AbiWord

AbiWord is free. great.

but it needs more improvement.

for example, it's not stable enough. it crash a lot on my computer. And the grammar check should count in.

The modern keyboard dates back to the mid-19th century, when Latham Sholes and associates assembled the first commercially practical typewriter and applied for a patent in 1867. His model was further refined and then manufactured by E. Remington, beginning in 1873.

Early typewriters had letters on levers that came forward every time the letter key was struck. If two keys were struck in quick succession, the two levers often jammed. The typist was slowed down every time he or she had to undo the entangled levers.

To reduce lever jams, the designers of the modern keyboard separated letters frequently used together, like i and e, by placing them on different sides or rows of the keyboard. Separating common letter pairs slowed the typist down just enough to keep the levers moving freely. The resultant arrangement is called QWERTY, named for the first six letters on the keyboard.

As typewriters evolved into more sophisticated electronic models, lever jams were no longer an issue. Today, computers make the QWERTY keyboard completely meaningless, but its use continues. This outdated and inefficient letter arrangement continues to be used due to familiarity, not necessity. Other designers have attempted to produce a more efficient keyboard, but most people prefer to use QWERTY.

The purpose of copy and paste is simply to allow text to be duplicated quickly and easily. By highlighting the text to be duplicated and selecting the "copy" option, the computer is instructed to store a duplicate of the text in memory. This can then be inserted into whatever is being worked on at that time, once or even multiple times.

DOS comes in many forms, from the original Disc Operating System, which was entirely command-line driven and had no graphics or even mouse support, to the modern Command Prompt system, which is little more than an enhanced emulator of earlier DOS systems, including mouse support. Early DOS had no ability to copy and paste text but the modern DOS emulators do.

Copy and paste enhances accuracy when dealing with long and complex commands. When a user is following instructions from a website on how to perform a task in DOS, it is often advantageous to be able to copy commands directly from the website and paste them into the Command Prompt window rather than type them out by hand and risk sending incorrect instructions. Copy and paste can also significantly increase the speed of entering instructions.

Although it provides an extra level of speed and accuracy, copy and paste can also lead to issuing the wrong instructions or issuing instructions the user is unfamiliar with. If instructions are simply copied from the Web without thought, it is possible that the user is issuing commands to their computer for tasks that they do not want performed. Users should always be certain that they are not telling the computer to do things that are harmful.

If you are typing in a word-processing software program and need to replicate a word, phrase, sentence, paragraph or whole page, you can by highlighting the text you'd like to replicate and clicking on "Edit" in the toolbar on the top of your screen. Clicking "Copy" and then "Paste" within the "Edit" menu will insert your replica into your document. There are also other ways to replicate what you've typed.

Instead of using your mouse to click on the "Edit" menu and then click on "Copy" and "Paste" to replicate your text, you can use keyboard shortcuts to accomplish this much more quickly. Use your mouse to highlight the section of text that you want to replicate. Hold down the left-hand button on your mouse as you drag your cursor over your desired text. Release the mouse when you've highlighted all of your text and don't click on anything else until you've completed this task. Clicking on something else will erase the highlighting that you just did. After you've highlighted your text, press the "Control" key on your keyboard and hold it down. On some computers, such as Macs, you may need to press the "Command" key instead of the "Control" key. As you hold it down, use another finger to press the "C" key for copy. Now you can click the position on the page where you want your replicated text to appear. Once you've clicked in this location, hold down the "Control" key again, but this time press the "V" key to paste. Your text will appear in the location you chose.

If you don't want to use your edit menu or keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste your text, you can always replicate it by retyping it. Simply place your cursor in the place on the page where you'd like the new text to appear and start typing. This is a good option to choose if you want to think about what you've written or edit the syntax of what you've already written, or if you want to time your typing speed using something you've already written.

You can take a screen shot of a document that you've already written if you want a non-rewritable copy of your text. Many computers come with screen shot software. If you own a Mac, your computer may have come with a factory-installed copy of a software program called "Grab," which takes screen shots and saves them as TIFF files -- a type of photo file -- on your computer. You can attach these files to emails and the recipient can only view them as he would a photo; he can't edit the text. Check your computer to see if it has a screen shot software program. If not, you can purchase one at an electronics or computer store. If you don't want to purchase one, you may be able to use a digital camera to take a high-resolution, low-glare photo of your computer's screen to obtain a photo of your text.

Cutting and pasting from other applications, such as a web browser or graphic design program, may be affected if there is a bug in the software you are using. If the problem occurred after installing new software, try reinstalling it or check for known issues with the software manufacturer.

Inadvertently installing malware may cause problems with word processing software.Viruses and spyware can sometimes interfere with a computer's clipboard function by interfering with the computer's registry settings. The registry is a database of program files and settings that enables computing tasks, such as word processing, to run smoothly. If an antivirus program doesn't detect any problems, run an online security scan or try installing an anti-spyware program, such as Windows Defender.

Cut and paste will not work if documents are saved in a read-only format, as this means they can't be edited. Right-click on a document and select "Properties" to check its attributes. If it has been saved in a read-only format, untick the box and you can begin copying and pasting again.

CLCL is a clipboard caching utility. It can save up to 1 million clipped items in its history. It also supports the clipboard formats of file, bitmap and text. CLCL organizes the clipped entries in tree format for easy access. The interface is accessed through the "Alt" plus "C" command, and a tool tip is provided for each entry.

Although it is not the most feature-intensive copy and paste program, ClipX is more powerful than most. ClipX allows you to choose how many items to retain with quick right-click access to the clipboard history. Bitmaps do show a thumbnail preview in the context menu for easy reference. Hot keys are available to speed up the process of pasting recent items.

Ditto is an extension of Windows own built-in copy-and-paste tool. Ditto allows you to choose what to save to the clipboard whether it is text, hypertext markup language or a bitmap. It also has the ability to search the clipboard history for a specific item to be pasted. Ditto offers the unique feature of having the clipboard sync between multiple systems.

Clipboard Magic is much like many other copy-and-paste extenders to the Windows clipboard. One way it sets itself apart is with its ability to save a clipboard history to be loaded again at a later time. Clips can be individually edited to the user's specifications. Clips may manually be added to the clipboard. Clipboard Magic has no preset limit for clipboard items.

Copy selected text or files by pressing the "Ctrl" key along with the letter "C." Move the cursor to the destination and press the "Ctrl" and "V" keys together to paste the text in that location.

Right-click on the highlighted text or files to bring up a context menu. From the menu, click "Copy" to copy it to the computer's clipboard. When the cursor is placed in the desired destination, clicking the right mouse button and selecting "Paste" from the menu will place the text or file in the new location.

After text is highlighted using the mouse you can click on the "Edit" menu in the toolbar at the top of the screen. From the menu that appears, select "Copy." Repeat the process at the destination, choosing "Paste" instead of "Copy."

If you have multiple windows open at once and want to copy a file or text, depress the "Shift" or "Ctrl" key while using the mouse to drag and drop the data into the other window. The drag and drop method may also be used by holding the right mouse button, without holding down "Shift" or "Ctrl." When you drop an item into its new location while holding the right mouse button, a menu will appear with options allowing you to copy or move the item.

On an Apple computer you can use the keyboard to accomplish many tasks with shortcuts for commands, such as cut and paste. To begin, locate the "Apple" button on the left side of the space bar. Place the cursor at the beginning or end of the text, left-click on the mouse, hold it down then move the mouse to highlight the text. Hold the "Apple" button down and push the "X" on the keyboard to cut the selected text. Paste the text by placing the cursor where you want the text to go then hold the "Apple" button down and push the "V" on the keyboard.

Highlight the text you want to cut by holding down the left mouse button and move the mouse over the text you wish to cut. Place the cursor over the highlighted area and press the right mouse button. Select the "Cut" option. You can also use the "Edit" button and select "Cut." Paste text by placing the cursor where you want to insert it, hit the right mouse button and select "Paste." An alternate way is to use the "Edit" button and select "Paste." Use the shortcut method by highlighting the text and pressing the "Control" and "X" buttons to copy then place the cursor where you want to paste and press the "Control" and "V" buttons.

Place your finger on the screen right above the text you want to cut. Hold it in place for a few seconds until the "Cut," "Copy" and "Paste" icons appear. Drag your finger over the entire text you wish to cut then press the "Cut" icon. Press and hold your finger where you want to paste the text. When the "Paste" icon appears, press it to complete the paste function.

Tap your finger at the beginning of the text you wish to cut and hold it for approximately two seconds. Drag your finger across the text you want to cut when the "Select Text" menu appears. Hold your finger down on the highlighted text and select "Cut." Navigate to where you want to paste the text, press and hold it for two seconds then tap the "Paste" option.

When transferring image files from Windows to a mobile device using iTunes, bear in mind that not every format is compatible with iTunes. The Windows version of iTunes is only compatible with JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, and BMP image files.

Using iTunes on Mac offers a wider range of supported formats than with Windows, but there are still only a limited number of formats you can use with iTunes. These include JPEG, TIFF, JPG 2000, GIF, PICT, PNG, SGI, and BMP.

If a sync isn't allowed to finish before the device is disconnected, you may not sync every picture selected. In order to ensure all content finishes transferring successfully, wait for iTunes to display a message that reads "sync is complete," with the name of the device appearing before "sync." Otherwise, the sync will not be complete and some information may not have transferred.

If a file is damaged or otherwise corrupted, it is likely to not display on your mobile device or in iTunes. Such corruption can occur in a number of ways, although if the file was functional before it was synced, and the transfer was incomplete, it is possible the file wasn't able to transfer completely, leaving it damaged and unreadable. To prevent such damage, make sure to allow a sync to complete before disconnecting your device.

The iPad offers plenty of e-book applications, including the Kindle app, the Stanza app, the iBooks app, the Kobo app and the Google Books app. Application variety means that you can read any e-book format on the iPad without being limited to software exclusivity. The Kindle does not support the EPUB format, but the Nook does. The iPad supports both formats. Some e-book apps are free. Download e-book apps from the iTunes app that comes standard with the iPad. All iPad apps are touch-screen, encouraging interactivity.

The iPad 2 can have up to 64GB of expandable memory. This is many times greater than the Kindle's storage capacity at 2GB, or the Nook's capacity at 8GB of memory. Expandable memory is an important function that allows devices to use memory cards for more storage capacity. Even if the Kindle, Nook or other eReader devices have expandable memory, they cannot match the iPad's memory capacity. The large amount of storage on the iPad is a key benefit as an e-book reading device.

The multifunctionality of the iPad allows you to listen to music or sync with iTunes while you read an e-book. If you have e-books on your computer, the iPad syncs with your home computer so you can upload them to the device. The iPad comes bundled with a USB cord and is designed to sync with iTunes. You can also stream music wirelessly to your home stereo or TV while reading an e-book on the iPad. Switch to a word processing or note-taking app to write notes to yourself about what you're reading the e-book.

The iPad has a color screen, as opposed to the Kindle or Nook eReaders with their monotone screens. You can view maps, diagrams, color photographs and images in any e-book with the iPad color screen. Color images add to the viewing experience and are essential if reading an e-book where diagrams are important. The iPad also shows e-book text in crisp black and white.

In Microsoft Word 2007, the convenient "ribbon" user interface has made creating and editing tables easier than ever. Clicking "Table" on the "Insert" ribbon will bring up a pop-up box that will allow you to easily select the number of rows and columns you would like in a single click. Once you have done so, a contextual ribbon specifically for editing the table properties will appear. It is here that you will find a selection of options for table styles.

The left-most section on the Table Tools Design Ribbon is a set of Table Style Options. They directly affect the styles that are displayed in the "Table Styles" in section to the right. These options include whether or not the "Header Row" will be different and more pronounced than the rows below it. You can select whether or not a "Total Row" will be included at the bottom to calculate the totals of the data from the rows above it. "Banded Rows" will select whether the rows have alternate shading, which eases readability. On the column side of the section, you can select "First Column" and "Last Column." These differentiate the initial and final columns, allowing you to clearly label content or setup of a total on the right-hand side. "Banded Columns" will shade alternate columns so as to enhance readability.

The "Table Styles" section of the ribbon provides a selection of table styles based on the options you have checked in the first section. Select the color and tone of the table from these options, as well as variations on borders, rows, columns and arrangement. Changing these options lets you instantly see how the table looks and how it fits with the rest of the document.

While the "Table Styles" portion allows you to quickly preview and select a preset arrangement of shading and borders, sometimes you may wish to select these items specifically. Set these options using the "Shading" and "Borders" drop-down menus. "Shading" contains a customizable palette of colors, while "Borders" allows you set the borders you want to display. Select "Borders and Shading" from the latter drop-down menu to choose more specific options.

The final section is "Draw Borders." This section gives you the tools to draw a table by hand, allowing you to customize it quickly. Simply click "Draw Table" and drag the pencil tool across the document, then set the density and color of the lines using the drop-downs on the left-hand side. If you make a mistake or wish to delete a small segment of the line, click the "Eraser" button.

Graphic design programs can be extremely costly, soaring over the $1,000 mark. Since you may only be looking for a program to use for a hobby, spending that large of an amount of money may be out of the question. If you are interested in creating word art and colorful font and text graphics, choose from freeware programs as well as budget-friendly software with extensive features.

Font Suite is a free program that allows users to transform plain fonts into colorful texts with designs and effects. The software allows browsing through your fonts to get a good look before choosing which one to work with, which saves a lot of time. Though the program is basic in features, it allows complete customization control for creative freedom. Font Suite has no limitation on fonts; however, there are no predesigned templates to choose from. Font Suite runs on Windows 95/98/ME/XP, though it does not offer support for Vista or Windows 7.

WordArtist is a free download that offers text effects, gradient effects and even a "pop-art" style to apply to your text. WordArtist offers extended features for free, such as shadowing objects, adding outlines and even applying rounded edges to your word art graphics. It offers a library of pre-existing designs, which help smooth and speed up the creative process. The program allows users to add word art to images, transforming this software into a larger graphic editing platform. Word Artist runs on Windows.

If you are looking for a less hands-on approach, Artword Editor provides quick text effect solutions. The Artword Editor spotlights its very own template gallery to choose from when designing your text graphics. Though the program allows text editing on images, creativity is limited, as the editor only allows users to choose from their existing designs. This editor is completely free and runs solely on Windows.

For software that is not your typical word art program, Magic ASCII presents creating word art out of your own photos and documents. With Magic ASCII Studio, users import photos or documents to transform into text-ASCII art. The software allows saving to any media output, as well as saving ASCII art as its own HTML web page, for easy and simple publishing. For a single license, Magic ASCII Studio will set you back $29.95 in 2010, and the program currently only runs on Windows platforms.

Microsoft Word is a common word processing program. Some form of Microsoft Word may come on your computer, but unless you specifically requested it and paid for it, it is probably a 30-day trial, which will not work after a certain amount of time without entering a key code. Microsoft Word allows you to create all sorts of documents, including spreadsheets and fliers. Microsoft Word is continually updated, offering a better program and more features.

If you are looking for a free word processing program to download, LibreOffice is just one of the options that you have. It functions similarly to Microsoft Word in that you can create a wide variety of documents using different fonts and colors. LibreOffice can operate on many computer systems, including Linux, Unix, Mac and Windows. This software comes in different languages and is regularly updated.

OpenOffice.org is another free downloadable software program that is suited to word processing. It is not as advanced and does not have the features that Microsoft Word has. OpenOffice.org is good for people who simply need to type documents and not do much of anything fancy. It also does not have the editing options of Microsoft Word, but any documents typed in OpenOffice.org can be saved into a Word document format, allowing it to be opened by just about everyone to whom you intend to send it.

AbiWord is an open-source word processing system. It is a free downloadable program that works on Unix, QNX and Windows 95 or later. AbiWord is a multilingual software, making it available to users all over the world. AbiWord has the same functions of many of the other word processing software programs. It also allows you to open and save documents in a variety of formats, including OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, HTML and RTF files.

A page header (or simply a header in typography) is the material appearing at the top of a document separated from the main body of text. Most word processing programs allow for the creation and modification of headers. Headers typically remain consistent page to page with small differences in such areas as date or page number.

Headers have a variety of purposes, all very useful in creating an organized and professional document. These purposes can be as simple as document titles and page numbers to multiple paragraph splits and graphics. In addition to such features, you can also insert the date, the time, file names and paths, section breaks, creation times or author.

Occasionally, adding headers to a document can manipulate the margins simultaneously. Check that your margins are still in the desired format.

Many word processing programs have numerous predesigned headers you can easily insert into your document.