mac knowledge - MacFAQ

What is PRAM and how do I "zap" it

2008-03-02T08:22:28.744+00:00

Pronounced pee-ram, short for parameter RAM. On Macintosh computers, PRAM is a small portion of RAM used to store information about the way the system is configured. For example, parameter RAM holds the date and time, desktop pattern, mouse settings, volume settings, and other control data set with control panels. Parameter RAM is powered by a battery, so it does not lose its contents when the power is turned off.

Occasionally the PRAM can become corrupt and cause problems with your computer. If you are experiencing problems that have resisted other attempts at troubleshooting, you can sometimes solve them by "zapping" the PRAM. To do so, follow these steps:

Hold down the Cmd, Option, p , and r keys while starting or restarting your computer. This will automatically restart your computer a few seconds after it powers on.

Keep holding down the Cmd, Option, p , and r keys, and allow your computer to restart seven times. After the seventh time, let your computer power up and boot normally.

You may need to go in and change some of your settings, as they will be reset to factory defaults.

Using Java in OSX

2008-01-03T14:12:52.376+00:00

Mac OS X implements Java 2, while Mac OS 9.x and earlier offers support for Java 1.1.x. To use Java applets in Mac OS 9.x and earlier, you will need Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ), which is installed by default on recent versions of both Mac OS and Mac OS X. You can get the latest versions of MRJ from Apple at:

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/
For the most recent version of Java in Mac OS X, use Software Update. For instructions, see the Knowledge Base document For Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I obtain and install system software updates? For more information, visit Apple's Java web page:

http://www.apple.com/java/
Current web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari, Mozilla, and Camino all support Java.

If you are interested in developing with Java, Xcode (the Mac OS X developers' tools) includes support for Java. Other development tools include JBuilder, IDEA, Eclipse, NetBeans, and JDeveloper. For more information about Xcode, see Apple's developer page:

http://developer.apple.com/
For more information about developing for Java, see Apple's Java developer page:

http://developer.apple.com/java/

What is First Aid or Disk First Aid, and when and how should I use it?

2008-01-03T14:10:47.002+00:00

What is First Aid or Disk First Aid?

First Aid is a utility included in Mac OS X for checking and repairing file system errors. it is part of the Disk Utility program.

When should I use it?

If your computer is crashing frequently, displaying cryptic error messages, or exhibiting unusual behavior, you can use First Aid or Disk First Aid as a first step to check for defects and, in many cases, repair them. If, however, your volume has suffered severe corruption, you may need to use other utility programs or repair methods.

Even if you are not getting errors, it is a good idea to run First Aid or Disk First Aid periodically. This preventive maintenance will help keep small problems from developing into bigger ones.

How do I run First Aid or Disk First Aid?

To check your startup disk, you must run First Aid or Disk First Aid from your software installation CD or DVD. Insert the disc, restart your computer, and hold the c key down while restarting to force your computer to boot from the CD or DVD. Locate First Aid or Disk First Aid as described below and launch it.

Using First Aid in Mac OS X

Note: For help with correcting permissions problems rather than file system errors, see the Knowledge Base document Using Mac OS X, how do I repair permissions and what does that do?

Boot from the system installation CD or DVD. Then, from the Installer menu (Mac OS X 10.3) or the Disk Utilities menu (Mac OS X 10.4), select Disk Utility. In the column on the left, select the volume you want to repair, and then on the right, click the First Aid tab. You may select multiple volumes by holding down the Cmd key while clicking the volumes.

Click the Verify Disk button to begin a verification process (a simple check for errors) or the Repair Disk button to verify and repair any problems on the selected volume(s). You can stop the scan at any time by clicking the Stop Verify or Stop Repair button.

What is the finder

2008-01-03T14:08:38.202+00:00

In Mac OS and Mac OS X, the Finder is the primary way of accessing, organizing, and managing your files and applications. It is the essential tool for navigating and manipulating the Macintosh file system. The Finder automatically launches either at the end of the boot process or when you log into your account, and although you can hide it, under normal circumstances, you cannot deactivate it. To make the Finder the active application, click the desktop, click the Finder icon in the Dock (Mac OS X), or select it from the Application menu (Mac OS 9.x and earlier; the last icon on the right side of the menu bar).

The Finder has gone through many changes during the evolution of Mac OS and Mac OS X. Following are some of the highlights:

The original Finder could only manage one application at a time, but the MultiFinder (first introduced in System 4.2) could multitask several applications.

In System 6 and earlier, the Finder was not as tightly integrated into the system and could actually be turned off. In addition, the MultiFinder was optional.

In System 7.0, the MultiFinder replaced the original Finder, and Apple renamed it to Finder.

With Mac OS 7.5, Apple made the Finder scriptable via AppleScript.

In Mac OS 8, Apple created a multi-threaded Finder, which means that the Finder could do more than one task at a time (e.g., it can move a file to the Trash while it opens a folder). Apple also introduced the Simple Finder, which reduces menu options to a minimal, simplified set of choices that still enable most basic operations.

With the introduction of Mac OS X, Apple added a new hierarchical view, called Column View, which allows you to more easily see nested folders at a glance. In Column View, you can preview movies, pictures, and audio files.

Beginning with Mac OS X 10.2, Apple reintroduced spring-loaded folders, as well as the Classic Mac OS option of enabling the Simple Finder for user accounts which you specify. OS X 10.2 also saw the addition of the Finder toolbar, which contains icons you can click to quickly access your home directory, favorite items, applications folder, or the root level of the operating system.

Apple added several features in OS X 10.3, including network browsing, which allows you to browse to other computers on the network; the Finder window sidebar, modeled on the iTunes playlists concept, and which contains icons to quickly take you to other mounted media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, disk images, FireWire drives), other computers on your network, and folders on your computer which you may access frequently, such as your music, pictures, movies, or documents folders; Exposé, which provides elegant solutions for quickly locating one specific window no matter how cluttered the screen; and fast user switching, which allows you to switch easily between several accounts in OS X. You can also drag and drop files you'd like to burn onto a CD, then click the burn button in the Finder window for easy CD burning capability.

With the release of OS X 10.4, Apple introduced Spotlight, a dynamic new way of searching for files and information on your computer. Spotlight is available systemwide, so searches in the Finder can leverage this new technology to search through not only the filenames but also the file contents for the terms you type into the search field, continually refining the search as you type. The Finder now also features Smart Folders, which contain documents grouped together based on search criteria that you define instead of the physical location of the documents.
For more information about the Finder, or specific aspects of the Finder, such as Exposé, use Mac Help, which is available from the Help menu in the Finder.

How do I partition my hard drive

2008-01-03T14:07:23.923+00:00

Note: Partitioning your hard drive with Disk Utility requires that you initialize it, a process which will erase all the information on the drive. Be sure to back up all the important files you wish to keep before using these directions.

To partition your hard drive, boot from a Mac OS X install disc. To do this, insert the disc in the drive and restart the computer while holding down the c key. When you see the gray Apple, you may release the c key.

Mac OS X

Note: The following assumes you are using Mac OS X 10.1 or later.

If your install disc is for Mac OS X, follow these steps:

From the Installer menu, select Open Disk Utility... . In the window that opens, on the left, click the icon for the drive you would like to initialize or partition.

To the right, click the Partition tab.

In the pop-up menu under "Volume Scheme:", choose the number of partitions to be created during the initializing process. By partitioning your drive, you divide it into multiple volumes that can hold different file and operating systems. For a basic installation of Mac OS X, just one partition is necessary.

After you've chosen the number of partitions you want, you can adjust their sizes by dragging the graphical handles that represent the partition borders.

Click each of the partitions to adjust its properties. Under "Volume Information", you may choose the format you would like to use. The default choice will be Mac OS Extended or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), depending on the version of the operating system you have, and typically it should be the one you use.

Once you've chosen your volume scheme, click the Partition button.
After your drive is formatted and partitioned, you may continue with other installations from your install disc. Of course, such an installation will be necessary before you can boot (start up) from your newly partitioned hard drive.

How do I run Mac OS or Mac OS X applications in other environments?

2008-01-03T14:05:45.944+00:00

It is possible to run Mac OS and Mac OS X applications in a limited fashion on hardware that is not Macintosh-compatible. To do this, the following products are available:

Mac on Linux (MOL): Mac on Linux is an open source project that allows Mac OS and Mac OS X to run on Linux for the PowerPC processor. It supports most applications that run in the versions of Mac OS and Mac OS X supported by MOL. However, it will not run in Linux for other processors (e.g., x86, m68k), and it isn't compatible with MkLinux. For more information, see: http://www.maconlinux.org/
PearPC: PearPC is an architecture-independent PowerPC platform emulator capable of running most PowerPC operating systems, including Darwin and Mac OS X. For more information and to download this open-source software, visit: http://pearpc.sourceforge.net/
Executor: Produced by ARDI, Executor is a Mac OS emulator for Windows, OS/2, Linux, and OPENSTEP. It is based on Mac OS 6.0.7, but offers some Mac OS 7 compatibility. Though the number of applications it will run is somewhat limited, it does have the ability to read and write high density formatted Mac OS disks. To discuss Executor, visit its newsgroup, comp.emulators.mac.executor.

vMac: Rather than emulating Mac OS, vMac functions as a virtual Macintosh Plus. It will run most programs that a real Macintosh Plus will, including Mac OS 7.5.5. There are versions of vMac for Windows, OS/2, OpenStep, Unix, and even Mac OS. vMac itself is freeware. Unfortunately, to use it, you have to have a copy of the ROM from a Macintosh Plus, something that is of marginal legality in many cases. For more information, visit the vMac Project web page at: http://www.bannister.org/
Macintosh Application Environment: The Macintosh Application Environment (MAE) is a Mac OS emulator for HP-UX and Solaris. Additionally, it is possible to run MAE remotely from any workstation with an X Window System server. The final version runs Mac OS 7.5.3 and supports most 68k and FAT applications, but is not compatible with PowerPC-only applications. MAE has been discontinued, so obtaining a copy may be difficult.

The best books on mac

2008-01-03T14:00:18.669+00:00

Written by John Ray and William C. Ray, and published by Sams, this book is a comprehensive and excellent source of information about Mac OS X. The authors make a particular effort to explain the BSD and Unix underpinnings of Mac OS X. Though written to include basic beginner material, this book is generally better suited for more advanced users.

“MAC OS X Unleashed” (John Ray, William C. Ray)

“MAC OS X Tiger: Unleashed” (William Ray, John Ray)

From the publishers of Macworld and authored by Lon Poole, a new book in this series is typically issued with each major release of the operating system. Each book is an in-depth look at the operating system covered.

“Macworld Mac OS X Bible (Bible (Wiley))” (Lon Poole, Dennis Cohen)

The Missing Manual...O'Reilly & Associates is one of the most respected publishers of computer books. They have several excellent titles for the Macintosh operating system and several popular applications.

“Mac OS X: The Missing Manual: Tiger Edition (Missing Manual)” (David Pogue)

Macworld Macintosh Secrets
From the publishers of Macworld and authored by David Pogue and Joseph Schorr, this book is a comprehensive guide to Mac tips, tricks, and hints. The book includes a CD-ROM with an enormous software collection. IDG Books publishes it.

“”Macworld“ Macintosh Secrets (Secrets S.)” (David Pogue, Joseph Schorr)

Sad Macs, Bombs and other Disasters
This book by Ted Landau is a problem solving guide describing numerous problems and their solutions. It covers both hardware and software and is comprehensive, yet inexperienced Mac users can understand it. Peachpit Press publishes it.

“Sad Macs, Bombs and Other Disasters (Sad Macs, Bombs and Other Disasters and What to Do About Them)” (Ted Landau)

The Mac is not a Typewriter and its sequel, Beyond the Mac is not a Typewriter.
Written by Robin Williams, these are excellent guides to producing professional-looking documents on the Mac. They are available from Peachpit Press.

“The Mac Is Not a Typewriter” (Robin Williams, Robert C. Fay)

“Beyond the Mac Is Not a Typewriter” (Robin Williams)

What are the differences between the different Mac Operating Systems

2008-01-03T13:59:28.122+00:00

In all cases, successive versions of Mac OS and Mac OS X have incorporated "under the hood" changes such as improved performance and stability, bug fixes, and in later releases, increased PowerPC nativity. In addition, the major releases included more obvious changes as described below:

Mac OS 7 Mac OS 8 Mac OS 9 Mac OS X
Mac OS 7.0.x
Mac OS 7.1.x
Mac OS 7.5.x
Mac OS 7.6.x Mac OS 8.0
Mac OS 8.1
Mac OS 8.5.x
Mac OS 8.6.x Mac OS 9.0.x
Mac OS 9.1
Mac OS 9.2.x Mac OS X 10.0.x "Cheetah"
Mac OS X 10.1.x "Puma"
Mac OS X 10.2.x "Jaguar"
Mac OS X 10.3.x "Panther"
Mac OS X 10.4.x "Tiger"

••Mac OS 7.0.x (several releases) (1991)

32-bit addressing for access to more than 8 megabytes of RAM

Support for virtual memory on those computers that can use it

Apple Events, a language used by applications to communicate with each other

The MultiFinder, renamed the Finder, improved and simplified

A Find utility incorporated into the Finder for locating files

Ability to create aliases of items

Ability to use File Sharing to share information between computers on a network

Introduction of Balloon Help

Introduction of Drag and Drop

••Mac OS 7.1.x (several releases) (1992-1994)

Introduction of WorldScript for improved multilingual support

Fonts stored in their own Fonts folder rather than within the System Folder

Introduction of Thread Manager for improved multitasking
Mac OS 7.5.x (several releases) (1994-1996)

32-bit addressing always turned on

Some user interface improvements such as a menu bar clock, WindowShade, hierarchical Apple menus, and Finder windows that become accented when a file is dragged over them

The AppleScript scripting language for automating tasks

Improved Find File capability

Apple Guide for improved help

PC Exchange, which greatly simplifies working with DOS formatted disks

Macintosh Easy Open to help open files for which the original application is not available

Introduction of Open Transport (7.5.2)

Comments in Info windows not removed when the desktop is rebuilt (7.5.3)

••Mac OS 7.6.x (two releases) (Spring 1997)

Requires a 32-bit clean 68030 processor or better

Support for MacTCP removed

Many references to "Macintosh" changed to "Mac OS" in response to the availability of Macintosh compatible clones

••Mac OS 8.0 (Fall 1997)

Requires a 68040 or PowerPC processor

Numerous user interface improvements, including a revamped appearance, pop-up menus, custom folder views, desktop pictures, spring-loaded folders, contextual menus, sticky menus, and reorganized Finder menus; many of the control panels are reorganized, simplified, or incorporated into the Finder or System Folder

Finder now multithreaded, allowing it to perform more than one task at once (e.g., emptying the trash while moving a file)

Internet setup assistant for simplifying the task of setting up an Internet connection

••Mac OS 8.1 (Spring 1998)

Includes support for the Macintosh Extended File Format (HFS+), which increases the minimum and maximum file sizes

Support for DVD-ROM drives

Support for Windows 95 long filenames

••Mac OS 8.5.x (two releases) (Fall 1998)

Requires a PowerPC processor

Introduces Sherlock, a powerful volume and Internet searching utility that replaces Find File

AppleScript rewritten to be PowerPC native, greatly improving performance

Ability to anti-alias all text on the screen

Built-in application switcher and "tear off" Application menu

HTML-based help system

Interface enhancements such as smart scrolling, resizable Finder columns, 32-bit icons, icon tags, themes, and URL "aliases"

••Mac OS 8.6 (Spring 1999)

Built-in nanokernel that improves performance and reduces CPU power usage

Newer computers (e.g., iMac, "blue and white" Power Macintosh G3/G4, "bronze" PowerBook G3, iBook) have the capability to boot off the network if an appropriate server is present.

Game Sprockets included with the operating system (formerly a separate install)

Improvements to Sherlock, LaserWriter 8, DVD-RAM, FireWire, Speech Recognition, and other components

••Mac OS 9.0.x (two releases) (Fall 1999)

Support for multiple users, storing individual preferences for each and with several levels of access

Improved security with the Keychain (stores passwords), voiceprint authentication, and encrypted file transfers

File sharing via TCP/IP with another Mac OS computer without the need for AppleShare IP

Sherlock, dubbed Sherlock 2, updated for performance and capability

Ability to automatically download software updates from the Internet and install them

Support for Carbon and Carbonized applications

••Mac OS 9.1 (Spring 2001)

Several changes for improved compatibility with Mac OS X, including a slightly reorganized folder structure, OS X-aware Startup Disk control panel

USB printer sharing over TCP/IP

Apple File Security increased to 128-bit encryption

Finder shortcuts to empty the trash, add to favorites, and show folder view options

••Mac OS 9.2.x (three releases) (Fall 2001)

Improved performance in the Classic environment of Mac OS X
Mac OS X 10.0.x "Cheetah" (four releases and numerous updates) (Spring 2001)

Completely new operating system based on technologies acquired from NeXT, Inc.; features include protected memory, preemptive multitasking, multithreading, and symmetric multiprocessing

Aqua, a new graphical user interface

Darwin, the operating system's Unix foundation; built on the Mach microkernel

Quartz, the PDF-based engine for rendering two-dimensional entities such as icons and windows

Carbon, Cocoa, and Java, the three types of native graphical applications for Mac OS X

••Mac OS X 10.1.x "Puma" (five releases and numerous updates) (Fall 2001)

Improved performance, stability, and functionality

Reintroduced missing OS 9 features: DVD playback, CD burning, AppleShare over AppleTalk, keyboard shortcuts for display brightness and sound volume

The ability to connect to WebDAV and Windows file servers

••Mac OS X 10.2.x "Jaguar" (eight releases and numerous updates) (Summer 2002)

Improved performance, stability, and functionality

Quartz Extreme, which uses your video card to improve performance of window moves, resizes, and the like; Quartz Extreme is not supported on older computers.

Reintroduced missing OS 9 features: universal access, spring-loaded folders, USB printer sharing, AirPort and Airport Extreme software base station

Built-in support for connecting to VPN servers via PPTP

Rendezvous, for accessing resources via TCP/IP without configuration

Inkwell, handwriting recognition using a graphics tablet

Sherlock enhanced and refocused as an online tool

Find utility integrated into the Finder

••Mac OS X 10.3.x "Panther" (five releases and numerous updates) (Fall 2003)

Improved performance, stability, and functionality

Reintroduced missing OS 9 feature: labels

Exposé, to easily navigate through a cluttered desktop by displaying open windows as selectable thumbnails

Fast user switching, which allows for multiple accounts to be logged in at the same time

FileVault, which encrypts the entire contents of home folders

Built-in support for connecting to VPN servers via IPsec

Font Book, for improved font management

Improved support and integration for sending and receiving faxes

••Mac OS X 10.4.x "Tiger" (Spring 2005)

Unix-based architecture, for increased stability and security

Spotlight, to instantly locate anything (e.g., images, email messages, applications) on your computer

Dashboard, a readily accessible collection of mini-programs called "Widgets" that provide information about weather, stocks, and more

Safari RSS, a new version of the popular web browser that includes a built-in RSS reader

iChat AV, with the added ability to hold multi-party audio and video conferences

Automator, to automate repetitive computing tasks without programming knowledge

Mail, with integrated Spotlight searching and Smart Folders to help you manage your email

••Mac OS X 10.5.x "Leopard" (Autumn 2007)

What is .mac

2008-01-03T13:59:18.076+00:00

.Mac, is a subscription service that Apple offers. It is available for both Windows and Mac OSX but offers more functionality for OSX. Its features include:
• Email: The address for your email is username@mac.com , where username is your .Mac login name. You may access your email from any POP or IMAP client or from: http://webmail.mac.com/
• iDisk: This is a set amount of file space that you can mount on your desktop like any other network volume. You may then access this file space from any computer running Mac OS X or Windows XP that has internet connectivity.
• Groups: for your groups interconnectivity and communication
• Gallery: To link between iphoto and your online gallery automatically
For information about other services, see:
http://www.mac.com/

For Mac OS X, how do I change the highlight and window accent colors?

2008-01-03T13:59:07.853+00:00

Mac OS X

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... .

In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Appearance (OS X 10.3 and later) or General (10.2.x and earlier).

To change the overall look of buttons, menus, windows, and scroll bars, next to "Appearance:", select a color of your choice.
To change the color of selected text, in the pull-down menu next to "Highlight color:", choose a color of your choice, or select Other... to choose a color from the color picker.
You may also set several other options, such as the location of scroll arrows in windows, the number of items displayed in the Recent Items submenu in the Apple menu, and font smoothing options.

What is the Simple Finder?

2008-01-03T13:58:57.262+00:00

To activate the Simple Finder, follow these steps:

Mac OS X

Note: The Simple Finder is only available in Mac OS X 10.2 and later.

While logged into an account with administrative privileges, from the Apple menu, select System Preferences... .

In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Accounts.

In OS X 10.2.x only, in the Accounts preference pane, click the Users tab.

In the user list, select the account that you'd like to set to use the Simple Finder, then click Capabilities... (10.2.x), Limitations (10.3.x), or Parental Controls (10.4.x).

In 10.4.x, in the pane that appears, check the box next to Finder & System, and then click Configure... . In the sheet that drops down, click the radio button next to Simple Finder. You may determine which applications the account will have access to, and select other functions which the account may use (e.g., CD and DVD burning, modifying the Dock). When you're finished, click OK to save your changes.
In 10.3.x, in the pane that appears, click the Simple Finder button. In the section below that, you may determine which applications the account will have access to. Once you're finished, click another account, or close System Preferences and when prompted, click OK to save your changes.

In 10.2.x, in the sheet that appears, click the checkbox next to Use Simple Finder. In the section below that, you may determine which applications the account will have access to. Once you're finished, click OK.

When you are logged into an account where the Simple Finder is active, you can access the normal Finder by selecting Run Full Finder... from the Finder menu. You'll be asked to enter an administrator's username and password, and then the full Finder will appear. To revert back to the Simple Finder, select Return to Simple Finder from the Finder menu.

In Mac OS X, what is the Info window, and how do I use it?

2008-01-03T13:58:45.331+00:00

In Mac OS X, the Info window provides information about documents, folders, volumes, applications, and other items. To open it, click an icon for which you want information. Then, when the icon darkens, from the File menu, select Get Info (Mac OS X 10.2.x and later) or Show Info (Mac OS X 10.1.x and earlier). The Info window has several different panes you can access by clicking the triangles next to their names (Mac OS X 10.2.x and later) or through the pop-up menu (Mac OS X 10.1.x and earlier). The panes and their function are listed below:

Notes:

This document assumes you are viewing the information for a single file. However, if you select multiple icons in the Finder and open the Info window, you may view information about and make changes to the entire selection.

In Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), the Info window displays information for multiple files differently. The Get Info option on the Finder File menu provides information individually for all of the documents, folders, volumes, applications, and other items selected. If you hold down the Option key on the keyboard while selecting Get Info from the Finder File menu, you'll see a combined summary of information about all of the documents, folders, volumes, applications, and other items selected.
The "General" or "General Information" pane

All icons have a pane containing general information. Its contents depend on the type of file or folder associated with the icon, but may include the following:

Kind: This tells you the type of item you are viewing. Documents will be identified by the application program that created them, if possible.

Where: This gives the folder structure describing where the item is on the disk.

Size: This tells you the amount of space the file or folder takes up on the disk. With folders and packages, this amount is the total of all enclosed files.

Created: This shows when the item was created.

Modified: This shows when the item was last modified.

Version: This lists the version of the item.

Format: This is reported for volumes (e.g., hard disks, removable media, network volumes, audio CDs, and video DVDs) and describes the kind of file system the volume uses.

Capacity: For volumes, this lists the total amount of space.

Available: For volumes, this lists the amount of unused space.

Used: For volumes, this lists the amount of space taken up by data.

Original: For aliases and links, this lists where the original file or folder is located.

Full Name: This is the name by which fonts will be displayed in applications.

Copyright: Frequently, fonts will have their copyright information listed in this field.

Comments: (Mac OS X 10.1.x and earlier only) This field shows any comments attached to the item.

Locked: If you select this checkbox, the document cannot be changed.

Stationery Pad: If you select this checkbox, when you open the document, the document will instead open a copy of itself.

Open in the Classic environment: If you select this checkbox, an application will launch in the Classic environment instead of as a Mac OS X-native application. Only certain Carbon applications will have this option available.
The "Name & Extension" pane

In Mac OS X 10.0.x, you can change the name of a file from any pane in the Info window. Beginning in Mac OS X 10.1, however, you can do this only in the "Name & Extension" pane. In 10.1 and higher, you can also use this pane to determine whether the Finder will display the file's extension or not.

The "Content index" pane

In Mac OS X 10.2.x, using the "Content index" pane, you can see whether a folder or volume has been indexed, and if so, on what date it was last indexed.

The "Application", "Open with application", or "Open with" pane

This pane is called "Application" in Mac OS X 10.0.x, "Open with application" in Mac OS X 10.1.x, and "Open with" in Mac OS X 10.2.x and later, and is available only with documents. You may use it to designate what application will open a document when you double-click it. You can also use this pane to change the opening application of all the other files on your computer that are of the same type and were created with the same application.

The "Preview" pane

For text and PDF files, as well as files in formats that QuickTime understands, the "Preview" pane will show you the file's contents.

The "Ownership & Permissions" or "Privileges" pane

In this pane you can set the owner, group, and global access permissions of files, folders, and volumes. For folders, you can copy the access permissions to all enclosed items.

The "Languages" pane

In Mac OS 10.1 and later, with many applications you may add and remove language support from this pane of the Info window.

The "Memory" pane

For Classic applications, from this pane you may view and adjust the memory allocation settings.

The "Comments" pane (Mac OS X 10.2.x and later)

This pane shows any comments attached to the item.

What about rebuilding the desktop in OSX

2008-01-03T13:42:22.278+00:00

If you are using Mac OS X, you will need to rebuild the desktop only if you are using the Classic environment. It's not necessary to restart your computer or install any extra utilities to do the rebuild. Instead, follow these instructions:

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... . In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Classic.

In the Classic system preference pane, click the Advanced tab.

Click the Rebuild Desktop button.
How to rebuild your desktop on a Mac OS computer other than OS X

To rebuild your Mac OS computer's desktop, start or restart the computer while pressing the Option and Cmd keys. Keep these keys depressed all the way through the booting process until the computer asks if you are sure you want to rebuild the desktop. Click Yes.

Note: If you have Mac OS 9 and are using Multiple Users, to rebuild the desktop, press the Option and Cmd keys immediately after you enter your password to log in.

What this does for your computer

Rebuilding your desktop refreshes the associations between programs and the files created by them, so that you can start a program by double-clicking files created by it. It also refreshes the assignments between files or applications and the icons associated with them. To put it another way, the Desktop file is a map of the contents of your hard drive; rebuilding the desktop redraws the map.

If some of your files show up with generic icons or you can't launch a program by clicking a file created by it, rebuilding your desktop can help.

Rebuilding your desktop can also repair some kinds of damage to your directory, which is the information that tells where files are located on the disk. If some of your files are not showing up on your desktop, rebuilding the desktop can sometimes fix this.

You should rebuild your desktop at least once a month to keep your system running smoothly.

Where can I download freeware, shareware, commercial software, and software updates?

2008-01-03T13:39:05.889+00:00

where may I download freeware, shareware, commercial software, and software updates?

Apple Computer

For freely distributed applications and software updates owned by Apple Computer, Inc., follow these URLs:

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/

Additionally, in Mac OS X you can easily access Apple's Mac OS X Downloads page by selecting Mac OS X Software... from the Apple menu. This page is essentially a gallery of shareware, freeware, and commercial software created by Apple and by third-party developers, with the links provided by Apple as a courtesy. You can also visit the site by going to the following URL:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/
Sources of Mac OS and Mac OS X freeware and software

For third-party shareware, freeware, commercial software, and public domain software, visit the following sites:

VersionTracker http://www.versiontracker.com/
MacUpdate http://www.macupdate.com/
Microsoft MacTopia http://www.microsoft.com/mac/
Tucows http://www.tucows.com/
ZDNet Mac download http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/2001-2003-0.html?legacy=zddl
CNET's SHAREWARE.COM and DOWNLOAD.COM http://www.shareware.com/ http://www.download.com/
Info-Mac HyperArchive http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive.html

How do I decompress gzip files on a mac

2008-01-03T13:33:38.477+00:00

is there a program to compress/decompress files with a .gz, gzip or .z, .zip extension?

A file with a .gz extension has been compressed with the GNU zip (i.e., GZip) method, a compression format common to Unix and Mac OS X. There are a number of GNU zip utilities available for Mac OS and Mac OS X; the following list is merely a sampling and is not comprehensive:

StuffIt: StuffIt Expander is a freeware drag-and-drop utility for Mac OS and Mac OS X. It can decode most compression and archive formats, including GZip. To compress files with GNU zip, you can use the shareware program DropTar, though DropTar also automatically archives files with tar. Finally, StuffIt Deluxe is a commercial application that can both create and decompress GNU zip files. All three applications are produced by Allume Systems.

OpenUp and ColdCompress: OpenUp and ColdCompress, available only for Mac OS X, are two simple applications for decompressing and creating GNU zip files, respectively. ColdCompress automatically uses tar to archive files it creates with GNU zip. OpenUp and ColdCompress are both by Scott Anguish, and are available from Stepwise.

MacGzip: MacGzip is a freeware program that can both create and decompress GNU zip files. In Mac OS X, it will run in the Classic environment, and it can run in versions of the operating system as old as 7.0. It was created by José A. Gutiérrez and is available from: http://persephone.cps.unizar.es/general/gente/spd/gzip/
In addition to these programs, if you are using Mac OS X, the Unix command line GNU zip utilities are available from the Terminal application.

Note: Files ending in .z (lowercase z), as opposed to .Z (capital Z), are likely to be GNU zipped, but they may have been compressed in standard Unix format. Fortunately, MacGzip, StuffIt Expander, and StuffIt Deluxe can all decompress standard Unix compressed files, though they may not necessarily be able to compress them in this format.

What is transmit and why do you use it

2008-01-03T12:59:48.104+00:00

File Transfer Protocol. The Internet engineering standard for transferring files from one computer to another, ie from a web creator's computer files to the virtual server or vice versa. Such a transfer is made via a special FTP software program our favourite is Transmit.

Transmit is an application that allows you to upload and download files over the Internet via FTP or secure FTP (SFTP). You can use it to access anonymous FTP sites from which you may download software updates and public domain and shareware files.

You may also use Transmit to transfer files between your computer and your personal account on a server. As a distributed application, Transmit is easier and more convenient to use than connecting to a shell account with telnet and using an FTP program there. Instead of first transferring files to your account and then downloading them to your computer, you can use Transmit to download them directly to your Mac.

The current version of Transmit requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later; an earlier version for Mac OS 9 is also still available for download through various Mac software archives.

Transmit combines elements of Fetch and the Finder, resulting in a very easy-to-use program. Transmit offers a compact and attractive interface that lets you view remote and local directories in the same window. When you download files, Transmit automatically launches StuffIt Expander to process files that have been encoded with BinHex, MacBinary, and/or StuffIt.

Developed by Panic, Transmit is available as shareware. You may download it from:

http://www.panic.com/transmit/

how do I access PC printers and share files with Windows computer

2008-01-03T12:52:12.538+00:00

DAVE is an excellent solution for Mac users who would like to share files with Windows PCs, or access PC printers. With this software installed, Mac OS computers appear in the Network Neighborhood of PCs, and Mac users may access PCs and PC printers through the Chooser. DAVE is distributed by Thursby Software Systems, Inc. It is available for Mac OS 8.6 through 9.x, as well as Mac OS X 10.1 and higher. For more information, visit Thursby's DAVE product page at:

http://www.thursby.com/products/dave.html
Additionally, computers running Mac OS X 10.1.x and later can share files with and connect to Windows computers directly, without needing third-party software.

n Mac OS X 10.1.x and higher, before you can connect and share files with a Windows computer within your network, you must first create a share folder on the Windows computer. You must also have a local account on that computer. Then, follow the appropriate directions below.

Creating a Windows share folder

In Windows, create a new folder, or select an existing one. Right-click the folder, and from the contextual menu, select Properties.

Select the Sharing tab, and check the box next to Share this folder or Share this folder on the network.

In the "Share name:" field, provide a name for the share, and then click OK. A one-word name is simpler and reduces the risk of confusion.
Connecting to a Windows computer on the network

Beginning in Mac OS X 10.2 and continuing with later releases of OS X, you can browse to a Windows computer on your network by following these directions:

With the Finder active, from the Go menu, select Connect to Server... .

In OS X 10.3.x and later, in the Connect to Server window, click the Browse button. In the window that opens, you will see a listing of all the computers (both Macintosh and Windows) available to you on your local network.

In OS X 10.2.x, in the Connect to Server window, if you do not already see a listing of all the available computers on the local network, click the blue triangle next to the "At:" pull-down menu.

Browse to and select the computer to which you wish to connect, and double-click its icon or click the Connect button.

Enter the workgroup name as well as your username and password for access to the computer. If you do not know the workgroup name, the default will usually work.

Note: You must have a local account on the Windows computer you're attempting to access.

From the pull-down menu, select the share you wish to access, and then click OK.
In OS X 10.1.x and later, you can simply enter the IP address and share name to connect to a Windows computer:

With the Finder active, from the Go menu, select Connect to Server... .

In the "Address:" or "Server Address:" field, type smb:// , then the IP address of the Windows computer to which you wish to connect, followed by a forward slash and then the share name, for example: smb://129.79.1.1/share
Click Connect. When prompted, supply the workgroup name as well as your Windows local account username and password. If you do not know the workgroup name, the default will usually work.

Note: You must have a local account on the Windows computer you're attempting to access.

Click OK and the shared folder will appear as a network drive mounted on your OS X computer.
Adding your OS X computer to the Windows workgroup

Optionally, you can add your OS X computer to the Windows workgroup to make it easier to browse directly to the computer:

Open Directory Access, which is located in /Applications/Utilities.

If the padlock in the lower left corner is locked, click it to unlock it, and supply your OS X account password.

Make sure that SMB or SMB/CIFS is checked, highlight that option, and then click the Configure... button.

In the "Workgroup:" field, enter the name of your Windows workgroup, and then click OK.
Sharing files with a Windows computer

To access your OS X 10.2.x and later computer from Windows, you must turn on Windows sharing and then connect from the Windows computer. To do these things, follow the instructions below:

Turning on Windows sharing in OS X

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... .

In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Sharing.

On the Services tab, check the box next to Windows File Sharing or Windows Sharing to permit access to your OS X computer from a Windows computer.

Note: Any Windows user attempting to access your OS X computer must have an account on your computer, and provide the username and password for that account in order to receive access.
In OS X 10.2.x, you must also complete the following steps:

In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Accounts.

Select the user account to which you wish to grant Windows access, and click Edit User... .

Check the box next to Allow user to log in from Windows, and click OK.
Accessing your OS X computer from Windows

Note: You must have an OS X user account in order to access the OS X computer this way.

From the Start menu, select Run... .

In the "Open:" field, enter the following, replacing the IP address with that of the OS X computer to which you wish to connect and shortname with the short name for the OS X user account: \\129.79.1.1\shortname
In the authentication window, enter your OS X user account short name and password.

If you wish, you can now map this share as you would any other Windows share so that it is accessible from a drive letter.

What is Classic

2008-01-03T12:50:51.992+00:00

The Classic environment is Mac OS 9 running as an application within some versions of Mac OS X, which allows you to use your older applications. If you run applications in the Classic environment, however, they will not take advantage of the new features in Mac OS X, such as protected memory. Thus, when one Classic application crashes, it frequently causes all other Classic applications, as well as the Classic environment itself, to crash.

Note: The Classic environment is not available on Macintoshes with Intel processors.

To run the Classic environment, you must have Mac OS 9.1 or later installed on your computer and selected in the Mac OS X Classic system preference. To set up the Classic environment in Mac OS X, follow these instructions:

Log into Mac OS X.

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... .

In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Classic.

In the Classic system preference window, click the Start/Stop tab.

If one isn't selected, under "Select a system folder for Classic:", choose your Mac OS 9 system folder.

If you would like Classic to start automatically when you log into your account, click the checkbox next to Start Classic when you login.
Once you have set up the Classic environment, you can start it by clicking the Start button.

Where can I get a Mac tutorial

2008-01-03T12:48:46.247+00:00

Mac Help, which is built into the operating system in both Mac OS and Mac OS X, includes instruction on the basic operation of your computer. A good place to start is exploring Mac OSX. To access it, in the Finder, press Cmd-?

VTC at www.vtc.com create some excellent tutorials for Mac OSX and mac software, prices are reasonable.

Which version of Mac OS am I using

2008-01-03T12:42:25.808+00:00

With the Finder active, from the Apple menu, select About The Finder, About This Macintosh, About This Computer, or About This Mac. A window will appear that describes your Mac OS or Mac OS X computer, including what version of the operating system you are running.

Why is there a blinking question mark when my mac starts?

2008-01-03T12:41:44.117+00:00

In Mac OS or Mac OS X, what should I do if a blinking question mark briefly appears when I restart my computer, but then it continues to start up normally?

While starting up, if your Mac OS or Mac OS X computer briefly displays a blinking question mark, possibly alternating with the Mac OS face icon (but otherwise appears to be fine), the likelihood is you have not chosen a startup disk. In this case, the computer is taking a moment to locate its system software. To fix the problem, follow these steps:

Mac OS X

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... . In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Startup Disk.

In the Startup Disk preference pane, select the volume and/or operating system you want to start from by clicking its icon once.

Restart your computer. When the computer restarts, there should no longer be a delay before the normal startup process begins.

Mac OS 9.x or earlier

From the Apple menu, choose Control Panels, then select Startup Disk.

In the Startup Disk control panel, select the volume that contains your system software by clicking its icon once.

Restart your computer. When the computer restarts, there should no longer be a delay before the normal startup process begins.

Can I run Leopard OSX 10.5

2008-01-03T11:12:19.845+00:00

The Mac OS X operating system is 10.5, commonly called Leopard. Before installing this operating system, be sure to read the Knowledge Base documents Should I upgrade my Macintosh to Mac OS X? and What should I know before installing Mac OS X?

For a list of system requirements for Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), see Apple's page at:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/techspecs/

How do I play MIDI files

2008-01-03T11:08:30.991+00:00

if you have
QuickTime 2.0 or higher, you may use MoviePlayer or
QuickTime Player to play MIDI files. MIDI support is also
available in most web browsers via the QuickTime plug-in,
including Safari, Firefox, Mozilla,
Netscape, and Internet Explorer.

For more sophisticated MIDI support, the following companies offer
complete lines of MIDI products, including hardware and software for
recording, sequencing, and playback:

Finale
Technology

Digidesign

Emagic

MOTU (Mark of the Unicorn)

Opcode Systems

Steinberg

Which are the best maintenace and reapir tools for mac

2008-01-03T11:07:38.227+00:00

There are a number of Mac OS maintenance applications
that promise to help you with various tasks. This article outlines some of them

Onyx

Onyx is free software.
It's the only one of this group that includes S.M.A.R.T monitoring (turn that on under
Preferences; actually see it under Info-> Disk). As all these
do, Onyx reads and sets preferences which it calls parameters for
the Finder, Dock and others. Onyx includes settings for Safari, allowing you to control settings that aren't in the Safari Preferences panes. It includes running and rescheduling of system
cron tasks, verification of disk permissions and rebuilding
of Spotlight and the Launch Services database. It can clean out
caches and log files and empty your trash. It also has an
"Automation" section.

A Log file viewer conveniently gives centralized access to all system and application logs; Unix Utilities include
a man page viewer, locate, and system_profiler. "Info" shows similar informaton to system_profiler in a more compact form.

Cocktail

Cocktail is NOT FREEWARE, the freely downloadable demo is apparently limited in some features, though it did not seem to have a limitation on features!? Cocktail controls
preferences under its "Interface" tab. Like Xupport, the Login
section includes a Kiosk mode. There are some interesting bits in the Misc. section such as the ability to set the screenshot file format. It includes setting MTU and TCP
window sizes under Network. It has control of locked files and
the usual cleaning of logs and caches under "Files". "System" lets
you run the system cron jobs, rebuild the ocate and whatis databases
as well as Launch Services, empty the trash and so on. "Disks"
can enable or disable journaling, repair permissions and set
the power saving facilities for laptops.

Xupport

Xupport is $19.90. The
downloadis time limited Xupport has a large number of preference items under
Settings in my opinion not as good as Onyx or Mainmenu. Like Cocktail or the excellent Tinkertool System, it
includes control of some TCP settings and adds control of
virtual memory files. Xupport includes a "Backup" utility that can
clone a bootable disk or create an image for Apple Software Restore.
The Browser tab is a Finder-like file browser. The Unix tab displays man pages, and Info is a convenient overview of your machine's hardware and software.

MainMenu

MainMenu runs as a menu bar item - you will notice the little
plus sign in a rectangle that appears in your menubar when you first clcik on it for installation. MainMenu includes the typical running of system
cron jobs, repairing disk permissions, cleaning caches, rebuilding Spotlight
and other databases, and setting some Finder settings. Under "Other
Tasks" it has log cleaning and flushing of some caches, but also includes disabling Dashboard

There are many similar products, I also like maintain1 although the GUI is not that great... see System/Disk Utilities at Apple for more.

What is Applescript

2008-01-03T11:06:44.616+00:00

AppleScript is an object-oriented scripting language with a syntax resembling ordinary English. You can use it to automate repetitive tasks in applications, the Finder, and other parts of Mac OS and Mac OS X.

Here is a simple example of an AppleScript, which tells the Finder to empty the Trash:

Tell application "Finder"
activate
empty trash

end tell
Creating AppleScripts

If you are interested in writing your own AppleScript, the primary tool you will use is the Script Editor, which is part of a standard installation of Mac OS and Mac OS X. Scriptable applications contain an AppleScript dictionary which lists available commands. To view a dictionary in Script Editor, from the File menu, choose Open Dictionary... . Then select the application in the Open dialog box. Even if an application is not extensively scriptable, it should contain the standard set of commands which tell it to launch, quit, make a new document, and save a document.

The simplest way to create a new script is to use the Record feature of the Script Editor, but this will work only if an application is both scriptable and recordable. To record a script, do the following:

In the Script Editor, click the Record button.

Perform the actions you want to record.

Click the Stop button.
When you have finished recording, you can click the Run button to reproduce the actions that are recordable through AppleScript.

Note: Not all commands in an AppleScript dictionary may be recordable.

Scripts can also be typed directly into the Script Editor. For help with AppleScript syntax, consult either the built-in Script Editor Help option, available from the Help menu, or Apple's AppleScript web site at:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/applescript/
Saving AppleScripts

Once an AppleScript is recorded or written, you can save it in the following ways:

Text: This saves the script in text form, uncompiled.

Compiled script: If your script is written with the correct syntax, the Script Editor will compile the script after you click the Check Syntax button or if you try to execute the script. Saved this way, the AppleScript can be run, but only by the Script Editor.

Application (Applet): Saved as an applet, the script can be run as a stand-alone application. To avoid a dialog box that asks if you want to run or quit the script when it is launched, check the box that says Never Show Startup Screen when saving the script.

Script bundle and application bundle: A bundle is a folder designed to appear as a single file. Inside the folder bundle are the code and resources used to execute the script. Both bundle formats have the same save options as their non-bundle versions.
Note: Scripts saved in bundle format will not run on systems prior to Mac OS X 10.3.

An example of an applescript can be downloaded in the downloads section, this applescript launches safari and selects a random website based on a randomly selected word from the dictionary.

Tell me about file creators

2008-01-03T11:05:57.702+00:00

While file types and creators are supported in Mac OS X, not all files have them, and no OS X-native applications create files with file types and creator codes. Instead, Mac OS X relies heavily on file extensions as a way to identify a file type (e.g., .txt, .jpg, .tiff). Further, Mac OS X allows you to choose which application you would like to use to open any specific file or group of files. Setting this preference leaves the type and creator codes of a file, if present, unchanged.
If you want to determine or change the type or creator of a file, there are a number of utilities that you can use. Here are a few examples:

Mac OS X

Super Get Info (shareware, $20): Meant as an alternative to the Mac OS X Finder's Get Info command, Super Get Info allows you to view and change the type and creator codes of files, among other settings. This software is available for download from: http://www.barebones.com/products/super/index.shtml
FileInfo (freeware): FileInfo allows you to change the file type and creator codes of a file, as well as a few other parameters. You can download it from: http://www.panix.com/~shopsinm/

Can you tell me about basic mac maintenance

2008-01-03T11:04:19.347+00:00

Basic Maintenance covers a number of areas

1. Repair Disk Permissions
2. Maintenance Scripts
3. Caches clearance
4. Preferences (back up and repair)
5. Do A File System Check And Repair Disk

1.Repairing permissions

You should run Repair Disk Permissions regularly. Once a month, and every time before and after you have installed new software or upgrade software.

Open Disk Utility, (found in Applications>Utilities) and on the left side of the screen select your hard drive, then select the First Aid tab on the right side and click on "Repair Disk Permissions."

Permissions repair then ensues, when it finishes it will leave a record in the main window of anything repaired. After it has finished you can quit disk utility.

See http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106712 and
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107298 for more information

2. Maintenance Scripts.

The so called "cron" jobs need to be run regularly if you do not leave your mac on (without energy saver) all the time.

From its link with Unix Mac OS X runs special maintenance scripts automatically between 3:00am and 5:30am each day. There are daily, weekly, and monthly scripts.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107388

Now this is supposedly not necessary in OS X 10.4, as they can be run manually and easily whenver you want and the scripts are not run by Cron (these scripts are sometimes called cron jobs)
but by launchd - this of course may be meaningless to you, at the time of writing this was still reported as not debugged by apple, so a good maintenance utility is needed to run these scripts.
One of the first mac maintenance utilities to help with this process was MacJanitor, which is FREE
http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill/macjanitor.html

3. Clearing Cache

Actually over time a cache speeds up your computer were the same tasks are repeated, so if you dont have any problems, you may want to leave things be.
Alternatively, if you mac is slow or you are getting problems it might help to delete the cache.

There are many apps to help with this, I like mainmenu and applejack at present both can be found at www.macupdate.com.

4. Sort out your preferences

Backing preferences up while they work well is a good idea, you can just copy the user preferences folder or use the utility found here:

http://www.m-t-software.com/software-backup.html

The best fixer of prefs is Preferential Treatment
http://www.jonn8.com/html/pt.html

although many maintenance apps like Mainmenu also do this for you.

5.File system check and repair.

Start or restart your mac and immediately after the start "chime" hold down the shift key to start in "safe" mode. This automatically checks the hard disk for errors and repairs them...it can take a while for start up to occur.

Alternatively download and install Applejack and follow the instructions for use:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/15667/applejack

for continuing errors and problems I rely on Disk warrior

http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/index.html

How do I run windows on my mac

2008-01-03T11:02:43.358+00:00

It is possible to run Windows and Windows applications on your mac but you will need to install software to do it. The software depends on which mac you have

If you have an Intel-based Mac

The new Intel macs are able to run Windows and Windows applications as quickly as other PCs. There are different ways of doing this.
a) Apple's Boot Camp, is to dual-boot between OS X and Windows. This approach provides the most compatibility with Windows software and peripherals, but it does not allow you to run Windows and Mac OS X applications at the same time.
b) Parallels Desktop uses the virtual machine method, and though it doesn't support as much Windows functionality as a dual-boot configuration, it allows you to run Mac and Windows applications concurrently.
c) Is the Windows compatibility layer, which allows you to run Windows programs without having to install Windows itself. Compatibility layers typically offer good functionality for a limited set of Windows applications. Here are some links for these applications:

* Apple Boot Camp
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

* Parallels Desktop
http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/

PowerPC-based Macs

For Power PC macs you need to install hardware emulation software. This works by mimicking hardware within an application. When you run a PC program in the emulation environment, the software takes the commands and translates them into code your computer understands. In this way you can run many PC applications and, with some programs, even multiple PC operating systems (e.g., Windows 98, Windows XP, Linux).The downside is its slow. However, if you only use PC software now and then, or if you are not bothered by slowness.

* Virtual PC for Mac
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/virtualpc/virtualpc.aspx?pid=virtualpc

* Guest PC by Lismore Software Systems, Ltd.
http://www.lismoresystems.com/en/index.php

How do I set a screen password and secure my mac

2008-01-03T11:01:42.283+00:00

You can secure your computer with a password as follows:
From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... .

From the View menu, select Accounts (10.2.x and later) or Login (10.1.x and earlier).

In OS X 10.3 and later, at the bottom of the left panel, click Login Options, and in the right panel, uncheck the box next to Automatically log in as: . If the Login Options are grayed out, click the padlock icon in the bottom of the preference window and authenticate to your account.
In OS X 10.2.x, click the Users tab, and uncheck the box next to Log in automatically as name, where name is the name you gave your account.

In OS X 10.1.x and earlier, click the Login Window tab, and uncheck the box next to Automatically log in.

When starting your computer, you will have to authenticate to access your account. You may also log out of your computer without restarting. From the Apple menu, select Log out... .

Mac OS X also allows you to lock your screen when the screen saver becomes active. You will then have to enter your password to regain access to your computer. To activate this feature, follow the appropriate instructions:

Mac OS X 10.3 and later

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... .

From the View menu, select Security.

Check the box next to Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver.
To add an item to your menu bar that will allow you to quickly lock the screen and turn on the screen saver, follow these steps:

From your Applications folder, open your Utilities folder, and then open Keychain Access.

In 10.4 and 10.5 from the Keychain Access menu, select Preferences... . Under the General tab, click the checkbox next to Show Status in Menu Bar.
In 10.3, from the View menu, select Show Status in Menu Bar so that a check appears beside it.

The padlock icon will appear in your menu bar in the upper right corner of your screen. To lock your screen, click this icon, and from the menu that appears, select Lock Screen.
Mac OS X 10.2.x and earlier

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... .

From the View menu, select Screen Effects (10.2.x) or Screen Saver (10.1.x and earlier).

Click the Activation tab.

Under "Password to use when waking the screen effect:", select Use my user account password.

Can you list apple keyboard shortcuts

2008-01-03T11:00:37.544+00:00

* Shift+Apple+Q
* Log out

* Shift+Option Apple+Q
* Log out immediately

* Shift+Apple+Delete
* Empty Trash

* Apple+H
* Hide Active Application Doesn't Work With Adobe Applications

* Option+Apple+H
* Hide All But The Active Application

* Control+Eject
* Shut Down, Sleep, or Restart Options

* Apple+Control+Eject
* Quit all applications and Restart

* Apple+ . (period)
* Stop a process

* Apple+ , (comma)
* Open Preferences for Active Application

* Option+Apple+D
* Show/Hide Dock

* Control+Up Arrow
* Move up one page

* Control+Down Arrow
* Move down one page

* Option+Apple+Esc
* Force Quit

FILE MANAGEMENT

* Apple+N
* New Finder window or New Blank Page in Some Applications

* Shift+Apple+N
* New Folder Must Be In Finder Window For It to Work

* Apple+O
* Open Another Existing Document

* Apple+S
* Save

* Shift+Apple+S
* Save as

* Apple+P
* Print

* Apple+W
* Close Window

* Apple+Option+W
* Close all Windows

* Apple+I
* Get Info

* Option+Apple+I
* Show Attributes Inspector Limited use – varies by application.

* Apple+D
* Duplicate

* Apple+Q
* Close Application

* Apple+L
* Make Alias

* Apple+R
* Show Original

* Apple+T
* Add to Favorites Deprecated

* Apple+Delete
* Move Highlighted Items to Trash

* Apple+E
* Eject

* Apple+F
* Find

EDITING

* Apple+Z
* Undo

* Apple+X
* Cut

* Apple+C
* Copy

* Apple+V
* Paste

* Apple+A
* Select All

* Apple+ {
* Align Left Only Works in Some Applications

* Apple+ }
* Align Right Only Works in Some Applications

* Apple+ | (pipe)
* Align Center Only Works in Some Applications

* Apple+ ; (semicolon)
* Check Spelling Only Works in Some Applications

* Shift+Apple+C
* Show Colors palette in application Only Works in Some Applications

* Apple+T
* Show Font palette in application Only Works in Some Applications

VIEW MENU

* Apple+1
* View as Icons

* Apple+2
* View as List

* Apple+3
* View as Columns

* Option+Apple+T
* Hide Toolbar

* Apple+J
* Show View Options

MOVING AROUND

* Apple+ [
* Back Must be in Finder Window

* Apple+ ]
* Forward Must be in Finder Window

* Shift+Apple+A
* Applications Must be in Finder Window

* Shift+Apple+F
* Favorites Must be in Finder Window

* Shift+Apple+G
* Goto Folder Must be in Finder Window

* Apple+K
* Connect to Server Must be in Finder Window

* Apple+Tab
* Switch to next Application Hold Apple key to enter App. switcher mode

CONTROLLING WINDOWS

* Apple+N
* New Window

* Apple+T
* New Tab If the Application supports Tabs

* Apple+M
* Minimize Window

* Option+Apple+M
* Minimize All Windows

GETTING HELP

* Apple+ ?
* Open Mac Help

UNIVERSAL ACCESS

* Option+Apple+ * (asterisk)
* Turn on Zoom

* Option+Apple+ =
* Zoom in

* Option+Apple+ -
* Zoom out

* Control+Option+Apple+ *
* Switch to White on Black

COMBINE KEYBOARD WITH MOUSE

* Option+Drag
* Copy to new location

* Option+Apple+Drag
* Make alias in new location

* Apple+Drag
* Move to new location without copying

SCREEN SHOTS

* Apple+Shift+3
* Take a picture of the screen will leave a .png file on desktop

* Apple+Shift+4
* Take a picture of the selection will leave a .png file on desktop

* Apple+Shift+4, Control
* Take a picture of the selection, place in clipboard

* Apple+Shift+4, Spacebar
* Take a picture of the selected window will leave a .png file on desktop

What are the main mac web browsers?

2008-01-03T11:00:00.482+00:00

Sometimes sites don't work in one browser but will work in another, so you have your mac but what web browsers are available?

Below are some of the web browsers available for most versions of Mac OS X:

- Safari

Safari is Apple's own web browser for Mac OS X (version 10.2 and later). It is small and fast, and has an easy-to-use interface. Safari is the browser UITS recommends for Mac OS X users. For more information, visit:

http://www.apple.com/safari/
- Firefox

Firefox (formerly known as first Phoenix, then Firebird) is a streamlined form of Mozilla that includes only the web browser component. You can download it from:

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

- Camino

Camino (formerly known as Chimera) is based on Mozilla and is similar to Firefox (see above), but has an interface specifically designed for Mac OS X. It is available from:

http://www.caminobrowser.org

- Mozilla (SeaMonkey) and Netscape

Mozilla is a cross-platform web browser that also serves as a mail client and newsreader. Netscape is virtually identical, and for a time was marketed as AOL's preferred web browser. Mozilla as a named browser project was discontinued for a while and has been superseded by Sea Monkey:

http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/

You may download Netscape from:

http://browsers.netscape.com/browsers/

- iCab

iCab is available for both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 and earlier. It is small, and has a simple-to-use interface. It is available from:

http://www.icab.de/

- OmniWeb

OmniWeb is a feature-rich web browser designed specifically for Mac OS X. You may download a demo from:

http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omniweb/

- Opera

Opera is a cross-platform web browser that includes a built-in mail client. You may download it from:

http://www.opera.com/download/

- Internet Explorer (discontinued for mac)

Microsoft's web browser was included with earlier versions of Mac OS X. Though it tends to be slower than other Mac OS X browsers, it is compatible with many web sites designed with it in mind. However, in June 2003, Microsoft ceased development of Internet Explorer for Macintosh; the last release was version 5.2.3. and it is no longer available for download from Microsoft.

- Shiira

Shiira is a web browser based on Web Kit and written in Cocoa. The goal of the Shiira Project is to create a browser that is better and more useful than Safari. All source code used in this software is publicly available.

you can find it here:

http://shiira.jp/en