Aoraki Macintosh User Group Home Page

Snippets from Previous Meetings

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Several computing queries and suggested solutions included:

LOADED FLASH-DRIVE

My flash-drive has no files on it, but its Get Info window shows only a small amount of its capacity as being available. What goes on?

• First — check that you've emptied the Trash — if you've trashed files from the drive, it's like putting them into the rubbish bin, and until you actually empty the bin (ie. the Trash), the files are still on the flash-drive, although they don't appear in the contents list.
• Second (and more complex) — if there's still not the full available capacity after you've emptied the trash, it's likely that without realising it you have more than one Trash folder on the drive. This can happen when moving between computers which are set up for more than one user (multiple users), as each user has its own Trash file, which will be invisible (but still present) on the flash-drive.

Solution: erase the drive, using Disk Utility — as reformatting the drive gets rid of invisible files. [Note: it's advisable to reformat as MacOS Extended (Journaled), as this is more secure.]

DISAPPEARING APPLE KEY

The Apple symbol has disappeared from my new Mac keyboard — where is it?

• The Apple key has always been referred to as the Command key, but is now labelled as ‘command , with no sign of the Apple symbol.

FORGOTTEN PASSWORDS

I've forgotten a password. Can I access it?

• Yes you can, so long as it isn't the administrator's password for your computer. Open the Keychain Access utility application (see session below) and find it there.

LOST SETTINGS

I recently backed up my computer and clean-installed Leopard, but my Address Book has lost its contents, and myiChat has lost its settings. Where are they?

Still on your computer, in the Home folder of your back-up. Make sure neither application is open, then look for the files and copy them into the corresponding places in your new Home file.:

• Address Book contents: look in Home folder/Library/Application Support/Address Book, and copy this file. When copied, check (in its Get Info window) that this file has Write access.
• iChat (or any other application) settings: look in Home folder/Library/Preferences and copy all files which start with com.apple..iChat.

DESKTOP HINTS

FINDING ORIGINAL ITEMS

If you single-click on an alias icon (to select it) then type R, the original item will be shown in the Finder.
[Also, typing Command—I will show the alias's Info window, which will show the path to the original.]

RENAMING ITEMS

If you're renaming desktop folders or files, it's fiddly to single-click on the item, wait, then single-click on its label — hoping that you've waited long enough, so that the item doesn't open unintentionally! It's much simpler to select the item, then hit Return — hey presto, ready to rename !

SESSIONS

PARALLELS

Neville demonstrated the Parallels application, which enables newer Macs with Intel processors to run Microsoft Windows (either XP or Vista) at the same time as MacOS X is operating. The Microsoft application appears as in its own window on normal Mac desktop, and can be used to run whichever Windows applications have been installed.

Unlike Boot Camp, the application which comes with MacOS X Tiger and Leopard, in which the computer starts up in either MacOS X or Windows (but not both), Parallels makes it possible for you drag and drop files from one operating system to the other, as Neville demonstrated. He also showed a tutorial video of how Parallels can be used.

Be aware that if you run Windows and are connected to the Internet, your Mac is susceptible to the many viruses which can infect Windows — however these will not affect your MacOS. Also note that to use printers and other peripherals while using Windows, you will need the respective Windows drivers also.

Parallels costs $NZ145, and you also need to purchase Windows XP or Vista and the Windows applications you intend using. It requires 5GB of HD space. For further information and system requirements, visit the Apple Store website.

Thank you Neville for giving us a look at this 'alternative' application.

iPHOTO PRINT PRODUCTS

Tony gave a session which outlined the online print products, in conjunction with the iPhoto application, which Apple has recently made available in New Zealand. Options for layouts of printed books, cards, calendars and prints have always been included in iPhoto, but Apple's printing service was accessible only in USA, and more recently in other selected countries. We now have the full range of services available here in NZ, at quite competitive prices.

Tony showed several Overview Tour video clips from the Apple website which explain the selection and ordering process for these products, and also gave a demonstration of how to assemble books in iPhoto to prepare for ordering online. View these videos and read further information on the Apple NZ website — (don't go to Apple.com, or you'll see prices in $US): http://www.apple.com/nz/ilife/iphoto/printproducts.html

Several points to note:

• A Broadband Internet connection is desirable for most print product orders, as the upload time is considerable. Ordering several prints or cards online might be OK with a dial-up connection, but books/calendars would take an unreasonably long time.
• Is iPhoto '08 needed? First information indicated that it is, but contrary what was said at FridayÕs meeting, this may not be so, as the Apple website mentions iPhoto '4, '05 and '06 users Ð but the link from this goes to a US support page, and these items may not be available here.

Tony also commented on the prompt assistance he'd received from the online Apple Photo Services Customer Support when he'd sent them a query relating to a problem about preparing a book layout for printing — the query was answered quickly (sent during the evening, answered next morning) and helpfully, with details of possible solutions. A free service well worth using, if necessary. Well done, Apple!

PRINTING PRICES

All prices are in $NZ and include GST, but not postage.
All books have 20 pages (10 sheets), but additional pages may be added at extra cost.

Hardcover Books

8.5“ x 11“ hardcover books: suede-like cover, printed title on the cover, customisable dust jacket, double-sided or single-sided, 20 pages (10 sheets): $43.99

Softcover Books

Large: 8.5“ x 11“: $29.99 / Medium: 6“ x 8“: $14.99 / Small (3-pack only): 2.6“ x 3.5“: $5.99

Wire-bound Books

Large: 8.5“ x 11“: $29.99 / Medium: 6 x 8, 20 pages (10 sheets),$14.99.

Calendars

10.4“ x 13“, 12 months: $29.99. Additional months (24 max) $2.19 per month

Greeting Cards

5“ x 7“, envelopes included: 1-24 cards $2.99 each; 25-49 cards $2.69 each; 50+ cards $2.29 each.

Postcards

4“ x 6“, envelopes included: 1-24 cards $2.19 each; 25-49 cards $1.89 each; 50+ cards $1.49 each.

Prints

4“x 6“ 0.29 each; 5x7“ $0.99 each; wallet (2.5Ó x 3.5") $1.99 for 4. 8“x 10“ $3.99 each. 16“x20“ NZ$24.99. 20Óx30" $39.99 each.

Thank you Tony for presenting the details about these products.

LEOPARD UPDATE

Several members noted some of the changes to the Leopard Operating System, with the recently-released update Version 10.5.2. Kim commented that this ‘tweaking’ of the OS has improved its functionality — Apple says that it has ‘enhanced stability, compatibility and security’.

Some smaller adjustments which are readily apparent are in the Dock, where Stacks can also be in List view and Folder view (as well as Fan and Grid views), and the Desktop now has an option to turn off menu bar transparency, which resolves some legibility issues. Some applications have had minor issues resolved and have been given additional functionality, particularly in iChat, Mail and iCal.

To see a full list of the changes in this update, see the discussion document on the Apple Support web pages: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307109

Kim explained several points relating to MacOS 10.5.2:

• In the Finder window sidebar there is a listing for Connected Servers, but this does not appear by default, as it did in Tiger (MacOS 10.4), it needs to be turned on Ð go to Finder/Preferences/General and check Connected Servers.
• Sharing files over a network (particularly with Windows computers) can be improved by using the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol — go to System Preferences/Sharing/Options and check Share files and folders using SMB. It may be advisable to read the warning in Mac Help ‘Setting File-Sharing Options’ concerning security.
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Thank you to those who contributed to this session.

NON-STANDARD IMAGE PRINTING

A question concerning the printing of non-standard ratio images (eg. panoramas or tall pictures) led to an impromptu sessions which examined satisfactory ways to print these. Using the iPhoto '08 print settings does not appear to cater for such images, having no orientation settings.

Kim suggested that Preview can be used to overcome this difficulty, as its Print Settings include both Orientation and Scaling options, which allow a maximum image size to be obtained, despite the non-standard dimensions:

Thank you Kim and others who contributed to this session.

WIRELESS NETWORKS

When creating a wireless network (eg. between two or more computers at home) you have a choice whether you require a password — when you have selected Create Network in either the Network System Preferences or the Airport menu, checking Require Password enables you to enter a password. Note that the length of a chosen password depends on the type of security you select (40-bit WEP or 128-bit WEP); for more explanation on this see Mac Help Creating a Computer-to-Computer Network.

Passwords: Kim mentioned the Password Assistant which is accessed in the System Preferences/Accounts: when you select an account and click thePassword button, then click Change Password, you will see a key symbol at the end of the New Password box:

Click the key and the Password Assistant dialog appears:

You can select the type and length of password you want, and the Quality bar below indicates the ‘strength’ of the suggested password. WARNING: Do not use websites which check the strength of passwords, as you are in effect publishing your passwords on the Internet!

Thank you Kim for this information.

KEYCHAIN ACCESS

This is one of the utility applications which comes with MacOS X, and it enables you to see the keychains which store the passwords. Open it from the Finder in the Go Menu/Utilities (or type ShiftU) and select Keychain Access. When the main window opens, click Login at the top of the sidebar and you will see a list of all the password-protected items for the user who is currently logged in to the computer:

Clicking on a item displays its location, and double-clicking on it opens a dialog box in which you can check if you want to see its password — if you do this you'll be asked to enter your login password, and then the password for the item will be shown. This prevents others from accessing your passwords.

If there is an issue with a wireless-linked connection, it may be resolved by deleting the password and re-entering it.

Keychain Access is also useful for storing confidential information is its Secure Note facility, as the login password has to be entered before a Secure Note can be opened:

Thank you Tony for the information on this application.

HARD-DISK CLEANUP

Following the question concerning flash-drive capacity, Kim described OmniDiskSweeper, a utility application which searches your hard disk, list all the folders and files it finds (including hidden files which you can't normally see in the Finder) and sorts them in order of size. This enables you to delete large files which you may no longer be using, which will save disk space:

OmniDiskSweeper is shareware ($US15 for a licence), but may be downloaded and used in unlicensed mode. Buying a licence enables you to use the Delete button to clear files — which you can do anyway in the Finder. For detailed information and download visit: http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnidisksweeper/

Thanks again, Kim.

USELESS INFORMATION

The February Meeting was the only AMUG meeting which has been held on Leap Day (ie. 29 February). For a meeting to fall on a Leap Day, the month of February must start on a Friday, and thus have five Fridays. The next time this will happen will be in 28 years time, in 2036.
[ For such information, visit http://www.timeanddate.com/ ]