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Learning method |
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The Finder
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It is the beginning of all. When you want to open a file, you go to the Finder to fetch it, then you double click it ( Apple menu : a whole chapter is devoted to it. Finder menu : enables you to open the Finder Preferences, “Command ,” ( File menu : lets you -open a new window, “Command N” ( -close a window, “Command W”, you make the window active (see chapter “Window”), and then choose “Close” in that File menu, or type “Command W” ( -make a new folder in another folder. Select the folder in which you want to make a new one, either by clicking it, either by reaching it with the arrows in the four directions ; then choose “New Folder” in that File menu, or type “Shift Command N" ( -open a file, “Command O”. Either you double click the file, either select it and choose “Open” in that File menu, or type “Command O” ( -duplicate a file or a folder, “Command D”. Select file or folder, then choose “Duplicate” in that File menu, or type “Command D” ( -make an alias, “Command L”. An alias is a file of a few bytes attached to a file, so that when you open an alias, it opens the corresponding file. This is useful for files you often open; instead of having to find it each time in the Finder, you put its alias on the desktop (you cannot put heavy files on the desktop), so that it is easy to find. To make an alias, select the corresponding file, then choose “Make Alias” in that File menu, or type “Command L” ( -move to trash, “Command Backspace”, a useless file or folder. It is recommended to get rid of useless files or folders, it releases memory, but careful, never get rid of files or folders you did not create yourself, they can be essential to keep the computer in working order. To move a file or folder to the trash, select it, and then choose “Move to Trash” in that File menu, or type “Command Backspace” ( -get info, “Command I”. Each file or folder has attached information, according to its weight in number of bytes, whether it is a folder or a file, to what application it is due, whether it is locked or not (files are locked in order not to be modified, but then certain operations cannot be done, as emptied from the trash), the path to reach it, when it has been created, etc… to read a file’s or folder’s information, select it and then choose “Get info” in that File menu, or type “Command I" ( -search a file or folder, “Command F”. When you save a file, if you forget to say in which folder it must be put, you will not know where to find it next time you need it. Luckily you have a way to find it back. In the Finder, choose “Find” in that File menu, or type “Command F” ( Edit menu : lets you -copy a file or folder, and then paste it in another folder ; this operation is called “Copy and Paste”, very useful to change the place of a file or folder, when a “Drag and Drop” does not work. Select the file or folder you want to put in another place, choose “Copy” in that Edit menu, or type “Command C” ( Note : in such a “Copy and Paste” operation, the file or folder stays in the first folder, instead of copying it you can cut it, which copies and rubs, all at once. Instead of choosing “Copy”, choose “Cut” in that same Edit menu, or type “Command X” ( -undo last operation, “Command Z”. When an error is done, you can immediately cancel it by choosing “Undo” in that Edit menu, or by typing “Command Z” ( -select a whole list, “Command A”. This is very convenient when you want to open or copy all the files of a same list. Select a file of the list, then choose “Select All” in that Edit menu, or type “Command A” ( -display specific characters palette. I recommend you to put your characters in the “Favourites”; there are so many characters that you spend a lot of time looking for the character you need. Double clicking on a character puts it where you are writing. View menu : lets you -change the presentation of the active window.
-hide the toolbar, “Option Command T” ( -customize toolbar. When choosing “Customize Toolbar” in that View menu, a window with plenty of icons appears. Each icon has a task, done when you click the icon. You can put some of those icons on the top of a Finder’s window, by drag and drop. -show view options, “Command J”, which means decide if you want each file to have an icon showing the application that manages it, and specification column attached, with information on the file. Go menu : lets you choose from which folder you want to start, for starting from Macintosh HD can be rather long. The four most important are : -Computer, “Shift Command C” ( -Home, “Shift Command H” ( -Applications, “Shift Command A” ( -Utilities, “Shift Command U” ( Window menu : lets you -minimize the active window, which means putting it in the Dock, either by choosing “Minimize” in that Window menu, either by typing “Command M” ( -zoom, selecting “Zoom” in that Window menu, makes the active window as long as the screen, selecting “Zoom” once more, makes it take its original size. -change active window, by choosing its name in that Window menu. You can also type “Command <” ( Help menu : lets you open the help application, “Help Viewer”, where you can find a solution to all sorts of problems. |
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