Introduction to a word processor: create and save a document.

Hello students, welcome to Kwickprep. You typed a two page project, and the power went off before you saved. Is all your work gone? Today we will learn what a word processor is, and how to create and save a document safely.

First, what is a word processor? It is a software used to type, edit, format and print documents. Unlike a typewriter, you can fix a mistake without typing the whole page again. We use it for letters, notes, school projects and office reports.

There are many word processors, and they all work in a similar way. LibreOffice Writer is made by The Document Foundation, and it is free. Microsoft Word is made by Microsoft, and it is paid. Google Docs is made by Google, and it is free and works online in a browser.

A word processor has many useful features. You can edit text, which means insert, delete, copy and move words. You can format text, which means change how it looks, such as font, size and colour. It checks spelling and grammar and underlines mistakes. You can insert tables, pictures and page numbers. Finally, you can save your work, open it later and print it.

Let us look at the parts of the word processor window. The title bar is at the top, and it shows the file name. Below it is the menu bar, or ribbon in Word, which holds all the commands. The ruler sits above the page and shows the margins. The work area in the middle is where you type. The status bar at the bottom shows the page number and word count.

Inside the work area you will see a small blinking line. This line is called the cursor, or the insertion point. Whatever you type appears exactly where the cursor is. You can move the cursor with the arrow keys, or by clicking the mouse at a new place.

Now let us create a new document step by step. First, open the word processor from the Start menu or the desktop. Then click File and choose New, or press Control plus N. A blank page opens, and you type your text. Your new document is ready.

Here are a few typing tips. Press the Enter key only when you want a new paragraph. Text moves to the next line on its own, which is called word wrap. Backspace deletes the character to the left of the cursor. The Delete key removes the character to the right.

Saving means storing your document on the computer so you can open it later. Click File and choose Save, or press Control plus S. The first time, a dialog box asks you to choose a folder, such as Documents. Then type a clear file name, like science project. Finally, click the Save button, and the name appears in the title bar.

There are two save commands. Save is used when the file already has a name, and it simply updates the same file. Save As is used the first time, or when you want a copy with a new name or in a new folder. Your first Save always behaves like Save As.

Every saved file gets an extension, which is the short part after the dot in the name. It tells the computer which kind of file it is. LibreOffice Writer saves as dot oh dee tee by default. Microsoft Word saves as dot dock ex. A plain text file, with no formatting, uses dot text.

Pause and predict. You saved your project as science dot docx, then added one more page and pressed Control plus S. Does the computer ask for a new name? No, because the file already has a name, so Save just updates it. Save often, so a power cut never wipes your work.

Let us revise what we learned today. A word processor is software to type, edit, format and print documents. Examples are LibreOffice Writer, Microsoft Word and Google Docs. To create a document, choose File, New, or press Control plus N. To save, choose File, Save, or press Control plus S, and use Save As for a copy. Writer files end in dot oh dee tee, and Word files end in dot dock ex.