• My UNC Charlotte

  • Directory

  • Campus Events

  • Library

  • Prospective Students

    • About UNC Charlotte
    • Campus Life
    • Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
  • Faculty and Staff

    • Human Resources
    • Auxiliary Services
    • Inside UNC Charlotte
    • Academic Affairs
  • Current Students

    • Athletics
    • Financial Aid
    • Advising
    • Student Health Center
  • Alumni and Friends

    • Alumni Association
    • Advancement
    • Foundation
    • Make a Gift
τέχνη
UNC Charlotte Homepage
τέχνη
Technologies for teaching, learning and research
  • My UNC Charlotte

  • Directory

  • Campus Events

  • Library

  • Prospective Students

    • About UNC Charlotte
    • Campus Life
    • Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
  • Faculty and Staff

    • Human Resources
    • Auxiliary Services
    • Inside UNC Charlotte
    • Academic Affairs
  • Current Students

    • Athletics
    • Financial Aid
    • Advising
    • Student Health Center
  • Alumni and Friends

    • Alumni Association
    • Advancement
    • Foundation
    • Make a Gift
  • Overview

Filter

  • Technologies

  • Techniques

  • Platforms

  • Disciplines

  • Vendors

Productivity & Utility

Applications used to produce documents, spreadsheets, diagrams, bibliographies, or to accomplish clerical work and applications that are either a component of the operating system or helps to extend the operating system in some way including applications to visualize operating system environments. As well, applications focus on the direct transfer of files between two computers.

Inspiration

March 18, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

i9logo

Availability: Download
Comparable: Dia, FreeMind, yEd Graph Editor

For visual mapping, outlining, writing and making presentations, use Inspiration 9, the ultimate thinking and learning tool. Brainstorm ideas, structure your thoughts and visually communicate concepts to strengthen understanding with the Diagram and Map Views. To take notes, organize information, and structure writing for plans, papers and reports, use the integrated Outline View to focus on main and supporting ideas and to clarify thinking in written form. With Inspiration’s Presentation Manager, transform your diagrams, mind maps and outlines into polished presentations that communicate ideas clearly and demonstrate understanding and knowledge.

For a quick overview of the software, go here.

LaTex

December 19, 2013 by clas-web
Categories: Math & ProgrammingProductivity & Utility

LaTeX icon

Availability: Labs  |  see TexMaker
Comparable: 

LaTeX (/ˈleɪtɛk/ lay-tek or /ˈlɑːtɛk/ lah-tek) is a document preparation system and document markup language. LaTeX uses the TeX typesetting program for formatting its output, and is itself written in the TeX macro language. LaTeX is not the name of a particular editing program, but refers to the encoding or tagging conventions that are used in LaTeX documents.

For software to edit LaTeX, check out TexMaker.

Tags: markup languagetrm

Mendeley

February 08, 2016 by Laurie Parker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

Availability: Free Download
Comparable: Zotero, EndNote

Mendeley logoMendeley is a free reference manager and social network that helps users organize their research, collaborate with others, and discover new research. Search and sort references, documents and notes in one place. Users can read, annotate and add sticky notes to PDFs.

Mendeley generates citations and bibliographies in the desired style and is compatible with Microsoft Word, LibreOffice and BibTeX. Reading lists, references or full text articles can be shared either publicly or privately. Groups can be created to work on research assignments, share feedback, and write papers. Published research can be showcased with colleagues, peers, and classmates.

The program combines Mendeley Desktop, a PDF and reference management application with Mendeley Web, an online social network for researchers. Users can store all of their research in one place and access across devices. Mendeley requires the user to store all basic citation data on its servers and storing copies of documents is at the user’s discretion.

Mendeley is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux and provides 2GB of free online storage to automatically back up and synchronize the library across desktop, web and mobile.

Microsoft Office

December 19, 2013 by clas-web
Categories: Productivity & Utility

ms-office-icon01

Availability: Windows Labs | Faculty/Staff | Download
Components: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access
Comparable: Google Apps, OpenOffice

Microsoft Office is an office suite of computer applications, servers, and services.   There are Microsoft Offices available for students and home use, small business use, and mid-size business use.

Microsoft Office 2013 for Windows includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access and Publisher.

Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, OneNote, Microsoft Remote Desktop, and the Microsoft Communicator.  **NOTE:  Microsoft does not produce Publisher and Access equivalents for Mac.**  Access to these packages may be possible through the Citrix virtualization service.  Speak to your department consultant to find out more.

Microsoft Office 365 introduces cloud storage (via OneDrive, formerly known as SkyDrive) and document sharing and synchronization

The Microsoft Office Suite is installed by default on all UNCC computers running Windows or MacOS.  To download the suite for home or privately owned computers, check the UNCC software page.

Notepad ++

February 24, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Math & ProgrammingProductivity & Utility
NotepadplusplusAvailability: Free Download
Comparable: PyScripter, GCC

Notepad++ is a text editor and source code editor for use with Microsoft Windows. Unlike Notepad, the built-in Windows text editor, it supports tabbed editing, which allows working with multiple open files in a single window. Notepad++ opens large files significantly faster than Microsoft’s Notepad and Wordpad.  Modes are available for different programming and scripting languages that highlight portions of code according to a color scheme.  For instance, it highlights all variables one color, classes another, and so on.

OpenOffice

December 19, 2013 by clas-web
Categories: Analysis & ModelingDesign & VisualizationProductivity & Utility

200px-Aoo4-main-tm-logo-rgb.svg

Availability: Labs | Free Download
Comparable: Microsoft Office, Google Apps

Apache OpenOffice is an open-source office productivity software suite.  The applications include:

  • Writer – a word processor
  • Calc – a spreadsheet program
  • Impress – a presentation program
  • Draw – a graphics program
  • Math – a formula editor
  • Base – a database management program

Apache OpenOffice is available for download here.  OpenOffice may require java for some applications.

Oracle Database

February 24, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Math & ProgrammingProductivity & Utility
117069905_640Availability: Download
Comparable: Access, Filemaker Pro

Oracle DBMS (DataBase Management System) is an enterprise grade database system designed to handle very large and complex databases with high availability and redundancy.  Oracle databases are popular in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems such as Banner and PeopleSoft.

Oracle licenses are very complex due to its scalability and typical usage.  Often the license is priced per processor, since the number of processors typically scales with the size of your database usage and operation.  Large server clusters often have dozens of processors dedicated to processing request for an Oracle database.

Tags: database

Parallels

February 09, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

parallels_desktop_logo

Availability: Download
Comparable: VMware Fusion

Parallels is a virtualization utility that allows you to run a Windows operating system environment within the MacOS.  The platform shares your computer’s hardware resources with the guest operating system according to customizable specifications.  Users can dedicate a set amount of memory, number of processors, and other computer resources to the virtual instance according the resources needed for the intended software.  Parallels also streamlines the interface between the two for an integrated experience.  It allows the user to use a Windows application without necessarily having to see the windows desktop and start menu.

Parallels is a competitor to VMWare Fusion.  View the Parallels website for more information.

Tags: hypervisoroperating systemvirtualization

Perceptive Content

November 15, 2017 by Laurie Parker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

Perceptive Content logoAvailability:  University owned computers

Perceptive Content (formerly known as ImageNow) is a document management system used to track and store electronic documents. It uploads, organizes, and stores documents and content. This can include items such as email, electronic files, multimedia, XML and hundreds of other formats in addition to scanned documents.

Powerpoint

February 19, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Design & VisualizationProductivity & Utility

239091_567_powerpoint2013

Availability: Labs | Faculty/Staff | Download
Part of: Microsoft Office Suite
Comparable: Google Apps, OpenOffice, Prezi, Sway, Keynote

Microsoft Powerpoint is slide show presentation software.  The user develops slides with text, graphics, charts, animations, videos, sounds, and other multimedia content to display during a presentation.  The slides proceed in a linear fashion either at a timed pace or according to the user prompt.  Slides can then be exported to pictures, PDF documents, videos, or web pages.  Powerpoint is available on the MacOS and Windows platforms.

Powerpoint has also been used for basic graphic design, flow charting, and digital signage.  Though other tools are often more appropriate for this kind of function, a user can save time by using a tool they are thoroughly proficient in.  For other tools proficient in these functions see GIMP, Inkscape, or Dia.

Project

February 24, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & UtilityProject Management
project logoAvailability: Available at discount
Comparable: OpenOffice
Microsoft Project is a project management software program that is designed to assist a project manager in developing a plan, assigning resources to tasks, tracking progress, managing the budget, and analyzing workloads.  Project can be used as a stand-alone application on an individual computer or used in conjunction with a Project Server for synchronization between multiple project managers or project participants.
Project creates budgets based on assignment work and resource rates. As resources are assigned to tasks and assignment work estimated, the program calculates the cost, equal to the work times the rate, which rolls up to the task level and then to any summary tasks and finally to the project level. Resource definitions (people, equipment and materials) can be shared between projects using a shared resource pool. Each resource can have its own calendar, which defines what days and shifts a resource is available. Resource rates are used to calculate resource assignment costs which are rolled up and summarized at the resource level. Each resource can be assigned to multiple tasks in multiple plans and each task can be assigned multiple resources, and the application schedules task work based on the resource availability as defined in the resource calendars. All resources can be defined in label without limit.
While Project is considered to be part of the Microsoft Office Suite, it is licensed separately on an individual basis.  For more information look at Microsoft’s Project page.

Publisher

February 19, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

Microsoft_Publisher_2013_logo.svg

Availability:  Windows labs | Citrix | Download
Part of: Microsoft Office Suite
Comparable:  InDesign, OpenOffice, Scribus

Microsoft Publisher is an entry-level desktop publishing application differing from Microsoft Word in that the emphasis is placed on page layout and design rather than text composition and proofing.  Publisher allows for the easy layout of images and text designed for print media.  Publisher is only produced for the Windows platform, but it is available on the mac platform via Citrix.

Tags: desktop publishing

Scribus

October 30, 2014 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

Scribus-logo

Availability: Free Download
Comparable:  Microsoft Publisher, InDesign

Scribus is a cross-platform (available on Linux, MacOS, and Windows), open source desktop publishing program that features professional page layout, press-ready output, and new approaches to page design.  It was loosely modeled after Microsoft Publisher.Underneath a modern and user-friendly interface, Scribus supports professional publishing features, such as color separations, CMYK and spot colors, ICC color management, and versatile PDF creation.

Tags: desktop publishing

SmartDraw

April 04, 2016 by Laurie Parker
Categories: Design & VisualizationProductivity & Utility

Availability: 7 day free trial or purchase a license
Comparable: Visio, Dia, Google Drawing

SmartDraw logoSmartDraw is a diagramming tool that can be used to create flowcharts, org charts, mind maps, and floor plans. Users can create graph-based, chart-based, or schematic diagrams.

SmartDraw integrates with Microsoft Office. With just a click, drawings can be sent to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. It’s also compatible with Visio, allowing the user to import existing Visio files and continue work in SmartDraw.

SmartDraw Cloud allows users to create and edit diagrams in their web browser, whether they are on Windows or Mac.

There’s a 7 day free trial available for both the browser-based or desktop version.

 

Tags: flowchartvector

Snagit

August 03, 2016 by Laurie Parker
Categories: MultimediaProductivity & Utility

Availability: Contact CLAS IT
Comparable: Snipping Tool, Grab

SnagitSnagit is an image and video capture tool. Users can capture screenshots of their entire desktop, a region, window, or scrolling webpage. The dynamic editor allows users to comment over screenshots using textboxes, arrows, and shapes. Snagit also has video recording and editing capabilities. Audio is recorded by the microphone or the computer’s system audio.

The software runs on the Windows and Mac platform. The University owns licenses for this software, contact CLAS IT to request.

Snipping Tool

September 04, 2014 by Andy Voelker
Categories: MultimediaProductivity & Utility

snipping tool icon

Availability: Labs  |  Built in to Windows
Comparable: Grab

Snipping Tool is a screenshooting utility included in Windows Vista, 7 and 8. It can take screenshots of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area, or the entire screen. Snips can then be annotated using a mouse or a tablet, stored as an image file (PNG, GIF, or JPEG file) or an MHTML file, or e-mailed. Snipping Tool allows for basic image editing of the snapshot, with different colored pens, an eraser, and a highlighter.

To access the Snipping Tool, click the start menu and type “snip.”  The search should find the utility and you can press enter to launch.  If it does not find anything you can launch a file browser and navigate to C:\windows\system32 and double click on the SnippingTool.exe file.

Trello

April 02, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & UtilityProject Management

trello logo

Availability: Free Service
Comparable: Project, Google Sites
Trello is a free web-based project management application originally made by Fog Creek Software in 2011, that spun out to be its own company in 2014.

Trello uses the “kanban paradigm” for managing projects, originally been popularized by Toyota in the 1980s for supply chain management. Projects are represented by boards, which contain lists (corresponding to task lists). Lists contain cards (corresponding to tasks). Cards are supposed to progress from one list to the next (via drag-and-drop), for instance mirroring the flow of a feature from idea to implementation. Users can be assigned to cards. Users and boards can be grouped into organizations.

It operates a freemium business model, as well as being cross-subsidized by other Fog Creek Software products. A basic service is provided free of charge, though a Business Class paid-for service was launched in 2013.

Tags: cloudfreemiumproject

Visio

November 20, 2014 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Design & VisualizationProductivity & Utility

visio_2013

Availability: Available at discount
Comparable: Dia

Microsoft Visio (viz-zee-oh) is a diagramming and vector graphics application and is part of the Microsoft Office family.  Visio can be useful for creating organization structures, network structures, room layouts, relational diagrams, process diagrams, flow charts, and more.  Visio can also use UML (Universal Markup Language) to interface with database schemas.  Visio starts with a set of templates that allow a user to easily develop a diagram using a preconfigured set of stencils, icons, and markup for a specific purpose.  Additional templates and stencils can be downloaded via the Office Download Center.  Users can also create from a blank template and use any stencils and objects from any library available.

Visio is not part of the standard Office installation and must be licensed and installed separately. It is only available on the Windows Platform.

Tags: flowchartumlvector

VMware Fusion

November 21, 2014 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

VMware-Fusion-2-0-6-Update-Build-196839-2

Availability: Labs  |  Download
Comparable: Parallels

VMware Fusion allows Intel-based Macs to run operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, NetWare, BSD, or Solaris on virtual machines, along with their Mac OS X operating system.  This is useful for using different software pieces based on different operating system platforms on the same computer.  The Unity feature removes the windows start menu and desktop, focusing the window on just the application needed, and enabling a seamless and streamlines experience.  Fusion is also useful for testing out various operating systems and packages in a non-destructive environment.  Virtual machines, once created, can be backed up, restored, versioned and transported to other computers.  This means you can reconfigure the software without the fear of corruption or data loss.  You can also share virtual machines to be imported into other computers’ installation of Fusion, sharing an exact replica of your configuration, software, and data.

Because Fusion runs on top of Mac OS X, performance is decreased significantly from a native “bare metal” installation of the original operating system.  Fusion can also be an excellent substitute for running Boot Camp, a software package that allows a user to reboot into a native Windows environment.  UNCC ITS is ending support for BootCamp in 2015, so software packages like VM Fusion are best to use when Windows is needed on a Mac.

For more information visit VMWare Fusion.

Tags: hypervisorlinuxoperating systemvirtualization

Word

February 19, 2015 by Andy Voelker
Categories: Productivity & Utility

Microsoft_Word_2013_logo.svg

Availability: Windows Labs | Faculty/Staff | Download
Part of: Microsoft Office Suite
Comparable: Google Docs, OpenOffice

Microsoft is the standard word processor in the Office Suite.  Though its primary focus is document editing, creation, and annotation, Word also contains some desktop publishing features.  Word is available on the MacOS and Windows platforms.

Tags: word processor
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »

Click for more  

UNC Charlotte Homepage

Campus Links

  • Alerts
  • Jobs
  • Make a Gift
  • Maps / Directions
  • Accessibility

Resources

  • Alumni & Friends
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Prospective Students
  • Community
  • Current Students
  • Parents and Family

Stay In Touch

facebook instagram flickr linkedin twitter youtube maps

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
704-687-8622

© 2017 UNC Charlotte | All Rights Reserved
Contact Us | Terms of Use | University Policies
Skip to toolbar
  • Log In