The KWord Users Manual
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# Glossary

ASCII

  Stands for "American standard code for information interchange". This is what many people mean when they say "plain text". KWord can read and write documents in ASCII format.

Aspect Ratio

Binary code

  Binary code is the actual instructions for the computer. So if we refer to "binaries" we mean the executable KWord program.

Bitmap Image

  Bit mapped images are composed of individual dots. The filenames of such pictures often end in jpeg, png or gif.

Cells

Clipart

  Clip art refers to vector based graphics.

Clipboard

  The clipboard is where you're cut or copied selection is stored, so it later can be "pasted".

Compiling

  When you compile a program, you are converting it from a source file (which is easily edited by a programmer) into a binary file (which the computer uses). If you are planning on compiling KWord, please try to find a binary verison of KOffice first. Compiling programs is not for the beginner.

Custom Variables

  Using custom variables you can store certain values (e.g. numbers or text) for later use in your document or in a script. If you want to find out more about custom variables, see STUFF (link to manual).

DEB

Dialog Box

  A dialog box is a window where you

DTP

  Stands for DeskTop Publishing.

FAQ

  Stands for "Frequently Asked Questions" and normally means a document, where those questions are answered. If you have a question to the developers of KOffice, you should always have a look at the FAQ first. You'll find the latest version here.

File Mask

Filter

  A filter takes a document file from one program (Microsoft Word), and "filters" out the text and formatting information and converts that information into a KWord document. Filters are used to read and write files for other programs.

Footer

  The footer of a page is an area below the normal text area. Often it contains the page numbering and maybe some additional information. The contents of the footer normally are the same for most pages, and changing the footer on one page will change all other pages as well. See Header.

Frame

  Well, about everything in KWord is a frame. Text is always in a text frame. Pictures are in picture frames. Parts are in part frames. A frame is basically just a rectangle that can contain something and often can be moved, resized, deleted etc.

Frameset

  A frameset is a group of frames which "belong together". If you're writing text that doesn't fit into the first frame of a frameset, it will continue in the next frame belonging to that frameset.

Frame Edit Mode

  In the "frame edit mode" KWord will act on whole frames, rather than on their content. For example, if you click into a text frame when you're in "frame edit mode", the frame will be selected and can be moved, resized etc. If you're in "text edit mode", the cursor will be placed inside the frame (so "text edit mode" is the way your old word processor probably reacted).

FTP

  FTP is the "File Transfer Protocol". It's an internet protocol that allows you to retrieve files from so-called FTP servers. If you want to download KOffice from the internet, you'll probably use FTP.

Hard Frame Break

  Normally, only when your text reaches the end of a frame, KWord will automatically continue with the next frame in your current frameset. By inserting a hard frame break you can force KWord to continue with the next frame at a certain position in your text.

Header

  The header of a page is an area above the normal text area. Often it contains the page numbering and maybe some additional information. The contents of the header normally are the same for most pages, and changing the header on one page will change all other pages as well. See Footer.

HTML

  Stands for HyperText Markup Language. KWord can read and write HTML documents for publishing on the World Wide Web.

KDE 2.0

  Stands for the K Desktop Environment version 2.0 which is required for KWord to operate. The KDesktop Environment is user interface which allows users to manipulate files and operate programs graphically. For more information, please visit www.kde.org

Key Binding

Landscape

  Landscape is a page orientation with greater width than height, i.e. just how you don't want to print your letters. See Portrait(STUFF: maybe insert a small pixmap? :)

Maximize

Menubar

Minimize

Picture

  Yes, I know what your thinking--Who doesn't know what a picture is? When we speak of pictures with KWord, however, the term has a very specific meaning and should not be confused with clip-art. Pictures are bit-mapped images. See Clipart for more information..

Portrait

  Portrait is a page orientation with greater height than width, i.e. the orientation that's normally used for letters. See Landscape(STUFF: maybe insert a small pixmap? :)

RPM

  RPM is the RedHat package manager, a widely used packaging tool for the linux operating system. If you still have to get KOffice and your system supports RPM packages, you should get KOffice packages ending in ".rpm". They're very easy to use.

Scaling Pictures

  Whenever you change the size of a graphics image, you are scaling that image.

Serial Letters

Source Code

  Source code is the human readable version of an application (such as KWord). Computers cannot use source code directly. Instead, source code must be compiled into binary code, before use.

TAR

  Tar is a tool used for the archiving of files in so-called "tar-files" which you recognize by their suffix ".tar". You'll find KOffice source and binary distributions as gzipped tar-files. However, you shouldn't use them if there are special packages for your system and package manager. See RPM, DEB.

tar.gz

  See TGZ.

Text Edit Mode

  In the "text edit mode" KWord will act on the contents of a frame, rather than on the frame itself. This probably is the way your old word processor worked. See frame edit mode.

TGZ

  Files ending in ".tar.gz" or ".tgz" are tar-files compressed with the gzip program. You'll find KOffice source and binary distributions in this format. However, you shouldn't use them if there are special packages for your system and package manager. See RPM, DEB.

Toolbar

Vector Image

  A vector based graphic is described in terms of lines and shapes, not in terms of dots. Because of this, Clipart usually scales better than bit-mapped images.

Views

WYSIWYG

  Stands for What You See Is What You Get. KWord is a WYSIWYG word processor, which means that the document will appear the same on the screen while you are editing it, as it will on the printed page.

X-Window system

  The X-Window System (also known simply as 'X') is required for KOffice to operate. More information on X-Window for linux can be found at STUFF

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