StarSuite is "Microsoft Office"-compatible integrated software developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. This StarSuite will be used for the explanations in Sessions 3 and 4.

Kumamoto University has obtained a site license for StarSuite. Thus the software can be installed on not only the PCs located in the university, but also on PCs individually owned by enrolled students and faculty members without charge. Please note that the right to use the software will finish after a student graduates from the university and it is necessary to then uninstall (remove) the software from the personal PC.
Anyone who wishes to use StarSuite can download it from the "Site License Software Download System" under the "Kuma Univ. Portal" tab in the course portal site (http://uportal.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/).

(Note) Although StarSuite 8 will be downloaded from the above site, StarSuite 7 is used for the descriptions in this section. Although the basic operations of the two are the same, please note that the screen shots in the text may be slightly different from those of StarSuite 8.
In addition, StarSuite 7 and 8 adopt different file extensions, so please replace the extensions in the text as appropriate. (e.g. StarSuite Writer of 7 adopts ".sxw", but 8 adopts ".odt".)

Word Processors (WP) are application programs to create documents. The minimum functions necessary to create documents are the following.

• Input function for characters
     The essential function


• Edit function (usually found in the "Edit" menu)
     Similar parts are repeated in a document. If you use the edit functions in such cases, you do not have to input a new part repeatedly and the efficiency of your work will be improved.
  
  
  • Copy
       Select the part you wish to copy (usually with a mouse) first, and perform "Copy". Nothing seems to happen, but in fact a copy master is created.
       The copying will be accomplished by performing the paste function as described below.
       Using "Copy" together with the "Paste" function as described below is called "Copy & Paste".
    
  • Cut
       Select the part you wish to cut (usually with a mouse) first, and perform "Cut" to cut the selected part. The selected part is not only cut (removed), but a master copy of the cut part is created .
       That is why the selected (cut) part can be moved by performing the "Paste" function as described below.
    
  • Paste
       This function is used to paste the master copy created by conducting "Copy" or "Cut". Move your cursor to the place where you want to paste the master copy and perform the "Paste" function. Since there is a master copy, the same part can be pasted any number of times at any place just by moving the cursor to that place and performing the "Paste" function.
       Since there is only one master copy, only the most recently "copied" or "cut" material can be pasted.
  • Restore (also called "undo" or "cancel")
       Humans normally make operational mistakes. Even so, you do not have to panic if you can use this function. You can go back to the state before you make the mistake. Some applications allow you to undo more than one command depending on the number of times you repeat this operation.
  • Search and Replacement
       In working with a long document, you will need to use the search function to find the part that you want to edit. You may also want to replace a word or a character with another word or character. If you use the replacement function, your efficiency improves and fewer errors occur than if you replace text by searching for it visually.
  
  
• Saving and Loading Files (usually found in the "File" menu)
     Without this function, the document you have created would be lost each time you turn off your PC, and you would not be able to browse documents you or your friends create.

Application software that has the capabilities necessary to create a document as stated above is usually called an editor. Application software called an editor is generally designed to support the creation of a document as easily and quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, word processors, a kind of editor, are highly sophisticated applications that have a variety of features to make simple documents into high quality materials. The following are typical features.

• Text Style Function
     The size, font, and color of texts can be selected, and their properties such as bold, italic, and underlined can be set.



• Formatting
     These are features to organize the format of the document by setting the centering, right alignment, itemization, columns, line length, page size, linefeed width, and indentation.





• Importing Figures, Pictures, and Tables
     Various kinds of data created using other applications can be imported and pasted at a selected place.

As seen above, word processors are sophisticated software. So, it is hard work to try to master all of their functions. It is sufficient if you understand and utilize their basic mechanisms and features. For further functions, utilize the menus and HELP feature to look up the functions you wish to use, use them efficiently and enjoy their features to create impressive materials.

(Note) With regard to other application software, as well as word processors, it is sufficient if you understand the primary functions (such as the significance of their existence) and can use the basic functions. Learn other functions afterwards by looking them up.
Furthermore, try to organize functions when learning them in order to build a sense of how to handle other applications of the same kind by looking up the menus.
(The software you are using may not exist three years from now.)