library location

[donaldmac]

Is it possible to launch an application and have it use an alternative library location?

I run 2 instances of the same application by making a copy of the application package in applications. Each one needs different settings, it's settings are stored in the applications folder in the library.

 

[Gregg2]

What you need to do is set up a different User Account, through the Accounts pane in System Preferences. Then you can have two (or more, by adding more accounts) different settings groups. These are stored in the User's Library/Preferences folder.

 

[donaldmac]

What you need to do is set up a different User Account, through the Accounts pane in System Preferences. Then you can have two (or more, by adding more accounts) different settings groups. These are stored in the User's Library/Preferences folder.

Hi thanks for the reply. Could I run the application as the new user whilst logged in as my original user? sort of like using SU in the unix world? As I want to run the app twice in the same desktop session.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

The answer to this question is strongly dependent on the application, unfortunately. Apple's library-based applications will let you choose an alternate library by holding Option on start up, but they don't like having 2 instances running simultaneously. In fact, most Mac OS X applications do not work well when multiple instances are run at once, due to the fact that all instances share one preferences file.