IntroductionThe Workshops are all about being creative and thinking outside of the box. These workshops willhelp your right-brain soar, while making your left-brain happy; by explaining why things work theway they do. Exploring Snow Leopard's possibilities is great fun; however, always stay groundedwith knowledge of how things work. Knowledge is power.

Getting and Using the Project Files

Some projects in the Workshops may include a start file to help you get started with the project,and a final file to provide you with the results so you can see how well you accomplished the task.The first step in a project specifics whether you need a project file to complete it.

Before you can use the project files, you need to download them from the Web. You can access thefiles at www.perspection.com. After you download the files from the Web, uncompress the files intoa folder on your hard drive to which you have easy access from Snow Leopard.

Project 1: Customizing the Desktop

Skills and Tools: Desktop, Finder, Stacks, Exposé, and Misc.

If your desktop gets cluttered, you can change view options or use stacks of folders withdocuments or applications to access material you’re currently working on. If your dock starts to getcluttered, you can minimize windows to the associated application icon on the left-side of the dockinstead of minimizing windows to the right-side of the dock. With Dock Exposé, you can display andswitch between windows in an easy to view grid with window titles.

The Project

In this project, you'll display and customize the desktop and Finder to meet your workspace needs.You’ll change view options for the desktop, create stacks,and use Dock Exposé to switch windows,minimize windows to the dock into an application icon. In addition, you’ll show the date in the menubar, show more commands in the menu bar, zoom desktop icons using the trackpad, and learn howto quickly get your Mac’s serial number for support purposes.

Copyright © 2009 by Perspection, Inc. (www.perspection.com) - Revision Date 9/20/09 1

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The Process

➤ Change desktop view options. With the Show View Options command for theDesktop, you can change icon size, grid spacing, text size, label position, show item info,show icon preview, and set the default arrange by view.

In the Finder, click a blank area of the desktop, click the View menu, andthen click Show View Options.

Change any of the following desktop options:

◆ Icon size. Drag the slider to specify an icon size.

◆ Grid spacing. Drag the slider to specify a grid size. A grid isan internal set of horizontal and vertical lines for spacingitems on the desktop.

◆ Text size. Select a text size for desktop icons.

◆ Label position. Select the Bottom or Right option to specifythe icon text position.

◆ Show item info. Select the check box to display icon iteminformation, such as picture size for a graphic icon or disk space for a disk drive icon.

◆ Show icon preview. Select the check box to show a preview of the item in the icon.

◆ Arrange by. Select an option (None, Snap to Grid, Name, Date Modified, Date Created, Size,Kind, Label) to specify how you want to arrange icons on the desktop.

Click the Close button in the Desktop dialog.

➤ Use Dock Exposé to switch windows. With Dock Exposé , you can displaywindows in a grid, show their titles, and zoom in and out using the Space bar. Dock Exposéis also drag aware, which allows you to drag an item from the desktop to a dock icon andhold it to start Dock Exposé and then drop the item in a window. For example, you coulddrag an item to the Mailicon on the dock to startDock Exposé , and thendrop it into an openedMail message.

In the Finder, click-hold adock icon to display Exposé.

To arrange windows, pressA+1 (by name), A+2 (byapplication), or press Tab toview all windows belongingto an application.

To zoom in and out, point toa window, and then pressthe Space bar.

To switch to a window, clickthe window.

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➤ Minimize windows to the dock into an application icon. Instead ofminimizing windows to the right-side of the dock, you can minimize windows to theassociated application icon on the left-side of the dock. This is useful for organization andkeeping the dock uncluttered. You won’t be able to see how many windows you haveminimized at a glance on the dock, but with Dock Exposé, a thin line separates the regularwindows from the minimized windows at the bottom.

In the Finder, click the Apple menu, and then click System Preferences.

Click the Dock icon.

Select the Minimize windows into application icon check box.

Click the Close button in the System Preferences dialog.

➤ Show the date in the menu bar. The Date and Time Preferences dialog providesoptions to show the date in the menu bar.

In the Finder, click the Day and Time on the menu bar, and then click Date and TimePreferences, or click the Apple menu, click System Preferences, and then click Date & Time.

Click the Clock tab.

Select the Show date check box.

Click the Close button in the System Preferences dialog.

➤ Show more commands in the menu bar. The right-side of the menu bar in theFinder provides utility or preference specific menus for easy access. When you click amenu icon, a menu with commands appears. For some menus, such as Sync, Airport, andSound, you can also option-click the menu icon to display additional commands. Forexample, when you click the Sound menu icon, a volume slider appears. When you option-click the Sound menu icon, a list of commands appear where you can select Output andInput Devices or open Sound Preferences.

➤ Zoom desktop icons using the trackpad. The multi-touch trackpad allows you tomake the desktop icons bigger or smaller. To make the desktop icons bigger or smaller bytouching the trackpad, pinch the trackpad and extend it tozoom out and pinch it in to zoom in. If you have an oldergeneration MacBook or MacBook Pro that didn’t have four-finger and three-finger trackpad gestures, Snow Leopardprovides this gesture provided that you have a supportedmodel (check the Apple web site for specific models).

TROUBLE? If you have a lot of icons on your desktop,enlarging and reducing the icons can rearrange them on the desktop.

➤ Get your Mac’s serial number. If you ever need to call Apple support for help, thefirst thing they will probably ask for is your Mac’s serial number. Here is a quick way todisplay it. Click the Apple menu, click About this Mac, and then double-click the versionnumber. Your serial number is displayed.

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Project 2: Organizing and Managing Files

Skills and Tools: Stacks and Dock

If your desktop gets cluttered or you want easy access to folders, you can create stacks ofdocuments, applications, or folders on the dock to make it easier to organize and access materialyou’re currently working on. A stack allows you to open folders to find and open the documents orapplications you want. When a stack is in Grid view, you can also scroll stacks and navigate in andout of folders.

The Project

In this project, you'll create a stack, change stack options to view contents in Grid view, open afolder stack, and then return back to the parent folder.

The Process

In the Finder or on thedesktop, drag a folder tothe right-side of the dock toadd the folder to the dockfor easy access.

Option-click the folderstack icon on the dock, andthen click Grid.

Click the folder stack iconon the dock to display afolder grid.

In Grid view, use the scrollbar along the right-side (ifavailable) to display thecontents of the stack.

To open a folder, click thefolder icon.

To return back to the parentfolder, click the Returnbutton in the upper-left corner of the folder grid.

Click a blank area of the desktop or press ESC to close the stack.

➤ Take a screen capture of the screen. If you need a picture of the screen, you cantake a screen capture of it using the Shift+A+3 (full screen) or Shift+A+4 (select screenor press Space bar to capture a window) keyboard shortcut. In Leopard, the file nameappears as Picture1.png. In Snow Leopard, the file name is much more useful. The filename appears as Screen shot with the date and time. For example, Screen shot 2019-05-20at 11.23.45 AM.png.

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Project 3: Finding What You Need

Skills and Tools: Spotlight

If you’re looking for specific content on your computer or network and you don’t know where to findit, you can use Spotlight to help you locate it. Spotlight not only searches the names of your filesand folders, it also searches their content. Spotlight is conveniently located on the right side of themenu bar on your Mac screen. You can identify Spotlight by the blue icon with a magnifying glass.As you type in Spotlight, a menu appears displaying a list of everything Spotlight can find to matchwhat you’ve typed so far. As you continue to type, the list changes. Spotlight searches for every-thing on your computer that matches what you’ve typed, unless you’ve changed your default searchlocation.

The Project

In this project, you'll set the default search location you want, change Spotlight preferences, andthen perform a search in Spotlight.

The Process

➤ Change default search location. With the Finder Preferences dialog, you canchange the default search location for Spotlight.

In the Finder, click the Finder menu, and then clickPreferences.

Click the Advanced tab.

Click the When performing a search pop-up, clickSearch This Mac, Search the Current Folder, orUse the Previous Search Scope.

Click the Close button in the Finder Preferencesdialog.

➤ Change Spotlight preferences. With theSystem Preferences dialog, you can specifywhat types of items you want to include in yoursearch results.

Click the System Preferences icon in the Dock,and then click the Spotlight icon.

Click the Search Results tab.

Select the check boxes you want to include in the search results or clear the check boxes youdon’t want to include in the search results.

To change the order to the search results categories, drag the categories to the location youwant.

Click the Close button.5

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➤ Perform a Spotlight search. With Spotlight available on the right side of the menubar, you can quickly find what you’re looking for with a few clicks.

Click the Spotlight (magnifying-glass) icon on the right side of the menu bar.

TIMESAVER PressOption+A+Space bar toopen Spotlight windowdirectly.

In the Spotlight field, startto type what you want tofind.

Click Show All on theSpotlight menu.

The Spotlight windowopens, displaying theresults of your search bycategory.

If a search is currently inprogress, a sprocket iconwhirls around in the upper-left corner of the window.

To narrow or change thesearch, type the text youwant to find in the Searchfield.

To open an item, double-click the item or use thearrow keys to scroll downthe list, and then pressReturn.

To clear or stop a search,click the Close button (x) inthe Search field.

When you’re done, click theClose button.

➤ iChat buddy search in Spotlight. If you have a lot of buddies in iChat, you can useSpotlight to help you find them.

➤ Search Faces and Places from iPhoto in Spotlight. If you use iPhoto 09, youcan use Spotlight to search for Faces and Places. Now you don’t have to open iPhoto tofind the pictures you want.

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Project 4: Securing Your Computer

Skills and Tools: Security Preferences

The Security pane in System Preferences allows you to set options that prevent others from usingyour computer, such as requiring a password to unlock and change system preferences or wakeyour computer from sleep or screen saver, logging you out automatically if you’re inactive for a certain amount of time (make sure you save all documents to complete logging you out), and dis-abling automatic login all together. The Security pane also lets you turn on or off FileVault, whichprotects your Home folder using encryption (secrets codes) from unauthorized users. Your files areencrypted using your login password. If you forget your login password and don’t have the masterpassword (a safety net password that lets you unlock any FileVault account), your files are lost forever.

The Project

In this project, you'll set system security preferences, which includes general and FileVault options.

The Process

➤ Change system security preferences. With the Finder Preferences dialog, you canchange the default search location for Spotlight.

Click the System Preferences icon in the Dock, and then click the Security icon.

Click the General tab.

Select or clear the Requirepassword after sleep or screensave begin check box, click thepop-up, and then select a delayinterval.

Select or clear the check boxesrelated to all user accounts:

◆ Disable automatic login.

◆ Require password to unlockeach System Preferences pane.

◆ Log out after X minutes ofinactivity.

◆ Use secure virtual memory.

◆ Disable Location Services.

◆ Disable remote control infrared receiver.

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Click the FileVault tab.

To set or change a master password (something you never want to forget), click SetMaster Password or Change, type the information, and then click OK.

Click the Close button.

➤ Protect your Home folder with FileVault. With the Finder Preferences dialog, youcan change the default search location for Spotlight.

Click the System Preferences iconin the Dock, and then click theSecurity icon.

Click the FileVault tab.

Click Turn On FileVault (all otheruses must be logged off thecomputer).

Read the alert message if users arelogged in, and then click OK.

Type your password, and then clickOK.

Another alert message appears,please read it carefully, select thesecure check box options you want,and then click Cancel or Turn OnFileVault.

Snow Leopard then goes through a creation procedure that can take 10 minutes or more tocomplete.

When the process is complete, you are brought back to the Login window.

Project 5: Using Parental Controls

Skills and Tools: Parental Controls

Parental Controls help you manage how your children use the computer. Parental Controls allowsyou to set limits on your children’s Web access, Mail and iChat usage, the amount of time spentlogged on the computer, and which games and programs they can use. After you have set up a useraccount as the Administrator, you can enable and set parental controls. You can set different set-tings for each user account on your computer. You can also review activity report logs on a periodicbasis to see what your children are doing on the computer.

The Project

In this project, you'll change parental controls for content and time limits, and view log activity.

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The Process

Click the System Preferences icon in the Dock, and then click the Parental Controls icon.

Select the account you want to modify, and then click Enable Parental Controls, if necessary.

TROUBLE? If the accounts aren’t available, click the Lock icon, enter the administratorname and password, and then click OK.

Click the Content tab.

Select or clear the Hide profanity in Dictionary check box.

Select one of the following options:

◆ Allow unrestricted access to websites.

◆ Try to limit access to adult websites automatically. Click Customize to specify sites.

◆ Allow access to only these websites. Click the Add (+) and Remove (-) buttons to add anddelete items from the allowable Web site list.

Click the Time Limits tab.

Specify options for the followingtime limits:

◆ Weekday time limits.

◆ Weekend time limits.

◆ Bedtime.

Click the Logs tab.

Click the Show activity for popup,and then select a length option.

Click the Group by popup, and thenclick Website or Date.

Select any of the following optionsto view log information:

◆ Websites Visited.

◆ Websites Blocked.

◆ Applications.

◆ iChat.

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Project 6: Working with Networks

Skills and Tools: Networks

The Finder serves as a focused network browser application. From the Go menu, you can accessthe Network window, which displays all the computers available on your network. You can alsoaccess a network from the Sidebar, which displays all shared computers. Once you've connectedseveral computers together into a network, and configured your computer for file sharing, the nextstep is to begin communicating. In order to communicate with another computer, you’ll need con-nect to create a connection with access to a user account. Typically a user account defines youwith a specific name, password, and permissions. Once you log into the other computer, you’ll beable to access the areas (permissions) granted to you by the Systems Administrator.

The Project

In this project, you'll connect to a computer server on a network, and then browse the contents ofthe computer using the Finder.

The Process

Turn on all the computers.

Click the Go menu, andthen click Connect ToServer.

Connect using one of thefollowing methods:

◆ Click Browse, and thendouble-click on one ofthe available servericons.

◆ Type the computer'sServer Address, andthen click Connect.

◆ Windows (SMB/CIFS). Example: smb://DNSname/sharename;smb://IPaddress/sharename

◆ Macintosh (AFP). Example: afp://ComputerName.CompanyName.com

◆ FTP. Example: ftp://user@DNSname;ftp://DNSname;ftp://user:password@DNSname

◆ NFS. Example: nfs://DNSname/pathname

◆ Click the Recent Servers button, and then select a server address from the list of availableoptions.

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Type your Name and Password.

Click Connect.

Select the area of the other computer youwant to access.

Click OK.

IMPORTANT The other computer nowfunctions and acts as a hard drive on yourcomputer.

Click the network computer icon in theSidebar to display its contents or click theGo menu, click Network todisplay all networks, and thendouble-click a networkcomputer to browse itscontents.

Work with your computer;drag files from your computerto the networked computer orvice versa.

TROUBLE? If thenetworked computer is notset up for file sharing, see“Setting Up File Sharing” onpage 406 and see “Setting UpMac and Windows to ShareFiles” on page 424 forinstructions on setting up file sharing.

Get Everything on DVD

Instead of downloading everything from the Web, which can take a while depending on your Inter-net connection speed, you can get all the files used in this book and much more on a Mac OS XSnow Leopard On Demand DVD. The DVD contains task and workshop files, tips and tricks, key-board shortcuts, and other goodies from the author.

To get the Mac OS X Snow Leopard On Demand DVD, go to www.perspection.com.

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