Icons on Desktop. help?

[boxmetogo]

hey everybody, Im new to macs. so be easy on me. I just got my powerbook today. I downloaded some programs but unlike pc's it autodownloads and doesn't ask me were i want it saved. after it's done. i double click on the downloaded program and boom it's there. noo need to install. i was amazed. but then the program is onmy desktop now. how do i take those icons off of the desktop casue i already. have it on the dock??? some help please. and another quesiton is it alright to delete those programs in the download folder now? will it mess with anything?

 

[clr900]

If you open up a finder window by clicking on the finder in the dock, you can drag those icons(which are actually the whole application) onto your applications sidebar and just let go. This will move them to your applications folder. To see what applications you have you can just click on where it says applications. And yes you can delete the download in safari, it won't do anything.

 

[ezkimo]

I think you are mistaking the dock to be the applications folder (or any folder for that matter)

The dock is like a shortcut (aliases on mac too) on windows in a sense. When you put something in the dock, it just is a link to the actual app. You have to keep the app in another folder as well, which is generally the applications folder.

You can move the app from the desktop to wherever you like and the dock "link" wont break (will still know where to find it).

If it was compressed you can throw out the excess baggage, as long as you keep the actual app.

 

[boxmetogo]

one more quesion. so were can i find the add/remove section to take some programs ive installed. I want to uninstall a program. and another is. when i install a program it automatically put an icon on the desktop. is it alright for me to drag those into the trash?? or will it affect it somewere .

 

[applekid]

Most most programs can be uninstalled by dragging and dropping it into the trash can. However, other programs will include an uninstaller app that will do it all for you.

Think of the whole interface the same as Windows (you did use Windows, right?). You can drag and drop icons wherever you want. Whether it's in a folder or on the desktop. There also sometimes are aliases (a.k.a. shortcuts, in Windows terms) that are created on your desktop. These can be trashed without a problem. Programs can be deleted in the same fashion, if you desire. It won't damage your system, but if it was a program you needed, you'll have to install or download it again.

PS: I don't want to sound like a jerk, but could you fix up your grammar a little? I'm having trouble reading your messages, but I do want to help, so I have to re-read them to understand them. Thanks.

 

[yellow]

There is no add/remove for applications in OSX. Some installers have a bundled uninstaller, but most you can get rid of just by dragging them to the trash.

By default, your download folder is set to your Desktop, so what you think is an 'installed' application may just be an application that is living on your Desktop. If you drag that to the trash, it's gone. You should keep your Applications in your Applications directory.

If the icon on your desktop was an actual alias (shortcut in the Windows world) pointing at the original, it has an icon with a small arrow in the lower left hand corner of the icon. If there's no arrow, it's not an alias. Use Get Info from the File menu in the Finder for more info on files.

 

[boxmetogo]

i get it. so i can just drag those icons on the desktop into the application folder and boom! there solves my problems!!! it won't affect the program at all. correct?