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eobf_D 7/5/06 2:59 PM Page 199

Desktop Publishing

Desktop publisher at work. © MARTHA TABOR/WORKING IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHS

• Find-and-replace functionality in the document (and often the graphical elements as
well) typically moves down by the length of that inserted
• Automatic generation of tables of contents and
indexes paragraph, and the text on the last page of the document
may even move to the top of a new page that is automat-
• Styles for formatting characters and paragraphs
ically added to the document. Even if the document con-
• Tables and columns tains sections, chapters, or other “unmovable” breaks, the
insertion of the paragraph on the first page can signifi-
Despite the inclusion of such features in desktop-publish- cantly alter the layout of the entire document.
ing software, word-processing software is nearly always a
much better choice for basic word processing, as it allows In most word-processing applications (basic docu-
the user to focus more on editing and developing content ments such as letters and memos), this string of text run-
efficiently than on creating the document layout and ning through the document works just fine, because the
implementing design elements. document is not layout- or format-intensive. Likewise,
Where word-processing and desktop-publishing pro- designed documents that do not include extensive graph-
ical elements and that are not adversely affected by the
grams begin to differ most noticeably is in the way the
programs handle the integration of graphical elements flow-through-text effect of word-processing software can
and text elements. In word-processing software, all the often be created more easily in word-processing software
text of a document is treated as one long “string” of words than in desktop-publishing software.
running through the entire document. If a new paragraph On the other hand, when documents are carefully
is inserted on the first page of the document, all the text designed and formatted to integrate text and graphics in

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION 199