Text processing includes the following processes: entering text; changing text fragments, the order of sentences and paragraphs; formatting text; automatically dividing text into pages, etc. These processes are realized with the help of special software – text editors and processors that are used for composing, editing and processing various types of information. The difference between text editors and word processors lies in the fact that text editors are usually designed to prepare texts without formatting, while word processors use a greater number of document processing operations. The result of a simple editor is a file in which all characters are ASCII characters. Such files are called ASCII files. Such programs can be conventionally divided into ordinary (preparation of letters and other simple documents) and complex (preparation of documents with different fonts, including graphics, drawings, etc.).

To prepare texts in natural languages, to output them to printers, to process documents that have the structure of a document, i.e. consisting of paragraphs, pages, sections, it is necessary to significantly increase the number of editor’s operations. In this case, the software product transitions to a new quality – a text preparation system. Among such systems, there are three large classes: formatter, word processor, and desktop publishing system.

A formatter does not use any additional codes other than standard ASCII characters (line end, carriage translation, page end, etc.) to represent text internally – it is a text editor.

The word processor in its internal representation supplies the text with special codes – markup.

Basically screen (text) editors and word processors differ in their functions: the former create ASCII files that are then used by compilers or formatter, the latter are designed to prepare texts and then print them on paper. The form in which text is presented is of great importance. The most popular word processor is Microsoft Word for Windows (MS Word).

Word processors usually have a unique data structure for representing text, so text prepared in one word processor may not be read by others. In order to make text documents compatible, converter programs are used when transferring them from one word processor to another. Such a program receives information in one file format and outputs a file with the information in the desired format. Modern word processing programs contain built-in conversion (conversion) modules that support popular file formats. The version of Microsoft Word 2007 offers the “.docx” format instead of the basic “.doc” format. At the same time you can save data in PDF, XPS (XML Paper Specification) and open formats.

Desktop publishing systems are designed to prepare texts according to the rules of printing and with typographic quality. The application program of a desktop publishing system (for example, Microsoft Office Publisher, Adobe InDesign CS3) is a tool of the layout designer, technical editor. In it you can easily change page formats, the size of the indents, combine different fonts, etc.

Modern word processors, like other application programs, use a unified interface that provides users with a comfortable working environment and includes tools to help create and edit files, view commands, dialog box options, help sections, use wizards and templates, and so on. Let’s take a look at some of their capabilities.

Multivariant operations allow you to perform operations in one of three or four possible ways.

The text and/or graphic images in the margins of a printed page, which are identical for a group of pages, outside the body of the document is called a header and / or footer. A distinction is made between header and footer headers. The page numbers are part of the header. They are called headers.

Templates. In the word processor, as well as in the tabular processor, you can generate templates of pages or worksheets used to create forms for letters, faxes, and various calculations.

Programming. To automate repetitive actions, you can use the built-in macro programming language to simplify your work with the application. The simplest macro is a written sequence of key presses, mouse movements and clicks. It can be “played”, processed and changed.