Over the past several months this column has been almost exclusively devoted to discussing Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD). While CADD is a subject that has wide application in the field of Landscape Architecture, there are many other ways that the microcomputer can be used to improve the functioning and productivity of your operation.

Over the next few months we will be exploring some of these areas and hopefully giving you some ideas about how to integrate them into your operation.

Word Processing

Without a doubt the most widely used application for the micro-computer is word processing. Sort of sounds like stuffing a dictionary into a blender, doesn?EUR??,,????'???t it? Actually word processing is a misstatement, a more correct way of stating what these software programs do is to allow you to do word ?EUR??,,????'??recording?EUR??,,????'?? much in the same way that you would do a tape recording. The words you type are recorded on a magnetic disc. You can then store the ?EUR??,,????'??recorded?EUR??,,????'?? words on these discs for later printing or modification.

There are several advantages to using word processing software in place of a typewriter. The fact that you can record then ?EUR??,,????'??playback?EUR??,,????'?? and make changes to what you have recorded prior to printing is perhaps the major advantage. The ability to produce multiple copies of the same document is also extremely useful. These programs also allow you to create ?EUR??,,????'??Boilerplate?EUR??,,????'?? documents in which you can place standard items, such as specifications, and then make small modification without having to re-type the entire document.

Most word processing software programs include features that allow you to add ?EUR??,,????'??special effects?EUR??,,????'?? such as underlining, and boldface type. Some programs can also center text automatically, justify margins, set line spacing and add, delete, or move blocks of text.

Getting it on Paper

Actually producing a document with these programs involves issuing a command to ?EUR??,,????'??output?EUR??,,????'?? the document to a printer that is connected to the computer. The appearance of the printed output from these programs is mainly dependent on the type of printer attached. Many people object to the appearance of documents prepared with ?EUR??,,????'??dot matrix?EUR??,,????'?? type printers and therefore utilize printers characterized as ?EUR??,,????'??letter quality?EUR??,,????'??. These printers are essentially typewriters that are designed to be attached to computers. The quality of the documents they produce are the same as with any good electric typewriter.

Use by Landscape Architects

If you currently use a typewriter in the course of your day-to-day operations, you could make use of word processing on a micro-computer. Of course some things are still more easily done on a typewriter. For example, addressing an envelope is much quicker on a typewriter than starting the micro-computer, loading the word processing software, creating a new document, typing the name and address, saving the document to disc, loading the envelope in the printer, and printing the document on the envelope.

In addition many LA?EUR??,,????'???s are using word processing programs to do such things as:

• Maintain standard sets of specifications.
• Mailing list management and label generation.
• Create standard contract documents.
• Business correspondence.
• Billing for services.

Next month we will look at the second most widely used type of micro-computer software ?EUR??,,????'????EUR??,,????'??? the electronic spreadsheet.