DATABASE QUESTION AND ANSWERS

1. Define the term publishing.

- The process of preparing and distributing content for public access or sale.
2. Give four differences between manual publishing and electronic publishing.

Manual Electronic
Takes longer to produce a publication Takes less time to produce a publication
since new technologies are used
Limited features available for the Has many designs, formats and edit
production of the publication features.
More expensive to market publications It is cheaper to market publications,
especially through the internet.
The publications are not attractive as A more attractive publication is made
features are not available
Low risk of losing publication through High risk of losing publication through
piracy and viral infections piracy and viral infections
Involves many people to produce a Involves less people for the computer can
publication. do most of the work.

3. List any six publications that can be produced using desktop publisher (DTP)
-Cards
-Newspapers
-Newsletters
-Letterheads
-Banners
-Calendars
-Magazines
-Brochures
-Labels
-Certificates
-Pamphlets
-Books
-Flyers
4. State the functions of the following tools as used in desktop publishing.
a) Zoom
- Magnifies or reduces the view of a page
b) Pointer
- Select, resize or move objects and text.
c) Text
- Used for typing, editing, or formatting written content.

5. Give one function of the rulers in desktop publishing.

-Used for measuring the size specifications of the publications

6. Describe the term ‘zoom’ as used in desktop publishing.

-This is changing the magnification of publication pages.
 -Zoom in is used to get a close-up view of a publication by increasing the magnification while zoom
out is used to see more of the page at a reduced size.
7. List four features of the desktop publishing software.
-Drawing capabilities using standard shapes such as lines.
-Page formatting features such as setting margins
-text editing features
-Templates that provide page layout for use
-In-built fonts that give the printed material a unique and original appearance
-Has the master page facility used to set a common layout which may be repeated on several pages
8. Describe the term ‘pasteboard’ as used in desktop publishing.
-blank region outside the printable area for placing objects before arranging them as described
printable
9. Define the term desktop publishing (DTP).
- It involves creating and designing publications using specialized software on a computer.
10. Give three benefits of using DTP software in publishing over the word processor.
-Items on a DTP page are objects that can be manipulated independently making it easier to edit.
-Stories can be threaded between frames
-It is possible to set a common layout for all pages using master the page
-It is easier to vary the contents of a header and footer in a large publication.

11. Describe the two types of DTP software.

-Graphic-based DTP software that are specifically designed for the manipulations of graphics.
-Layout design-they are specifically designed to handle different page layout designs.
12. Give two examples of graphic-based DTP software.
- Corel draw
- Adobe illustrator
- Adobe photoshop
13. Give two examples of layout-based DTP software.
- Adobe PageMaker
- Microsoft Publisher
- Cs InDesign
14. Define the term page layout.
- The process of arranging and organizing components such as text and images in a print area to
create a visually appealing and effective design.
15. Define the term ‘kerning’ as used in desktop publishing.
-This is adjusting the space between two characters to create the appearance of even spacing
16. Define the term ‘tracking’ as used in desktop publishing.
- The adjustment of letter spacing for words, phrases and extended blocks of text.
17. Give one benefit of kerning and tracking in desktop publishing.
- To enhance readability
- To fit more text in a column
- For special effects such as improved appearance.
18. Define the term ‘graphics as applied in desktop publishing.
- These are non-text images generated or inserted in a publication.
- They include pictures, graphs and drawings.
19. List three factors to be considered in choosing graphics to use in a publication.
- Cost of acquiring them
- Audience intended
 - Information being communicated
- Ability of the program to handle the graphic.
20. List any two ways of learning how to use a DTP software.
- Enrolling in a computer training school
- Learning online
- On-the-job training.
21. Arrange these papers sizes in ascending order: A5, A2, A4, A6.
- A6, A5, A4, A2
22. Define the term picture caption as applied in a publication.
- A short explanation or description accompanying a picture
23. Define the term typography as applied in publishing.
- A style or design of lettering
24. Define the term ‘embedded object’ in desktop publishing.
- This is a separate file which is not created in the program but is attached to it.
25. Give two ways of resizing picture in a publication.
- Select the picture then using handles, drag to change size.
- Using the cropping tool.
26. Define the term outflow as used in desktop publishing.
- This is the facility that allows text being pasted or typed to move automatically from one text box
to another.
27. Define the term printing as used in desktop publishing.
- The process of producing hardcopy out of a publication.
28. Define the term ‘plate’ as used in desktop publishing.
- A flat porous surface where the digital file is printed before final production.
29. Describe the term ‘watermark’ as used in desktop publishing.
- A faint design, test or graphic which becomes more visible when held against light. It appears
faintly behind the main publication text and graphics. A water mark adds interest or identity to
the publication status such as marking a publication as a “Draft publication”.
30. Give the role of a plotter in publishing.
- To produce large printouts such as maps, architectural designs and advertisements.
31. Give three reasons why a laser printer would be more appropriate than an inkjet printer.
- Faster printing speeds than inkjet printer
- Lower running costs since laser printer toners are cheaper than ink cartridges.
32. Mention the role of a scanner in a firm.
- Capturing graphics or texts to be used in a publication directly from the source document.
- Digitizing physical documents for electronic storage and archiving.
- Converting printed materials into editable digital formats.
- Facilitating the sharing of documents electronically.
- Enhancing document security by reducing the need for physical copies.
- Supporting document management systems by creating searchable digital files.
33. Explain the role of the following hardware in a firm.
i) Graphic tablet
- Used for entering drawings
ii)Touch screen
- For making faster selection of objects on a screen
iii)Digital camera
- For capturing and inputting digital images into a publication
iv)Light pen
 For selecting items on the computer system and also for drawing graphics.
34. Define the following terms as used in desktop publishing.
i)Gutter
it is the inside margins or the black space between two facing pages.
The gutter space is that extra space allowance used to accommodate the binding in books and
magazines
ii) Clip art
- A single medium file that contains an image which can be inserted in a publication.
iii) Crop
- To cut out or trim unneeded portions of an image.
iv) Footer
- Text or graphics that appears in the bottom margin area.
v) Sorting pages
- Re-arranging pages
vi) Master page
- A feature in many pages layout programs that allows the user to
specify default text and graphic elements that will appear on the pages of a publication.
vii)Publication
a product designed using DTP software
viii) Style sheet
a feature in desktop publishing that allows the designer to apply and maintain consistency in
formatting, as well as make quick changes to the text throughout a document.
35. Mention any four factors to be considered before purchasing any DTP software.
- Cost of purchase
- The available features
- User friendliness
- Availability in the market
- After sale support
- Compatibility with existing software
- Memory capacity it occupies in device of installation
36. Write the acronym DTP in full.
- Desktop Publishing
37. List four page-formatting features in DTP.
- Column guide
- Moving and locking columns
- Page numbering
- Re-arranging pages
- Adding headers and footers
- Watermark
38. Define the term ‘backup copy’.
- A duplicate of data created to enable recovery if the original is damaged or lost
39. Give the importance of backing up files.
- To enable recovery if the original is damaged or lost
40. List any two factors to be considered before backing up a publication.
- The importance of the file.
- The storage capacity needed to store the backup
- The cost of creating a new file
- File format
 - Storage location
41. Describe three ways of ensuring that an online publication is secure from unauthorized access.
- -Encrypting the publication: this will ensure that only people with valid keys can access the
publication.
- Encrypting protects the publication during transmission.
- Using password when saving the publication: it allows only readers with the valid password to
access it.
- Allocate different levels of accessing the publication: this will ensure that users can only read
what is within their rights.
- Install/ firewall: this will help in checking authentication
42. State three factors to be considered before designing a publication.
- The audience the publication is intended for
- The cost of production
- The software to use
- The type of information to be conveyed.
- The publication's format and size
- The deadline for completion