While working at a computer, we are extremely often faced with the need to create, edit, style and print text information. For this, special programs are used. Let's try to understand what a text editor is and why it is needed.
Definition
Text editors are specialized programs that allow you to create, format, edit, save and print documents. In addition to the text itself, modern documents can contain other objects (tables, lists, charts, images, etc.).
Most popular text programs
Now that you already know what a text editor is, you can talk about which applications in this category are most popular.
Microsoft Word
Probably the most common and easy to use program. A lot of settings, options, the broadest functionality, support for collaboration and reviewing.
Open office
Free alternative to MS Office software package. The Open Office text editor is slightly inferior to Word in terms of functionality and does not have the same attractive modern interface, but in general it is quite good for basic tasks.
Abiword
Supports quite a few different text formats, including doc and rtf. This program weighs very little, runs fast enough, does not "hang" and meets all the requirements of a modern user.
GNU Emacs
Multifunctional free editor, adapted to work on different operating systems. The basis of Emacs ideology is the principles of extensibility, customizability to user requirements and the desire to combine "all in one".
However, be that as it may, the good old Microsoft Word is considered the most popular, reliable and convenient.
Key features of MS Word
What is a Word text editor, and what functions can it perform? The unique program created by Microsoft specialists has been improved over several decades. Modern MS Word allows you to:
- enter and edit text using the keyboard with the possibility of subsequent storage in computer memory;
- format information (change parameters and text design);
- use the tools for previewing documents in the process of preparing them for printing;
- process several documents at the same time;
- check spelling, spelling and punctuation in different languages;
- embed graphic images and diagrams in the text;
- create and add tables to the text, edit them;
- Use macros in documents, etc.
As for the shortcomings of MS Word, there are not so many of them. However, speaking about what a text editor is, it is worth saying that not all of them are suitable for one or another purpose. For example, in the case of Word, you may have problems entering chemical formulas and complex mathematical expressions. In addition, this text editor is not intended for the manufacture of complex printing products (magazine covers, albums, atlases, etc.) and for editing high-quality images.
We study the menu of the word processor MS Word
Knowing what a text editor is, of course, you will want to learn more about its capabilities. You can get a general idea of the functionality of MS Word by familiarizing yourself with the main command tabs of the program:
- Home. It contains a set of commands related to the clipboard, paragraph settings, styles and font selection.
- Insert. Allows you to embed pages, tables, links, illustrations, footers, headers, characters, and text objects in your document.
- Page layout. Here you can find commands for working with topics, paragraph spacing, and background images. On the same tab are tools that allow you to configure page settings and the order of elements on it.
- References The commands on this tab are useful to those who already know what a text editor is and is working on creating serious voluminous works (content, bibliographies and citations, subject index, headings, footnotes, etc.).
- Newsletters. Here are all the functions that you may need to create, preview and send mail.
- Peer review. Tools for checking documents (thesaurus, spelling, etc.). On the same tab, you will see commands that allow you to provide access to the document to other users for verification, add a comment, track and process changes, compare versions and protect the document.
- View. This tab is responsible for viewing a document in different modes and the ability to view multiple documents.
In the upper left corner you can find the "File" button, which opens the MS Word main menu, whose commands allow you to open, save, print documents, as well as learn more about the installed version of the program, what Microsoft Word text editor is and go to the detailed help. In addition, in the "File" menu, you can change the default program settings (spelling, autosave settings, themes, etc.).
In fact, now you know what a text editor menu is , and you can easily find the commands you need to work.