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TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE MAC

Desktop

The Desktop is the opening view when you turn on your computer. From the Desktop, you can access the Apple Menu, Finder toolbar, Desktop items, and the Dock.

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Dock

The Dock appears at the base of the desktop and holds icons for some of the applications/tools that reside on the computer.

Tip: The Dock can be customized

Tip: Mouse over an icon on the Dock to display the icon name

Tip: Left click on the icon to launch the program

Tip: “Open” applications will have a “highlight” under the icon in the Dock for a “visual” indicator that the application is running. In the example below, Finder and Firefox are open.

Tip: If you want to close an application and you click on the red “x” in the window controls for a window, it will only close the window and not the application.

To close the application, you must display the toolbar for the application, click on the application name in the tool bar and select Quit.

Tip: Command or Apple Q will quit the application

Tip: Left click and hold on the icon in the Dock and an option window will appear, select Quit.

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Dock Preferences

Dock Preferences are located under the Apple Menu of the Finder Toolbar. The Dock can be positioned at the Bottom, Left or Right side of the screen.

Add Icons to the Dock

Add an icon to the Dock by first launching the application. Once the application is open and running, an icon for that program will display on the Dock. Left-click and hold on the icon. A menu will appear, select Options, Keep in Dock.

Remove Icons from the Dock

Remove an unwanted icon from the Dock by left-clicking on the icon and dragging up and off to the desktop. The icon will briefly display on the Desktop and then display a visual “poof” prior to disappearing. Note: removing an item from the Dock does not remove the program from the computer, only the shortcut to the program.

Tip: any icon on the Dock can also be deleted by dragging and dropping it to the Trash, which is located on the Dock.

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The Apple Menu

The Apple Menu appears on the far left side of every application toolbar.

The Apple Menu is used to access System Preferences, Shutdown, Restart, Dock, and other tools.

Finder Toolbar

The Finder toolbar is displayed automatically when you login to your Mac. The Finder toolbar can be used to create new folders, access tools and applications, and access Computer (devices/drives on your computer).

Tip: The Finder icon is also located in your Dock at the bottom of the screen.

Tip: Left click on the Desktop to display the Finder toolbar

Working with the Finder Toolbar Go Menu

The Go Menu on the Finder Toolbar is a quick way to access files, folders, devices and/or applications.

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Go Menu Applications

The Go Menu can be used to launch applications that live on your computer.

The Go Menu is similar to the Start Menu, Programs, on a Windows machine. From the Finder Menu, select Go, Applications, and select the application to open.

Tip: Remote Desktop is located under the Applications menu

Tip: if the application icon lives in the Dock, then just click on the icon to launch the program.

Tip: The Spotlight icon (search tool) is located in the upper right corner of the desktop window, the menu bar, and can also be used to search and open applications and/or tools. Type in the application name and/or tool name in the Spotlight field and press Enter. A list matching the search criteria will display. Select the appropriate item from the list.

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Go Menu Computer

Navigate to your system devices by selecting the Go Menu, Computer, from the Finder Toolbar. The Computer menu is similar to My Computer on Windows.

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System Preferences

The System Preferences window is used to set/change options for your system such as Appearance and/or Desktop/Screen Saver.

System Preferences can be accessed from the Finder, Go, Applications menu or by selecting the icon from the Dock.

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Creating an Alias on the Desktop

In the Mac world, an Alias is the equivilent to a “shortcut” in the Windows world.

Complete the steps below to create an Alias:

• Launch the Finder and navigate to the file and/or program that you want to create shortcut for.

• Highlight the program by clicking once on the file. • Control + Click on the file (or Right click on the file), and select “Make Alias”

Tip: When an Alias is created, the Alias will be identified in the Finder with the same file/application name followed by the word "alias”. In addition, a small arrow will appear in the lower left of the file's icon letting you know it's a shortcut and not the real thing.

• Once the alias has been created, drag and drop the alias to desktop or to anywhere you wish.

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AirPort (wireless)

The Airport tools and settings are located in the upper right corner of the Menu bar. By default, the Airport settings are set to “on”. In order to connect to the internet, you must select the appropriate network from the Airport drop down menu.

On Campus select the CSU-Net option

Off Campus select your home wireless or the wireless available for the location you’re at

On Campus CSU-Net

Once connected to the CSU-Net network, you will need to authenticate.

TIP: Prior to authenticating, you might see the following dialog for Certificate Trust Settings.

Press the Continue button

This is the admin username and password. If you didn’t reset the username and password for the computer, then just press OK. No password required. DO NOT type in your ename and epassword here.

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After the Certificate Trust Settings are complete, login with your ename and epassword to authenticate for the wireless connection.

Type in your ename and epassword here.

Off Campus Authenticate by typing your user name and password for the given network.

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Network Connect (VPN replacement)

The following is a very quick how-to describing updated connection procedures to your office computer using secure.colostate.edu now that VPN is no longer supported by ACNS. The instructions are tailored for mac computers, however the process is very similar using a windows based computer.

Login to:

https://secure.colostate.edu

Once there, authenticate with your EID username and password.

Click on the start button next to Network Connect and a screen will popup letting you know it will take a moment or two for the java based application to run.

Once running, you will be presented with a Network Connect window:

Keep this window running and don’t close or sign out until you are finished with your remote session.

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At this point, you have a secure connection established. You can run your favorite Remote Desktop (RDP) client and connect to your office computer, for example, or whatever application you normally use while connecting with the old VPN method.

Tip: Now that you have successfully made this first connection, mac users will have a Network Connect application installed in their Applications folder. Simply start this application and you can skip connecting to secure.colostate.edu and only authenticate with the network connect app.

Tip: Create a shortcut on the Desktop for Network Connect so that you don’t have to launch it from the Applications folder.

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop can be accessed from the Finder toolbar, Go Menu, Applications. Select Remote Desktop from the Applications list.

Tip: Network Connect must be active in order to use Remote Desktop.

Login with your desktop IP address or the desktop computer name.domain.colostate.edu

Tip: Work with your departmental IT person to make sure your work computer is configured to use Remote Desktop

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How to Change the Default Password for the Mac

If for whatever reason you need or want to change the login password for your computer, access Account tools from System Preferences window.

Go to System Preferences, Accounts and select Accounts

Tip: For security reasons, if your computer is set up using a “blank” password, it is recommended that you reset your password from blank to something else.

Select Change Password

Type in the old password, a new password and verify the password.

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Shortcut Keys Reference

Reference for shortcut keys:

http://www.myfirstmac.com/index.php/mac/articles/ultimate-switcher-guide-windows-pc-to-mac-keyboard-shortcuts

Tip: The Command Key on the Mac is also known as the Apple Key

Tip: To Right click on the MAC touchpad, Press down with two fingers on the touchpad

Tip: Preview Shortcut

Mouse over and select an icon on your desktop, press the space bar to get a preview of the file.

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Screenshots for a Mac

Press Command (Apple) + SHIFT + 3 picture of everything on your screen.

Command (Apple) + SHIFT + 4 - brings up crosshairs as the mouse pointer.

Drag over the section of the screen that you want to take as a picture. Release the mouse button and the picture is taken.

The images are stored on the desktop as .png files.