Mac - Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard introduces more speed and efficiency for the software we use and does so within the intuitive interface mac users expect. Snow Leopard is generally faster than Leopard, reclaims disk space, supports Exchange, and most applications run in 64-bit mode (handling large amounts of random access memory - RAM - more effectively than 32-bit).

Many of the images and videos made to illustrate actions for Snow Leopard might look very different from your screen. Click the filmstrip icon: for a video explaining those differences.

For long-time Windows users making the switch, check out ways to perform common Windows actions on your new Mac in the "Windows Equivalents" tab.

1. Desktop - learn more...
   1. Hover over icons for more information.
      
      
      
      
   2. Change Desktop background
      2. Open System Preferences and left-click Desktop & Screensaver
         
         
         
      3. 1 - Desktop should be selected.
         2 - Choose desired folder from the list on the left and click desired image displayed on the right. Change is instant. Close window.
         3 - To search folders not in the list for images, click the + and browse to desired folder. Select this folder to add it to the list on the left.
         4 - Check Change picture: to choose timing for rotating pictures within a folder.
         5 - If Change picture is checked, the option to display folder images in random order is available.
         
         
         
   3. Set or change Screensaver
      2. Open System Preferences and left-click Desktop & Screensaver
         
         
         1 - Select Screensaver at the top.
         2 - Click to select a screensaver from the list on the left side.
             Option to use random screensavers is in the lower left under the list.
             Click Test button to view your selection.
             Select Show with Clock to display the time while screensaver is active.
         
         3 - To download additional screensavers or add your own pictures, MobileMe gallery, or RSS feed for use as a screensaver, click the + button under the list on the left.
         To remove a screensaver, select it and click the _ button under the list on the left.
         4 - Click Options button to fine-tune how images are displayed by the screensaver chosen.
         5 - Use the slider bar in the lower right to specify how long the computer needs to be inactive before the screensaver starts.
         6 - Click Hot Corners in the lower left to set a shortcut for manually starting or deactivating the screensaver.
         NOTE: The itunes Artwork screensaver only works if your iTunes library contains artwork.
         
         
2. Dock - learn more...
   1. What is the dock?
      2. The Dock is used to quickly open often used applications and to switch between open applications.
         
         
         
         
   2. Change Dock
      2. Open System Preferences and left-click Dock
         
         
         
      3. 1 - Use slider bars to adjust Dock size and magnification.
              Note: Magnification affects the size of icons when hovering over them.
         2 - Choose Dock location (left, bottom, or right).
         3 - Choose which animation effect you like when minimizing.
         4 - Check to select Minimize windows into application icon rather than separately stacked.
         5 - Check to select Animate opening applications if desired.
         6 - Check to select Automatically hide and show the Dock to hide Dock. Hover over dock area to show.
         
         
         
   3. Add or remove application shortcuts from Dock
      2. To add application shortcuts to the Dock:
         1 - Open Finder
         2 - Click Applications
         3 - Select desired application. This example uses Stickies.
         
         4 - Drag application icon to the desired location on the Dock. At any time you can left-click and drag icons to a different position on the Dock.
         5 - Remove icons from the Dock by clicking and dragging the icon off the bar.
         
         
3. Finder - learn more...
   1. Four ways to view items in a Finder window: icons, a list, in columns, or in Cover Flow view.
      2. Icon View
         
         
         
             To fine-tune in icon view, drag the Icon Size slider in the lower right corner of the window to increase or decrease the size of the icons.
         
             To arrange the icons neatly, chose View > Clean Up Selection.
         
         
         
      
      
      
      4. List View
         
            To fine-tune in list view, drag each column heading to its new position to place columns in a different order.
             To resize columns, drag the line that's between column headings.
             To expand a column to reveal its longest entry, double-click the column divider.
         
         
      
      
      
      6. Column View
         
         
      
      
      
      8. Cover Flow View - To really appreciate the Cover Flow view, click the video link:
         
         
         
            To fine-tune in Cover Flow view, drag each column heading to its new position to place columns in a different order.
             To resize columns, drag the line that's between column headings.
             To expand a column to reveal its longest entry, double-click the column divider.
         
         
   2. How to choose a view and set its options
      2. 1 - In the Dock, click the Finder to open a Finder window.
         
         
         2 - At the top of the window, click each of the four View buttons to see Icon, List, and Cover Flow views. Choose the one you like.
         
         
         NOTE: If the View buttons aren't visible, click the oval button in the upper-right corner of the window.
         
         
         3 - Choose View > Arrange By, and then choose how you'd like items ordered. For example, choose Name for alphabetical order or Kind to arrange by file type.
         4 - Choose View > Show view Options, and set viewing options for the current window from the dialog that opens.
             Try adjusting the sliders, selecting the checkboxes and radio buttons, and choosing form the menus. The changes made are immediate, so you can see the results of your choices.
             If you want the current window to always open in your selected view select the Always open in checkbox.
             Example: "Always open in icon view."
             For icon, list, and Cover Flow views, click Use as Defaults to apply your choices to all Finder windows in those views.
         
         
4. Dashboard - learn more...
   1. Open and close "Dashboard"
      2. 1 - Left-click Dashboard icon to open or close.
         2 - Press F12 to open or close Dashboard.
      
      
   2. Change Dashboard
      2. 1 - To change the location of Dashboard items, drag them.
         2 - To add installed widgets (applications) to the Dashboard, click the +.
               Left-click and drag selected widgets onto the Dashboard.
         
         
         
         3 - To remove widgets, click the X in the corner of the unwanted widget.
         4 - To see more installed widgets, click left or right scroll arrows.
         5 - To enable/disable installed widgets or search for more widgets to install, click Manage Widgets.
         
         
         
               Check/uncheck installed widgets to enable/disable.
               Click More Widgets to browse online for additional widgets.
         
         
         
         
5. Mail - learn more...
   1. Click here for Mail
6. Safari - learn more...
   1. Click here for Safari
7. Address Book
   2. Open Address Book
      2. 1 - Double-click Address Book in Dock
         
         
         2 - Open Finder
               Open Applications
               Double-click Address Book
         
         
   3. Add contacts to Address Book
      2. 1 - Click +
         
         2 - Add info into fields.
               To move to next field, either click or press tab.
               To move to previous field either click or press alt + tab
         
   4. Add Distribution Lists (Groups) to Address Book
      2. 1 - Click +
         
         2 - Name the list
         
         3 - Drag and drop contacts from main list into Groups.
         
   5. New message to Distribution Lists (Groups)
      2. 1 - Right-click Group
         2 - Click Send email to "group name"
         
   6. Delete a Distribution List (Group)
      2. 1 - Click to highlight Group
         2 - Press delete
         3 - Click OK
         
   7. Edit a Distribution List (Group)
      2. To use secondary contact info:
         1 - Right-click Group
         2 - Click Edit Distribution List
         
         3 - Choose alternate selection option from drop-down list
         4 - Click OK
         
8. iCal
   2. Open iCal
      2. 1 - Double-click iCal in Dock
         
         
         2 - Open Finder
               Open Applications
               Double-click iCal
         
         
   3. iCal view options
      2. 1 - Day
         
         2 - Week
         
         
         3 - Month
         
         
   4. Add/Schedule New Event
      2. 1 - Right-click appropriate day and time-frame
         2 - Click New Event
         3 - Enter data.
               To change day and/or time, click and drag event.
   5. Subscribe to online Calendar
      2. 1 - Click Calendar
         2 - Click Subscribe
         3 - Enter url given by subscription source
               For example, Google Calendar (must be subscribed) will give something similar to this:
               https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=b9j0group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles
         
         
      
      

Welcome to Gtekk.

The walk-thru section contains the original step-by-step instructions, along with appropriate screenshots, to address specific issues involving use and technical issues. Jump to technical issues

Usage tips

1. How do I take a screenshot or screen capture?
   1. 2. 1 - To capture the full screen, press Command + Shift + 3.
         2 - To capture an area, press Command + Shift + 4. Click and drag to designate area.
         3 - To capture an active application window, press Command + Shift + 4
2. Screenshots save to the desktop. How do I change the default save folder?
   1. 2. 1 - Open Terminal
               NOTE: To find Terminal, Open Finder > go to Applications > go to Utilities > double-click Terminal
         2 - Type: defaults write com.apple.screecapture location/Users/"your user (account) name"/'folder location
               EXAMPLE:
         My user (account) name is Gtekk. I want to change the default save folder for my screenshots to a folder named Images inside of Documents.
         I would type: defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /Uers/Gtekk/Documents/Images
         
         3 - Press Return (Enter)
         4 - To save this change, type: killall SystemUIServer
         5 - Press Return (Enter)
         6 - Type Exit to close the Terminal window
         7 - Press Return (Enter)
         
3. Screenshots save in png format. How do I change the default image format?
   1. 2. 1 - Open Terminal
               NOTE: To find Terminal, Open Finder > go to Applications > go to Utilities > double-click Terminal
         2 - To change the default image format of screenshots from png to jpg, type: defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
         
         3 - Press Return (Enter)
         4 - To save this change, type: killall SystemUIServer
         5 - Press Return (Enter)
         6 - Type Exit to close the Terminal window
         7 - Press Return (Enter)
         
4. Tips on highlighting files.
   1. 2. 1 - To highlight all files in a folder, press Command + a
         
         
      3. 2 - To highlight multiple, consecutive files in a folder, highlight the first file wanted, hold the Shift key down, and click the last file wanted.
         
         
      4. 3 - To highlight multiple files in any order, press and hold Command and click each file wanted.
5. How to copy and paste.
   1. 2. 1 - To copy text, highlight desired text and press Command + c. A copy of what you highlighted is now stored temporarily in the clipboard.
         
         
      3. 2 - To copy an item, highlight the item and press Command + c. A copy of that item is now stored temporarily in the clipboard.
         
         
      4. 3 - To paste clipboard contents, select destination and press Command + v.
         
         
6. How to minimize open application windows (Show Desktop).
   1. 2. Press F11
         Press F11 again to restore open windows
         
         
7. How to hide all desktop folders and icons.
   1. 2. Since Finder is so useful for accessing folders and applications, you might want to hide the folders and icons you've saved to your desktop to keep it clean and pretty. You could just move them off the desktop, but another option is to hide them.
         1 - Open Terminal
              a - Open Finder
              b - Open Applications
              c - Open Utilities
              d - Click Terminal
         
         2 - Type (or copy & paste):
              defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false
         3 - Press Enter
         4 - Restart the Finder by typing: killall Finder
         5 - Press Enter
         6 - To show hidden desktop icons and folders, type (or copy & paste):
              defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool true
         
              Don't forget to restart Finder
         
         
8. Configure Mac Mail with your email addresses.
   1. 2. Click here or use the main menu to go to Email > Mac Mail > See Walk-thru for instructions.
         
         
9. Keyboard shortcuts.
   1. 2. All work in Finder. Many work in other applications
         
         Close window - Command + W
         
         Close all windows - Option + Command + W
         
         Copy - Command + C
         
         Cut - Command + X
         
         Empty Trash - Shift + Command + Delete
         
         Find - Command + F
         
         Hide current application - Command + H
         
         Log out current user - Shift + Command + Q
         
         Move to Trash - Command + Delete
         
         New Finder Window - Command + N
         
         New Folder - Shift + Command + N
         
         Open - Command + O
         
         Paste - Command + V
         
         Select all - Command + A
         
         Undo - Command + Z
         
         Zoom in - Command+
         
         Zoom out - Command-
         
         
         
         
10. Touchpad - how to use it...
    1. 2. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the short videos below should be useful.
          
          1 - Right-click

          Place two fingers on the touchpad and click the bar.  

          
          2 - Swipe navigation

          Using three fingers, swipe touchpad to navigate.  

          
          3 - Swipe to move between open applications

          Swipe right with four fingers. Use one finger to move to select application desired. Click bar.  

          
          4 - Zoom

          Press and hold Command. Using two fingers, swipe up to enlarge - down to reduce.  

          
          5 - Pinch

          Using two fingers, reduce distance between fingers (pinch) to reduce - expand distance between fingers to enlarge.  

          
          6 - Rotate

          Using two fingers, rotate left or right.  

          
          7 - Scroll

          Using two fingers, move fingers in any desired direction to move the view correspondingly.  

          
          
          
          
11. One-button Mac mouse - right-click...
    1. 2. Easy as Apple pie - Hold down the Command key while you click.
          
          

Please feel welcome to contact Gtekk with questions.

1. Finder
   2. Snow Leopard Finder

2. System Preferences
   2. Snow Leopard System Preferences

4. Network Utility
   2. Snow Leopard Network Utility

5. Activity Monitor
   2. Snow Leopard Activity Monitor

This section contains the active screenshots used by intermediate - advanced support. This allows support techs to view a simluation of the operating systems used by their customers to facilitate walking clients through procedures.
    Note: To view active screenshots of additional software, such as Safari or Mail, please use the nativation menu.

Please feel welcome to contact Gtekk with questions.

This section illustrates Mac equivalents for common Windows functions. Please click folders below to view information.

1. Keyboard images for reference
   1. Full keyboard:
      2. 
   2. Standard keyboard
      2. 
2. How do I go Home or back to the top of a web page or document if I don't have a Home key?
   1. 2. Press fn and left arrow key.
3. I don't have an End key. How do I go to the end of a web page or document?
   1. 2. Press fn and right arrow key.
4. How do I delete characters to the right of the cursor if I don't have a full keyboard?
   1. 2. Press fn and Delete key.
5. How do I Show Desktop or minimize all open windows?
   1. 2. Press the F11 key. To restore all open windows, press F11 again.
6. How do I take a screenshot or screen capture?
   1. 2. 1 - To capture the full screen, press Command + Shift + 3.
         2 - To capture an area, press Command + Shift + 4. Click and drag to designate area.
         3 - To capture an active application window, press Command + Shift + 4
7. Screenshots save to the desktop. How do I change the default save folder?
   1. 2. 1 - Open Terminal
               NOTE: To find Terminal, Open Finder > go to Applications > go to Utilities > double-click Terminal
         2 - Type: defaults write com.apple.screecapture location/Users/"your user (account) name"/'folder location
               EXAMPLE:
         My user (account) name is Gtekk. I want to change the default save folder for my screenshots to a folder named Images inside of Documents.
         I would type: defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /Uers/Gtekk/Documents/Images
         
         3 - Press Return (Enter)
         4 - To save this change, type: killall SystemUIServer
         5 - Press Return (Enter)
         6 - Type Exit to close the Terminal window
         7 - Press Return (Enter)
         
8. Screenshots save in png format. How do I change the default image format?
   1. 2. 1 - Open Terminal
               NOTE: To find Terminal, Open Finder > go to Applications > go to Utilities > double-click Terminal
         2 - To change the default image format of screenshots from png to jpg, type: defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
         
         3 - Press Return (Enter)
         4 - To save this change, type: killall SystemUIServer
         5 - Press Return (Enter)
         6 - Type Exit to close the Terminal window
         7 - Press Return (Enter)
         
9. How do Mac keys relate to Windows keys?
   1. 2. 1 - Mac fn (Function key) = Control
         2 - Mac control is another modifier key like Shift that allows for combination key functions
               For touchpad users who don't want to use two fingers on the pad while clicking to right-click, hold control
         3 - Mac option = Windows alt
         4 - Mac command = Windows Control
         5 - Mac delete = Windows backspace