UT Physics Macintosh FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions -- And Answers!)

Table of Contents

Software

Tips and Tricks

Software

Q: Where can I get updates to the MacOS software?
A: You can find updates for MacOS at http://www.apple.com/support/. Also, if you are running MacOS 9.0 or later, you can use the Software Update control panel to find and install the latest updates for your system.

Tips and Tricks

1. Command-Shift-3: Captures the entire screen and saves it as a PICT file called Picture 1 on your hard drive. (If Picture 1 already exists, the new file is named Picture 2, etc.)
2. Command-Shift-4: The pointer turns into a crosshair, and you specify the area to capture. The area is saved as PICT file called Picture 1 on your hard drive.
3. Command-Shift-4, with the CAPSLOCK on: The pointer will turn into a bulls eye, which you can then click on any open window. This will save the window as a PICT file called Picture 1 on your hard drive.
4. Command-Shift-4, with the CAPSLOCK on, Control key pressed down before releasing the mouse button: Same as the above option, but the window gets saved directly to the clipboard rather than to a PICT file.

• Go to your Applications folder, then open the Utilities folder. Run the Grab application. This tool can be used to take a screen capture of the entire desktop, a selection region, a single window, etc., and has optional timed modes (for example, to capture a screen shot in ten seconds).

Q: Rebuilding the Desktop
A: There are several steps that should be followed, and the steps vary by operating system version.

All systems

• Make sure you have free space on your hard drive. The Desktop rebuild requires hard disk space, and will not successfully finish without enough space. You should always have at least 5% or 100MB of you disk free, which ever is smaller.
• Make sure the Finder is loaded. Some software (like At Ease) do not load the Finder, so you must turn them off before rebuilding the Desktop.

System 6 through System 7.1.2

• Note that rebuilding the Desktop will remove any notes that you have typed into the comment box in the Get Info windows of your files!
• Simply hold down the Option and Command (Apple) keys while the system is starting up. When you see the message Are you sure you want to rebuild the desktop file on the disk "your disk"? Comments in info windows will be lost, click on the OK button.

System 7.5 and newer

1. Before you rebuild your desktop, use the Extensions Manager to save a record of the extensions that are currently turned on. To do this, first open the Extensions Manager control panel. Then click on the Sets pop-up menu, and choose Save Set. When the Save Set dialog box opens, type a name for your currently selected extensions (for example, My Extensions). When you close the dialog box, the name of your set is added to the Sets pop-up menu.
2. Turn off all extensions--Click on the Sets pop-up menu again and choose All Off.
3. Use the step below appropriate for your system software version.
   • - System 7.5 through System 7.5.5
     • Turn on the Macintosh Easy Open control panel -- Find it in the list of control panels, click on it to put a checkmark beside it.
   • - Mac OS 7.6 through Mac OS 7.6.1
     • Turn on the Mac OS Easy Open control panel -- Find it in the list of control panels, click on it to put a checkmark beside it.
   • - Mac OS 8.0 through Mac OS 8.1
     • Turn on the PC Exchange control panel -- Find it in the list of control panels, click on it to put a checkmark beside it.
   • - Mac OS 8.5 through Mac OS 9.0
     • Turn on the File Exchange control panel -- Find it in the list of control panels, click on it to put a checkmark beside it.
   • - Mac OS X
     • No information available at this time....
4. Restart your computer while holding down the Command and Option keys.
5. When you see the dialog that says Are you sure you want to rebuild the desktop file on the disk "your disk", release the keys and click OK. (With system software earlier than 7.6, you may see a message about comments in Get Info windows being lost.)
6. When the desktop is rebuilt, pull down the Apple menu and choose Control Panels.
7. Open the Extensions Manager control panel.
8. Turn your extensions back on by clicking on the Sets pop-up menu and choose the name you gave your set of extensions in step 1 (for example, My Extensions).
9. Restart your computer to activate the extensions.

Q: How to I make a shortcut to a file in another location?
A: When you select an item and then choose the Make Alias option from the file menu, the MacOS creates the alias alongside the original item. This is rarely where you want the alias, and having to create it and then drag it to the desired location is a bother.

To save yourself some time, hold down the Option and Command keys and then begin dragging the original icon to the new location where you wish to place the alias. You will notice that the cursor changes to include a small curved arrow at its base, indicating an alias. When you release the mouse button, the MacOS will create the alias of the original item in the new location.

Q: How can I add or remove things from the Launcher?
A: If you use the Launcher version 2.7 or higher, you can customize it as follows:

• To add an item to the Launcher, simply drag its icon over the Launcher window. This places an alias of the item in the Launcher and leaves the original in its place.
• To remove a button from the Launcher, hold down the Option key, click on the button, and drag it to the Trash.
• To change the size of the Launcher buttons, hold down the Command key and click on any blank space in the window, then choose a button size from the resulting pop-up menu.