Ø Software: Has to do with non-tangible aspects of a computer system that serves as co-functional element or component for the hardware. It is broadly divided into System Software and Application Software.
Ø Application Software: are designed to solve user’s problem.
Ø Application Software Packages (ASPs): are the computer programs that are meant mainly to solve the users’ problem(s). They are broadly divided into word processing and Desktop Publishing (DTP) or Graphic Design (GD), etc
Ø Word Processing: is referred to, according to Webopedia (2008), as using computer to create, edit and print a document, etc.. Moreover, programs that are used for this are called Word Processor (WP) e.g. MS Office Word.
Ø Desktop Publishing: is defined as the process of using computer and specific type of software to combine texts and graphic to produce document like books, newsletter, magazine, etc..
Ø Graphic Design: is the process of combining texts and graphics and communicate an effective message in the design of all forms of visual communications like logo, postal, sign graphics and the likes (Bear, 2005).
A good example of Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing package is CorelDRAW.
Ø Vector: simply means object-based graphics.
Ø Bitmap: is a way in which an image is stored with a fixed number of bit (unit of information) for each unit of image (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary [7th Edition]).
Ø Text: means any form of data that requires blinking cursor editing and formatting. Texts are always highlighted before formatting, etc..
Ø Object: can be referred to as data that can be edited and formatted without the use of blinking cursor. Also, objects are selected before formatting, etc..
Ø Data: is referred to as information that has been transformed into a form that is more convenient to move or process. Is also referred to as information converted into binary digital form. More so, it is generally believed that unprocessed information are called data.
Ø Information: simply means the processed data, which can be assessed as either a hardcopy or a softcopy.
GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE PACKAGES (ASP)
1. Some ASPs are used for creating, editing and formatting of texts.
2. They are used for drawing.
3. Some of them are used for designing and vectorisation.
4. They are also used for presentation.
5. Some are very essential for web designing.
6. Some of them are also used for animation.
7. They are also useful for desktop publishing like book production, et cetera.
8. They serve as e-centre for the exploration of academic and non-academic information.
9. They are also used as an e-centre for information exchange.
10. Some ASPs are used as teaching/learning aides.
AN OVERVIEW OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD
Microsoft (MS) Office Word is a full-featured word processor that is manufactured nad marketed by Microsoft Corporation. Allen Paul and Bill Gate founded the campany in 1975. However, not until precisely November 1983, MS Word was not produced.
The package was initially referred to as Word. Later in the year 2002, its name was officially changed from MS Word/Word to MS Office Word.
The company produces the word processor in three different versions (i.e. Word for DOS [Disk Operating System], Word for Macintosh and Word for Windows). The company started with DOS in the year 1983 with the version named Word 1 and had its latest version for DOS named Word 2008. Also, 1989 marked the beginning of MS Word for Windows. In addition, in the year 2002, this version was renamed Microsoft Office Word. Then its latest version (Version 13) was released precisely on January, 2008. However for the Macintosh, in the year 1985, the first version was released named Word 2.0 and had its latest version in the year 2004.
The Development of Microsoft Office Word
The development of MS Word is briefly and divisionally presented according to its versions below:
| Versions | The Released Year |
| Versions for DOS | |
| 1. Word 1.0 | 1983 |
| 2. Word 2.0 | 1985 |
| 3. Word 3.0 | 1986 |
| 4. Word 4.0 | 1987 |
| 5. Word 5.0 | 1989 |
| 6. Word 5.1 | 1991 |
| 7. Word 5.5 | 1991 |
| 8. Word 6.0 | 1993 |
| 9. Word 7.0 | 1998 |
| 10. Word 8.0 | 2001 |
| 11. Word 9.0 | 2004 |
| 12. Word 10 | 2008 |
| Versions for Window | |
| 1. Version 1.0 | 1989 |
| 2. Version 1.1 | 1990 |
| 3. Version 2.0 | 1991 |
| 4. Version 6.0 | 1993 |
| 5. Version 7.0 | 1995 |
| 6. Version 8.0 | 1997 |
| 7. Version 8.5 | 1998 |
| 8. Version 9.0 | 1999/2000 |
| 9. Version 10 | 2001/2002 |
| 10. Version 11 | 2003 |
| 11. Version 12 | 2007 |
| 12. Version 13 | January, 2008 |
| Version for Macintosh | |
| 1. Word 2.0 | 1985 |
| 2. Word 3.0 | 1987 |
| 3. Word 4.0 | 1989 |
| 4. Word 5.1 | 1992 |
| 5. Word 6.0 | 1994 |
| 6. Word 7.0 | 1998 |
| 7. Word 8.0 | 2000 |
| 8. Word X | 2001 |
| 9. Word 10 | 2004 |
Functions of Microsoft Office Word
Microsoft Office Word performs the following functions:
(i) It is used for creating, editing and formatting of texts and objects.
(ii) It is used for file management.
(iii) It allows you to embed illustration and graphics into document
(iv) MS Office Word allows the user to search for a particular word or phrase in a document and also caters for the automatic replacement of the group of characters with another, everywhere that the first group appears.
(v) It also caters for headers, footers and page numbering.
(vi) The package also allows the user to automatically create a table of contents and index based on special codes that the user insert in the document.
(vii) It is WYSIWYG that provides actual hardcopy of the softcopy.
(viii) It also allows you to edit two or more document at a time.
(ix) It also caters for Spell-Checker and thesaurus.
(x) It can also be used for drawing and graphic design.
(xi) It can also be used for calculation.
(xii) It is the most popular and easy word processor.
(xiii) It also caters for text animation.
(xiv) It can be used for web design.
(xv) It is very easy to understand and operate.
Problems of Microsoft Office Word
(i) It depends too much on other packages
(ii) Drawing and designing in MS Office Word consume a lot of time.
(iii) It does not cater for bitmap editing.
(iv) Vectors or objects copied from a graphic design package like CorelDraw are not editable.
(v) It does not cater for easy presentation.
(vi) It does not cater for object animation.
(vii) Percentage of those who can holistically and conveniently operate MS Office Word is very low compare to those who use it for typesetting only, etc..
AN OVERVIEW OF CORELDRAW
Etymologically, the concept “CorelDRAW” is a combination of two different words – Corel (a company name that stands for COwpland REsearch Laboratory) and Draw (a concept that represents Graphic Design). Hence, literarily, CorelDRAW can be defined as a computer Application Software Package that is designed for desktop publishing (DTP)/graphic design (GD).
The package is referred to as a double-sided program because it is both a production-oriented and graphic-oriented package. It caters for both mechanical and creative processes. Moreover, Wikipedia (2008) defines CorelDraw as a vector graphic editor.
While Corel Corporation was founded by Dr. Michael Cowpland in 1985, 1989 witnessed the birth of CorelDRAW. Michel Bouillon and Pat Beirne initially developed this software. However, it was made the first vector-based illustration program that introduced fit-text-to-path, mesh fill, complex gradient fill, perspective projection, and others. And coincidentally, CorelDRAW 3.0 came out in the same year Microsoft released Window 3.0.
The Development of CorelDRAW
Although CorelDRAW was first produced in 1989, 1991 marked the beginning of the standardization of the package. The CorelDRAW that was produced before 1991 was mainly vector-based. It came to a time when the company produced an all-purpose GD package called Corel Graphic Suite, which encapsulates CorelDRAW, Corel PHOTO PAINT (a raster image creation and editing software), Corel CAPTURE (which enables several methods of image capture) and Corel PowerTrace (used for converting raster image to vector graphics). Other software added later are: Corel Presentation, CorelQuatro (a spreadsheet package), Corel Equation (a mathematical text-based formatting and editing software), et cetera.
In 1991, version two of CorelDraw was produced with the introduction of some tools for distortion and simulating object volume like Envelope tool, Blend tool, Extrusion tool and Perspective tool. Then a year after, a fresh version was released with the inclusion of CorelPHOTOPAINT (for bitmap editing), CorelCHART (for graphic chart), Misaic and CorelTRACE (for vectorising bitmap) and Corelshow (for presentation). More so in 1983, a software for animation called CorelMOVE was added to CorelDRAW – thereby making it to be given a new name – CorelDRAW 4. However, 1994 put full-stop to the compatibility of CorelDRAW and Window 3.0. Although, the last compatible version had the inclusion of CorelVENTURA.
In addition, version 6 of CorelDRAW was released in 1995 with the addition of tools like Polygon, Spiral, Knife and Eraser. The Corel Graphic Suite produced then had the inclusion of CorelMOTION, 3D, Corel MultiMedia Manager, CorelMEMO, Corel Font Master, CorelDREAM and CorelPRESENTS. It was however the first version that was made for 32-bits windows. More so, CorelDraw 7 was released two years after ther release of version 6 with the inclusion of CorelSCAN and Corel Barista (a java-based document exchange format). Other included features are Tranparency tool, Interractive fill and Blend tool, Natural Pen tool, convert vertor to bitmap option, Find and Replace wizard, Thesaurus and Grammar Checker, Print Preview with zoom and pan option, Publish to HTML Option and Scrap-Book (for viewing a Drag-and-Dropping graphic objects).
Between 1998 and 2000, three versions of the package were consecutively released. Thus, CorelDRAW 8 came with the inclusion of major tools like 3D, realistic drop shadow tool, colour palette editor, costoms-sized pages and gridlines as objects. Also, CorelDRAW 9 added tools like Artistic Media tools, multiple on-screen colour palette and Mesh fill tool (for complex colour filling). Then finally, version 10 in the year 2000 came with Navigator window, Web graphic tools and Corel R.A.V.E (for vector animation)
Further development was later made on CorelDRAW between year 2000 and 2003, which later resulted to the released of two different versions (i.e. 11 and 12). New tools added to this version are: 3-point drawing, symbol library, image slicing (for web design); and dynamic guides, smart drawing tools and export to MS Office or Word options respectively, etc…
Finally, the company went on research for about three years and came out, in 2006 with another fresh packages called CorelDraw X3, which the inclusion of an internally integrated software called powerTRACE. Other tools included are Double click Crop tool. Emboss tool, Smart fill tool and image adjustment Lab, etc..The latest version (CorelDraw X4) was produced in year 2008. Consequently, modern and advance tools are included in this packages. Some of these tools are table tool, Life text formatting, internal whatthefont font identification service, etc..
Function of CorelDraw
Looking at the above breakdown of the development of CoreDraw and particularly its tools, one can see that the package is multidimensional multifunctional. However, some of its major function are briefly given below.
(a) CorelDraw is generally used for Graphic Design and vectorization
(b) It is also used for Web design, Internet Publication and java-based data exchange.
(c) It is also used for picture editing.
(d) CorelDraw can also be used for making e-presentation.
(e) It also caters for communicative and effective animation.
(f) Through the aid of Corel Multimedia Manager, CorelDraw caters for the relaxation and entertainment of the user.
(g) CorelDraw, with the aid of Corel QUATRO, is also used for statistics and mathematical analysis.
(h) It can also be used for effective and efficient Mathematical presentation, as in through the aid of Corel EQUATON.
(i) The package can also be used fo formatting, editing and printing of texto-objects information (i.e. it can be used for Desktop Publishing [DTP])
(j) It also perform the function of other word processing packages like MS word, etc.. For instance, it can be used for typesetting.
(k) It also caters for easy importation and exportation of Graphic and non-graphic data.
(l) The programme also provide templates for the user to make his/her work easier and faster.
(m) And finally, the programme support multilingualism.
PROBLEMS OF CorelDraw
Depite the above listed functions of CorelDraw, it is still discovered that the package is faced with these problem:
i. Most of software that make CorelDraw to be multifunctional and multi-dimensional and are external. Hence, the package is too dependent.
ii. The program does not cater for free – flow of e-mailing even though it is called a web-design package.
iii. Because it is multi-dimensional, seventy-five present or more of computer users, particular in
iv. The multifunctional nature of the package makes it to be very difficult to learn.
v. It consumes time when it is used for word processing.
vi. And because the package deals with both mechanical and creative processes, the effective usage of the package require deep thinking and technical task on the part of the users. Hence, the package is specific.
vii. CorelDraw is a highly dependent Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design program. It cannot work effectively without the support of Corel or non- Corel programs.
viii. There is no consistency in the production interval of the package versions. And the period of usage of the produce d versions were are very short.
ix. It does not caters for specific space for page numbering, header and footer, footnote and endnote, etc…
CONCLUSION
So far, the paper has briefly torched some areas like ASP and other related concepts, MS Office Word and its development, problems and functions and the development of CorelDraw has a Desktop publishing and Graphic design package, it function and demerits.
It is therefore, seen that the two packages are functionally interrelated. The two are regarded as multifunctional Application Software Packages (ASPs). Some even, because of there multifunctional nature, refer to them as almighty ASPs. However, even though the two are said to perform many function, it is still seen here that they are multi-problematic.
Therefore, for the package to be effectively standardized, the concerned producer of the package should see to the above highlighted problems and profer meaningful solution to them in the all coming version(s).
REFERENCES
Bear, J. H (2005) Graphic Design versus Desktop Publishing retrieved June, 2008 from
http://desktoppub-about.com/od/professionalf/gd vs dtp.html
stupple, S. J. Ten Things I wish Everyone knew about Word retrieved June, 2008 from
http://blogs.msdn.com/joe friend/
Other Consulted Material/Websites
Ø Encarta Dictionary Tools (2006)
