June 14, 2005
Finder | Move a file
As you are probably aware, there are many ways to accomplish the same task. Often people learn one way of doing things, and stick with it and make it a habit. When I started using OS X, I struggled with breaking old habits and learning new ones. I did this quite self-consciously because I just couldn't cope with the range of new options. I need a standard way of doing things.
Here's a relatively new and smart way of moving a file while avoiding wrestling with window clutter, ie. having a bunch of windows open which obscure each other. It's a good, standard approach.
How to move a file:
1. In Finder, navigate to the folder where you want to put the file - but don't open the folder. You'll know you are there when you can see the folder you want to put it in. We'll call this the destination folder.
2. Grab the destination folder and drag to the left sidebar of the Finder window.
3. Now navigate to the file you want to move.
4. Grab the file you want to move and drag and drop it onto the destination folder you added to the sidebar.
The file will be moved to the destination folder.
5. If the destination folder is not something you will go to, or add files to on a daily basis, you can remove it from the sidebar by grabbing it and dragging it to the right. Once it passes the divider marking the edge of the sidebar, you'll see a cartoon rendering of a puff of smoke appear under the folder and you can let go. It will disappear in a puff.
Tip: If you are unfamiliar with adding items to the sidebar, it's easiest if you add them to the very bottom of the list.
I found this approach a bit difficult initially, because I would normally think of the file first, then where I wanted to put it. So it took a bit of work to get in the habit of thinking first about where I wanted to put the file, then putting it there. Nonetheless, it's still better than opening multiple windows.
With these instructions Mom, I've used words that are verbs for fairly basic tasks, like grab, and drag and drop. I'm testing to see what I can get away with abbreviating, so do leave a comment to let me know which are meaningless nonsense.
Posted by Brad at 08:57 PM | Comments (1)
June 12, 2005
Finder | Switch to Finder & open new window
I talked to Mom on the phone about what info would be most helpful to her. Apparently she uses a shared computer at work, and doesn't keep any of her own files on it. So while she is fairly comfortable with web and email, she doesn't have much experience with working with files. So I'm going to drip feed her the basics for working with files, ie. working with the Finder.
(It's odd that many of us refer to it as The Finder. I notice it really is just called Finder. Where did we get the additional the from? Did Apple change the name?)
How to switch to Finder and open a new window with one click:
Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.
The Finder icon is always the first item on the left in the Dock (the strip across the bottom of the screen). If there are no Finder windows open, it will open one. If there is already a window open, it will bring the open window to the front.
Posted by Brad at 11:09 AM | Comments (0)
