Which software applications are used to create newsletter and other image based documents?

Q: Which software applications allow for text editing and advanced document formatting?

Well therefore feature the best document editing and management software currently available..

Most organizations have one or more newsletters for employees or customers. This article will show you how to create a newsletter template in Microsoft Word that you can use over and over again. Since Microsoft Word 2013 the word processing software has a few templates you can use to create a newsletter template. However, there is nothing stopping you from creating one that better suites your organization's communication needs. Newsletters all have similar base components: newsletter layout, a banner, information boxes, and images placeholders.

First, create a new Blank document in Microsoft Word. Then click on the "Page Layout" menu tab and select the Columns drop down selection command. Then select Left, or chose the number of Columns you think you would like. There is no wrong answer as it is all about style - your style.

You will not initially see any obvious changes. That's Ok. Click the "View" menu tab and check the Ruler checkbox. You will now see a ruler at the top and left side of your document showing you where the Columns are. If you selected other than Left column layout your view will vary. Now we can see where the columns are.

Now click on the "Design" menu tab to select the desired theme for your newsletter. There are many themes to select from. I'm going to go with this one.

Let's add some text to the template because it is visually difficult see what your newsletter will look like if the page is blank. Let's insert the "Loren Ipsum" text into our two columns. In the Word document type the following:

=lorem(2,12)

Hit the Enter key and you should see some auto generated text in your columns. Adjust the fonts to meet your organization standard if there is one by highlighting the text and right-clicking it as you normally would.

Banners and Text Boxes

Click on the "Insert" menu tab and select the "Shapes" drop down selected arrow. Pick a rectangle shape and insert it above your columns.

Right click on the banner and select Insert Text and type in the name of your newsletter. Then click on the "Home" menu tab and select the Title font style.

Click in the top left column before the first character. Here we are going to insert a Text Box. From the "Insert" menu table click on "Text Box" icon. This will insert a placeholder for your to create a story heading or input a quote or event title.

Add an image placeholder

Finally, let's add a placeholder for a picture. Click on the "Insert" menu tab and select "Picture". Insert the picture at the position you would like and then click on the Layout Options button and select Top and Bottom so that the text wraps around the picture and not through it.

Save Newsletter as a template

You can continue on to develop your newsletter template by adding more components to it but I think you get the general idea. Now use the Save As menu option from the File menu and select Document Type as Word Template.

To use your new Newsletter Template as the starting point for your next newsletter click "New" when you launch Word to create your first newsletter. Click "Personal" to see all of the templates stored in your Custom Office Templates folder and click the "Newsletter Template" icon.

Well done! Now get out there and get publishing!

Unit 6. Basic computer terminologies

Topic A: Application programs

Click play on the following audio player to listen along as you read this section.

Word Processors and Spreadsheets

– a computer program that provides users with tools to accomplish a specific task.

Examples of application programs include those for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and database management, as well as Internet browsers, email programs, media players, accounting software, and programs that help with pronunciation, translation, desktop publishing, enterprise.

– A group of productivity software applications developed by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Office 2016 includes such programs as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Word processors

– a program that allows users to create, save, edit, format, print, and retrieve documents.

Word processing programs can be used to create all types of text-based documents, such as:

Assignments
Notes
Memos
Letters
Resumes
Articles
Reports
Newsletters
Short stories
Books (with tables, diagrams, photos, links, etc.)

Examples of word processing programs include Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, and LibreOffice Writer.

Spreadsheets

– a program that organizes data into rows and columns, also known as tabular form. This data can then be arranged, sorted, calculated (using formulas and functions), analyzed, or illustrated using graphical representations.

Among many other things, a spreadsheet program can be used to:

Create budgets
Calculate grades
Balance bank accounts
Calculate loan payments
Calculate tax
Prepare payrolls
Analyze business performance numbers and results
Produce charts
Calculate revenues

Examples of spreadsheet programs include Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, and LibreOffice Calc.

Presentation and Database Programs

Presentation programs

– a program that is designed to present information in the form of a slideshow, using multimedia formats such as pictures, sounds, videos, and text. Such a program is commonly used in education, training, business meetings, etc., to create powerful presentations.

Presentation programs are commonly used to:

Create slideshow presentations
Create lectures and tutorials
Make photo slideshows
Design websites with hyperlinks and interactivity
Make photo albums
Create animated videos (with voice and animation)

Examples of presentation programs include Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Apple Keynote, Prezi, CustomShow, SlideDog, and Powtoon.

Database programs

– A program that is designed for creating, editing, updating, maintaining databases, and managing organized information stored in them.

Databases are useful for keeping track of customers, users, employees, students, inventory, product purchases, ISBN numbers, etc. Database programs are used in the following fields:

Banking
Airline/railway reservation
Library management
Education
Human resource management
Healthcare
Weather
E-commerce
Government
Sports
Military

Examples of database programs include Microsoft Access, Oracle Database, Knack, TablePlus, and TeamDesk.

Launch and Terminate a Program

Launch an application program

Method 1

Click the Start icon.
Click the name of the program that you wish to start (e.g., Word 2016).

Method 2

Type the program name in the Search box.
Click the name of the program that you want to launch.

Method 3

Double-click a program shortcut icon on the desktop, if there is one.

Method 4

Click a program shortcut on the taskbar at the bottom edge of the screen.

Close (exit) a program (close an active open window)

Method 1

Click the Close icon (x) in the upper-right corner of the window.

Method 2 (Apple)

Click File in the upper-left corner.
Click Close.

Force close a frozen program

Method 1

Click Alt + F4.

Method 2

Click Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open Task Manager.
Select the unresponsive program and click End Task.

Use Adobe InDesign to create newsletter layouts. If you want to create intricate and detailed layouts from the ground up, InDesign is a perfect choice.

What is the best program to create a newsletter? While there are many programs out there – Canva, Adobe Spark, Lucidpress, Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Publisher – the best program to create your newsletter with is Visme. We offer a variety of templates and an easy-to-use design editor.

(Advanced) Adobe InDesign This program gives you everything you need to efficiently layout a newsletter.