ALS 3203 - Lesson 4
Text Editors, Special Characters, File Formats

Lesson 4 Objectives:
  1. Introduce you to use of text editors to create and modify "text" files (files that do not have any graphics) .
  2. Use Windows Charmap application to insert special characters as Hexadecimal and/or Unicode as (read http://scholarsfonts.net/macronwb.htm).
  3. Learn how to access character maps to insert special characters into your documents.
  4. Learn difference between native and alien file formats and the implications (this also relates to naming files).
  5. Introduce you to Fonts, typefaces; apply these concepts to formatting text and saving files with application filenme extensions. MacIntosh users do not usually worry about this as their applications "recognize" file formats without the need for filename extensions.
Lesson 4 Tasks:
  1. Copy each of the files you create here into your ALS 3203 folder on your computer (do not send them to me).
  2. Use Text editors to modify "Text Only" paragraphs by inserting special characters.
  3. Use a full featured word processor (e.g. MS-Word or WordPerfect to Copy, format, and Save the same paragraph in the following file formats (1. text only, 2. RTF (Rich Text Format), and 3. native (the format of your word processor). These choices may be found under the File, Save as option. Each time you save the file in a different format, be sure the filename has an appropriate extension.
  4. Save these 3 file to your ALS3203 folder. It is important that you name the file according to file naming instructions.
  5. Take a scored quiz dealing specifically with Special Characters. Some of you may find that the numerical code for the special characters may be hexadecimal code instead. If this happens, convert their hexadecimal values first to their ANSI codes. Use those converted values in the quiz or the values you put in will be scored as wrong. Remember, the correct code will be a 4 digit numerical code (see examples). There are several correct answers to the codes,so ignore the results. I will post one set of "correct answers" once everyone had tried the exercise.
  6. Complete and submit Lesson Completion Certification
  7. Some of you may have difficulty converting codes. Use our class list-serv to get help from other classmates.
Lesson Resources:
  1. PC Text Editors - (Notepad), Wordpad, (Edit - a command line DOS text editor)
  2. Macintosh Text Editor - Simple-Text .
  3. PC Word Processing Applications (MS-Word, WordPerfect)
  4. MacIntosh has the same MS applications, or use Claris or Apple works to format documents
  5. Glossary of lesson terms

Introduction Lesson 4 Glossary Email me
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