There are many "Integrated" software packages on the market. Some of the more prominent ones are Microsoft Office, Appleworks, Clarisworks, and Corel Suite. When purchasing an "office" environment application make sure it is an integrated software package. That is, it is possible to use the word processing, data base, and spreadsheet, and graphics by running only one program. There are two important reasons for using integrated packages. The first is that, because the applications are integrated, it is possible to share data between them. The second is that it is easy to learn and use such a package because it has similar commands in each of the applications. For example, the Save command from the File menu: always saves the current file whether you are using the word processor, data base, or spreadsheet. This section discusses the different ways of sharing data between the applications areas and assumes that you have completed the previous lessons.

The operations used in your application mimic the work done in an office. For example, in an office a file is retrieved from storage and must be opened before it may be used. It is unlikely in a real office that only one file would be worked on at a time. For this reason your application allows many files to be open at any one time. This can indude any mix of word processor, data base, and spreadsheet files, but may be limited by the amount of memory your computer has available.

In the Open dialog box, your application displays a list of the different files available on your data disk. It is possible to open a single file by highlighting its name and selecting OK, which places a copy of the disk file into the computer's memory. It is then possible to use the Open command again to open a second file. Each file is placed in its own window. The term window refers to the portion of the screen displaying the file. your application displays a list of the open files in the View menu.

The active file is designated by a check mark and is the one currently displayed on the screen. When a file is selected, your application automatically switches to the proper application and displays that file making it the active file. The letters in parenthesis after the file's name indicate the type of the file: WP for Word Processor, DB for Data Base, and SS for Spreadsheet.

There are many different reasons for switching between files. For example, you may be writing a letter in the word processor and wish to refer to some figures stored in a spreadsheet. With both files open, you could use the View menu to switch to the spreadsheet file, view the figures, and then switch back to the word processed letter. Other reasons include sharing data between applications as described later in this lesson.

Your application maintains the current status of each open file, including any changes made, in that file's window. This includes the position of the cursor and any options set so that it is possible to work with one file, switch to another, and return to the first file, picking up exactly where you left off. An option set in one window has no effect on any other. For example, it is possible to have a database displayed in Browse view in one window, and another data base displayed in Layout view in a different window.

An open file does not have to be saved until you have finished working with it. However, it is a good idea to save modified files from time to time as a precaution. Selecting the Save command from the File menu saves only the active file.