Gee the old dogs and new tricks saying is not whistling in the wind....
I have a microsoft keyboard not a Mac keyboard so I am not sure what the CMD key is but using shift, Alt, Ctrl and - don't do a thing to the icon size, thanks anyway.
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PC user-New to Mac ....Help
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Gee the old dogs and new tricks saying is not whistling in the wind....
I have a microsoft keyboard not a Mac keyboard so I am not sure what the CMD key is but using shift, Alt, Ctrl and - don't do a thing to the icon size, thanks anyway.
Well you Mac people are very helpful, far more so than the PC mob. On a PC help forum when I mentioned that I had bought an iMac the reaction was similar to admitting child rape!!!!
However I am old and overloaded, I am finding this converting very, very difficult and it's not helped by the very poor Mac help system.
I also need, a must have, file manipulating program that is similar to the Windows file explorer with a file tree structure displayed. I just can't find things and when after finding something by pure luck I can't seem to manipulate the file in the ways I need. I need to know what the Mac is doing and where it's putting things. Today I tried downloading a game, it was a zip file but I can't work out how to unzip it and install the program, yes I have RAR program but I I can't work out how to use the RAR program or how to make a folder to put the game program in, actually I want to create sub folders under the Games folder so everything is stored in a logical way.
I also have Windows running on this IMac but when I install a program in the Windows (It's XP) and icon is also placed in the mac launch pad, I don't want that, for example I now have two Firefox icons, one for Mac and one for Windows in my quick launch. How can I get rid of the icons without deleting the programs in Windows?
I just downloaded and installed Appzapper, dragged it into the applications folder just like it told me to do, now I can't find it !!!! I am going mad .... Where is it?
Can I make folders to put on my desk top so I can put similar program type is the folder, for example all games in a games folder, or can I make amd place program icons on my desktop?
You can certainly do all of this. I will recommend again that you get a copy of Pogue's "Missing Manual" book. It will save you lots of grief.
As far as losing and finding things, I suggest you look at Spotlight (the magnifying glass at the top right of the display). It's a very powerful and fast search tool. I've got hundreds of thousands of files and would be hopelessly lost without it, even making use of the hierarchical file structure.
The Windows key didn't do anything either, I can't decrease or increase the icon size.
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Sorry I don't want a book I want a file manipulation application that works and is logical. The Mac finder doesn't come close to being easy or logical to use.
Not wanting to start an argument, but the Mac Finder is easy and logical to use, it is just different than Windows. I suggest the book so that you can more easily learn to use what you've got.
(I'm saying this as a Mac user for 7 years, but a Windows user for over 20, and a purchaser of the Pogue book when I bought my first Mac.)
I expect the particular icons you are trying to resize are not the ones snorkelman is referring to which is why the keyboard shortcuts are not working. I expect you are using Launchpad, which cannot be resized. Most Mac users don't use LaunchPad. I think it was added to give some familiarity to people buying there first Mac after using an iPhone. There are lots of ways to organize access to Apps besides LaunchPad.
- You don't want to actually move or copy apps out of the Applications folder, but create Aliases which are icons which behave like the apps. Hold down the Command(or Windows) and Option (or Alt) key and drag the app icon from Applications to the destination to create an alias.
- You can put aliases on your desktop
- You can create folders or nested folders (to organize) of the aliases and put that on your desktop
- Alternately, you can keep the folder of aliases somewhere else (like in Documents) and drag it to the dock which creates an alias of the folder hierarchy in the dock. I use Display As Folder and Display Contents as List for easy access through the hierarchy
- You can remove seldom used icons from the dock and put frequently used applications there.
- You can use Spotlight -- just start typing the name and hit Enter when you see the match or click on the choice.
- You can download fancier program launchers like Alfred.
I think things might make more sense for a new mac user with pictures instead of a wall of text.
There are a couple of ways to get to your applications.
1. Launchpad (first picture). You cannot modify applications in Launchpad.
2. From the Applications folder in the dock. (Picture 2)
The only difference is that if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of your application list you'll see an arrow that says "Open in finder." If you click that arrow you'll be in the file browser, like Windows Explorer.
3. From the Finder - this is the closest to the traditional Windows method and you will have full control over the applications and icons and can drag them wherever you'd like them. (Picture 3)
To address your other concern of "Where did my stuff go?!" see picture 4.
You can set the finder to display your files in different ways - you'd probably like this mode the best, since it's similar to windows explorer and you can see where you've been, and where you're ending.
As others have said, Spotlight is a very useful search tool on your Mac and works a lot faster than Windows XP's search. You can see where Spotlight is in picture 5.
Hopefully the visuals will help somewhat and you'll be on your way in no time. If not, this thread is waiting!
There are a couple of ways to get to your applications.
1. Launchpad (first picture). You cannot modify applications in Launchpad.
2. From the Applications folder in the dock. (Picture 2)
The only difference is that if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of your application list you'll see an arrow that says "Open in finder." If you click that arrow you'll be in the file browser, like Windows Explorer.
3. From the Finder - this is the closest to the traditional Windows method and you will have full control over the applications and icons and can drag them wherever you'd like them. (Picture 3)
To address your other concern of "Where did my stuff go?!" see picture 4.
You can set the finder to display your files in different ways - you'd probably like this mode the best, since it's similar to windows explorer and you can see where you've been, and where you're ending.
As others have said, Spotlight is a very useful search tool on your Mac and works a lot faster than Windows XP's search. You can see where Spotlight is in picture 5.
Hopefully the visuals will help somewhat and you'll be on your way in no time. If not, this thread is waiting!
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It's all a matter of perspective. To me, the Windows file system is really irritating. But be that as it may, I suggest you go to youtube.com and type in your questions. Like, "os x file system". The top item in that search is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI5gEid5hxU. When watching that video, there was another video listed on the right side of the screen that I liked as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4TwDcVelpc.
There was another video that looked to be the best of the bunch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twf70Tl7piY (Note: You're probably running Mavericks. But this video was created with the previous OS, Mountain Lion. Don't worry, there are some changes, but this video is still very relevant.)
I'm very curious to know what you think of these videos, so please let us know how you're doing. Good luck!
Ahhh - you are not alone.
Got my rMBP after X years of non Mac use, don't really remember how long, but I do remember watching my Dad solder his first Altair and Heath kit computers on the kitchen table together.
Old dog (not really) new tricks ..............
One thing I'd recommend for all PC-to-Mac "switchers":
Learn the Mac for what it is.
At the same time, you can disengage from the PC at your own pace.
It may take a little time to find application equivalents as you shift your data from one platform to the other. It will also take time to come to an understanding of "the Mac way" vis-a-vis the way you did it in Windows.
Plan on keeping the PC running along with the Mac, for a period of three to six months.
This gives you the luxury of making the transition on your own terms.
Learn the Mac for what it is.
At the same time, you can disengage from the PC at your own pace.
It may take a little time to find application equivalents as you shift your data from one platform to the other. It will also take time to come to an understanding of "the Mac way" vis-a-vis the way you did it in Windows.
Plan on keeping the PC running along with the Mac, for a period of three to six months.
This gives you the luxury of making the transition on your own terms.
That has been my plan since day one. Doing that now with my old desktop. Although I now think I may have prematurely given my WIn 7 laptop to my wife with the just doubled memory and SSD drive
Would have been much easier keeping the old laptop on the desk.
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Perhaps, but going "cold turkey" has its merits in that you won't be confused by using two systems at once. (I go bonkers occasionally because I use OS X, Windows 7, and Ubuntu Linux all on a daily basis).
When I got my first iMac I happened to be laid off two days later, which gave me the opportunity to go 100% Mac since I no longer had a work PC or Linux system. I did get Parallels so I could run a few programs that didn't have Mac equivalents.
Only issues I've got (still) are no equivalents to Visio (it's a problem if I get a Visio file and want to examine it), Quicken for Windows (the Mac version is inferior), I've got a few engineering CAD tools that are Windows only (although that number is dropping) and there are some websites I need to access which require Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Ya recon???
I am not impressed so far.
Trying not to be negative but so far I find the IMac a huge disappointment.
However back in the real world where the user interacts with a GUI and a heirachical folder structure....
The difference being one is eminently usable for most people, the other isn't.
Not really practical in the real world for those not technically minded is it though. Which is what is relevant here.
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Making assumptions is really dumb thing to do as is not reading posts correctly.
I'm not a Mac newbie that would be the OP. I'm a professional user who uses Macs day in day out and has done so for years.
Don't recall saying iPhoto was a pro tool, I was just correcting a mistaken view on how LR works.
Aperture is used by very few pro photographers because....well it isn't very good. If it was free rather than cheap pros still wouldn't use it, in fact it was almost free recently and still people continue use LR in preference.
Hmm, let me think about that, having been an Adobe beta tester for many years, I probably wouldn't know anything about that and as a Mac user for even longer why would I need to cross grade.
Besides Adobe stuff is cross platform licence wise. I can buy a Win machine tomorrow and install and use any Adobe products with no effort other than deactivating them on one of my Macs.
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Get PathFinder and then you do not have to use Finder again.
A new version is imminent, so use it as a trial for now.
If I had to use Loser, sorry Finder to manage things, I'd simply wipe OSX off my Macs and install Windows. It is an appallingly awful programme, which has been left to rot and die since the 90s, with the very occasional token tweak that make no real difference to it's utter uselessness. Quite possibly the worst programme I've ever used, though Hasselblad's Flexcolour ran it a close second and basically that's an early 90s programme that was still being used in 2007.
Apple basically are not interested in you using the a file manager to organise things, they want you to use their database style software like iPhoto, Aperture, iTunes and access your data that way. Which works for some people with limited amounts data to manage, but if you want to take control of where your data goes goes, then the Apple methodology starts to creak and fall apart in some places.
Though iTunes despite its flaws is still the least worst music player/organiser.
But do not let it organise your files/folder structure as it completely messes everything up. Once you have music in iTunes use Smart playlists and tagging to manage things, particularly if you have lots of music. Also go to Doug's scripts and get some tweaks that should already be in iTunes from the start.
The reason my cynical side thinks Apple do this is that you are then trapped in the Apple ecosystem. My files are organised so that that any Windows, Linux and OSX software can work with them, so if any of them cease to be [as nearly happened with Apple in 97] I can move to another system and carry on.
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Uh, you'd probably get worse response here if you try and say anything pro Windows. Macolytes can be rabid attack dogs.
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Begs to completely differ.
It is not simple, it is simplistic. It even fails at the very basic hurdle of simply showing you where your files are, because the default settings give you no indication of where you maybe on the HD. I customise toolbar and hack it via Terminal to help with that, but as Pathfinder is decades ahead, I use that instead.
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Except it often cannot locate stuff I know is on my [fully indexed] system.
Tip - If you simply want to go to a folder containing a file you've actually found via Spotlight, CMD + click and it'll open a Finder [spit!] window and once you've worked out where the file is, tricky unless you've tweaked Finder, you can then use Pathfinder.
Another cludgy workaround is to hover over file, wait for pop-up next to file, press Cmd key, wait some more whilst it shows you the name that it already displays, wait a bit more and then it will show you the path to the file. Which hopefully you can read.
Method 15 on this page of using terminal will give you a path of where you are in Finder.
And if you right click on tool bar in Finder you can add a button with 4 offset horizontal lines that give you a clunky way of going back up the folder tree.
And if you are using a Win keyboard [not that unusual on Macs], the CMD and Cntrl keys do the same thing. And the Windows key does nada. There sadly is no Mac equivalent and as a result the OS will hijack longstanding programme shortcuts for OS specific tasks. Both spotlight shortcut and Cmd+H are well used Adobe shortcuts for zoom tool and hiding stuff.
[/COLOR]Begs to completely differ.
It is not simple, it is simplistic. It even fails at the very basic hurdle of simply showing you where your files are, because the default settings give you no indication of where you maybe on the HD. I customise toolbar and hack it via Terminal to help with that, but as Pathfinder is decades ahead, I use that instead.
If you're working with a gazillion files, I can see where the Finder could hold you back. But if you really want to know where you're at in your folder structure, just hold down the command key and click on the folder title in the window. Or use Tree View (I think that's what it's called). And if you want to be real quick, just add frequently used folder to the sidebar.
And maybe it's the way I manage files. My structure is pretty flat, I don't bury things very deep. For example, tax files go in Document > Taxes > Year. Everything I have is either on the desktop or in the documents folder with only one or two sub folders. I just don't spend any time moving up and down my directory structure.
I'm no knocking the way you do things, just pointing out how I do it. To each his own.
I'm still very interested to know if you looked at any of the videos I linked to. My mother switched after many years on a PC, and she still has trouble after 4 years (Of course, she only uses her computer about once a week and never actually repeats anything enough to learn it). I can't get her to look at the videos, so I'm interested to know if they helped you so I can know if I should continue to continue down that route.
PC is alright, but I find Mac has handle my digital life better. I can look at all my photos at a glance with iPhoto. All my music in iTunes. Etc.
Automator made my day many times. PDF? A piece of cake on Mac.
Smart playlist, Smart album, Smart folder in Mail etc. all these make my life much more easier.
But if all you want to do all day is files, files, files, then you may get problem. The first thing I tried to get rid of when I switched is my dependence on Windows Explorer. It's hard but when I did, I never look back.
Sorry to take so long but I watched the videos in your links and other videos about the Mac. What I think is the same as before, the 'Finder' is overly complex and difficult to use. I have sort of changed my opinion about the Mac in general after seeing the videos though, I now see it as a music/photo machine designed to allow people to easily buy music ... Problem is that I have less than zero interest on downloading music, I have a radio for music. The Apple seems to be loaded with 'gimmick' programs that leave me completely cold. I have to start deleting a lot of the junk programs.... Trouble is there is no uninstall program included ...... Oh, what program does MS Word, pps, xls files etc on a Mac?
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I have zero interest in music on any computer, I want to put any photos I have (I don't have many) in a folder of my choice that **I** can organise the way **I** want. Smart playlist, Smart album have less than zero interest to me. As for email I am still using my PC for mail, I have not checked the Mac mail program yet but from a little that was shown in a video that I watched I think I will be looking for an aftermarket program.
Thanks for the tip imajez I will try it later.
What is 'Pathfinder'?
As for finding files using the search thingo on the Mac it seems to me that the major non fixable flaw in it is that it presumes that you know that name of the file you are looking for.