Office software consists of a range of packages that generally assist in the running of an office, but are also used in a range of other areas such as running ones personal affairs. Generally a suite of software would include a word processor, a spreadsheet, a database and presentation graphics.
Before computers could be produced small enough to fit on a desk, the development of reports, books and letters was carried out by typewriters and printing presses and the pen and paper were used for the storage of information.
With the advent of computers, commercial programs were developed to fill the increasing demand. In 1978, Wordstar was developed for CP/M machines. Visicalc, the first spreadsheet to run on a microcomputer (the Apple II) arrived at about the same time.
In 1981, the IBM PC was introduced. The importance of the PC lay in the fact that its standard could be copied by other manufacturers. This meant that although PCs (clones) were developed by different manufacturers around the world, an application could generally be run on all the computers. The universality of the PC encouraged software developers to transfer the office applications to the PC. Wordstar was re-developed for the PC whilst Visicalc was sold to Lotus and Lotus 1-2-3 was developed.
These early word processor and spreadsheet programs were aimed at business users. However, there was an increasing and potentially larger demand for such products in an integrated package. The Amstrad PC was launched in 1987, this helped popularise the PC in the UK.
Microsoft Works was released in 1987. This included a word processor, a spreadsheet, database, graphics program and communication. It also contained early integration so that for example a graph from the spreadsheet could be placed in a word processor document. Other packages such as LotusWorks and Wordperfect Works arrived to compete with Microsoft.
The more-familiar Microsoft Office arrived in the mid-1990s and is the most popular office package for PCs. Lotus SmartSuite has the second largest market share and it is now owned by IBM. Corel became owners of the Wordperfect and launched the WordPerfect Suite 7, which includes the Paradox database, but this now has a small market share.
Typical components of an office software package include the following