The itunes / Mac OSX expert user

[Danoff]

So I'm trying to learn how to be half as fast with OSX as I am in windows. It's not going very well. I'm new to Mac but I figure it's pretty easy to learn.

Tell me some tricks for how to speed up my interaction with OSX - preferably not too much memorization but some is ok.


Also,

How the hell are you supposed to use itunes??? I'm trying to use it to read my mp3's off of a cd, but it keeps wanting to copy them to the hard disk. I want to be able to enqueue (sp?) songs for the end of the playlist by clicking on them, but I can't seem to manage that. Also, I want to be able to move songs around in my playlist, but I can't seem to do that. I also want to be able to get itunes to wipe out the previous loaded playlist with a new one that I click on or a new song that I bring up. I can't seem to manage to do that either. I also want to be able to run itunes in a mostly hidden mode but in which I can see the song title and maybe how long the song is. How do I do that?

I realize that in that paragraph I said I wanted to be able to do two different things by clicking on a file. But I do have a 5 button mouse, so I figure I should be able to make some kind of use of that.

I know some of you guys have some OSX skillz.

 

[Sage]

So I'm trying to learn how to be half as fast with OSX as I am in windows. It's not going very well. I'm new to Mac but I figure it's pretty easy to learn.

Tell me some tricks for how to speed up my interaction with OSX - preferably not too much memorization but some is ok.

I'll tell you the old standby – it'll sound cliché-ish, it'll sound like BS, but it actually works – just play around with it. I think you'll come to realize that OS X is almost absurdly intuitive, to the point that it confuses new switchers. Just click around, experiment, etc.

I think one important tip is that you should understand how OS X's (or Unix's, if you look at it that way) filesystem works.

Applications: Where all the programs go (duh). It's important to note that OS X has nothing like a registry – each application is actually presented as a specialized folder (right-click on an app, choose "Show Package Contents", and there you'll find all the nitty gritty resource junk), and thus, you can move an application do different folders (just like you would a normal file), and delete it by dumping it in the trash (just like a normal file). Except for some very specialized apps, you don't have to run a de-installer, and you rarely even have to run an installer (you usually just drag the app from the CD/disk/whatever into your Applications folder).

Library: You actually have two Library folders... the top-level one, and the one in your Home directory. The Library folders are meant to hold things like preferences (settings), system sounds, fonts, those kinds of things. The top Library folder is for all users, the one in your home folder is only available to you.

System: Don't mess with it until you really know what you're doing.

Users: Each user on the computer has their own directory here.

Let's see, what else... how 'bout keyboard shortcuts?
Command + W = Close window (remember that OS X is application-oriented, not task-oriented... closing a window usually doesn't close the application itself)
Command + Q = Quit application
Command + ` = Rotate between windows with an application
Command + tab = Rotate between apps
If you're on Panther (10.3), try out F9, F10, and F11 (the first shows you all open windows, the second shows you all open windows within the active app, and F11 shows the desktop).

Are there any specific issues you're running into? I feel like I might or might not be helping here.

How the hell are you supposed to use itunes??? I'm trying to use it to read my mp3's off of a cd, but it keeps wanting to copy them to the hard disk.

Why wouldn't you want them copied to disk? That uses a lot less processor time than reading from a CD...

I want to be able to enqueue (sp?) songs for the end of the playlist by clicking on them, but I can't seem to manage that.

What does that mean?

Also, I want to be able to move songs around in my playlist, but I can't seem to do that.

You can have playlists organized by Album, song title, etc., but I'm not sure why you'd need a custom order (which would get pretty tedious if you have many, many playlists).

I also want to be able to get itunes to wipe out the previous loaded playlist with a new one that I click on or a new song that I bring up. I can't seem to manage to do that either.

I'm not sure what you mean by that – Do you just want to delete a playlist? Just click on it and delete it (press the backspace button). Remember that playlists are simply ways of "viewing" your songs... the Library is what actually holds the songs.

[quoteI also want to be able to run itunes in a mostly hidden mode but in which I can see the song title and maybe how long the song is. How do I do that?[/quote]
Try clicking on the green dot in the upper left-hand corner... if that's not enough, I can list some freeware tools you could take a look at.

 

[Danoff]

Let's see, what else... how 'bout keyboard shortcuts?
Command + W = Close window (remember that OS X is application-oriented, not task-oriented... closing a window usually doesn't close the application itself)
Command + Q = Quit application
Command + ` = Rotate between windows with an application
Command + tab = Rotate between apps
If you're on Panther (10.3), try out F9, F10, and F11 (the first shows you all open windows, the second shows you all open windows within the active app, and F11 shows the desktop).

That's what I'm talking about. I'll start playing with these.

Why wouldn't you want them copied to disk? That uses a lot less processor time than reading from a CD...

I don't like cluttering up work machines with mp3s. I'd rather swap CDs with mp3s on them.

What does that mean?

Ok. What I'm calling the playlist (this is winamp terminology) is the list of songs that will be played. So I've got itunes running through a list of songs and it repeats when it gets to the end. Sometimes I want the music to play in a certain order, or I'd rather not listen to one song this time around or whatever. So I want to drag the songs around so that they come up in a different order - how do I do that? Also, I'd like to be able to add songs to the list of songs to be played with just a click or something - rather than drag and drop.

but I'm not sure why you'd need a custom order (which would get pretty tedious if you have many, many playlists).

Because I don't want to listen to them in the order they're in there now.

Try clicking on the green dot in the upper left-hand corner... if that's not enough, I can list some freeware tools you could take a look at.

Perfect, thanks - that's what I was looking for.

 

[Sage]

I don't like cluttering up work machines with mp3s. I'd rather swap CDs with mp3s on them.

In that case... go to iTunes, press Command + , (comma), and you should be brought to a "General" tab (BTW, Comman + comma is OS X's universal shortcut to bring up the preferences for an application... you can also find it in the application menu [the bold one that shows the name of the application]). There's a line that says "On CD Insert"... change it to "Show Songs" or "Begin Playing".

Your work machines have dinky hard drives?

Ok. What I'm calling the playlist (this is winamp terminology) is the list of songs that will be played. So I've got itunes running through a list of songs and it repeats when it gets to the end. Sometimes I want the music to play in a certain order, or I'd rather not listen to one song this time around or whatever. So I want to drag the songs around so that they come up in a different order - how do I do that? Also, I'd like to be able to add songs to the list of songs to be played with just a click or something - rather than drag and drop.

Okay, first off, you're probably using the Library's "Browse" function, or Smart Playlists – both of which won't let you re-order stuff, since that defeats their purpose. To make a regular playlist, click on the "+" symbol in the bottom left-hand corner... you should get a blue icon and "untitled playlist". You can drag whatever songs you want and re-order to your heart's content in there. You can temporarily "disable" a song by un-checking the little checkbox next to it.

 

[Danoff]

Okay, first off, you're probably using the Library's "Browse" function, or Smart Playlists – both of which won't let you re-order stuff, since that defeats their purpose. To make a regular playlist, click on the "+" symbol in the bottom left-hand corner... you should get a blue icon and "untitled playlist". You can drag whatever songs you want and re-order to your heart's content in there. You can temporarily "disable" a song by un-checking the little checkbox next to it.

Looks like I was using the library. That little trick took care of two problems, the one where it wants to copy my files to the hard disk and the one where it wouldn't let me reorder stuff.

Now all I have left is an easy way to add songs to the end of the playlist (without having to drag and drop).

Another thing I'd like is a detialed view (including file size) of my folders in the GUI when I pop them open. How do I set window defaults so that they all come up as lists (preferably folders at the top), with file size details.

No my computers at work have big hard disks but I like to keep personal stuff off of them - just personal peferance really.

Ok one more thing. In my terminal window (which looks really cool in OSX by the way), I can't seem to get ls --color to work. Any ideas?

 

[Sage]

Now all I have left is an easy way to add songs to the end of the playlist (without having to drag and drop).

You'll have to use drag-and-drop for that. BTW, you know you can select multiple songs for drag-and-drop, right? (That brings me up to another thingie in OS X – Using shift + click works like it does in windows, where it'll select multiple "lines" in a document... command + click, however, allows you to select multiple lines without selecting the ones in between. For example, in the Finder, click on one file, then command + click on a file several lines below it... if you had used shift + click, it would've also selected the files in between, but doing this allows you to select "disjointed" files, per se.)

Another thing I'd like is a detialed view (including file size) of my folders in the GUI when I pop them open. How do I set window defaults so that they all come up as lists (preferably folders at the top), with file size details.

In your Finder window, see how there's a 3-piece button on the top that has squares and lines on it? Click on the middle one for "list view"... I think that's what you're looking for.

Ok one more thing. In my terminal window (which looks really cool in OSX by the way), I can't seem to get ls --color to work. Any ideas?

Sorry, I've almost never used the Terminal, so I wouldn't know. The only time I've ever used it was to change the cron scheduling, and even that's unnecessary now that I use Cronnix.

 

[Danoff]

Sorry, I've almost never used the Terminal, so I wouldn't know. The only time I've ever used it was to change the cron scheduling, and even that's unnecessary now that I use Cronnix.

That's a shame. The terminal is an excellent tool for lots of stuff. If you're big on software, or want to log on to other computers, or want to do quick file transfers, the terminal is where it's at. You should check it out. The built in X11 server is one of the best things OSX has going for it. They're ahead of windows by a long shot on that one.

In your Finder window, see how there's a 3-piece button on the top that has squares and lines on it? Click on the middle one for "list view"... I think that's what you're looking for.

Ok, so I guess I have to do it for every folder. I was hoping for someplace where I could set that mode for all file browsing..

Using shift + click works like it does in windows, where it'll select multiple "lines" in a document... command + click, however, allows you to select multiple lines without selecting the ones in between.

Sounds like what happens when you hold the control key in windows.



Ok more questions...


Is there a way to turn on multiple desktops?

I've seen someone do a cool zoom out, zoom in thing with the windows on his computer. It was a quick way to see what was open and select one when the windows start to get cluttered. Do you know how to do that?

 

[Sage]

That's a shame. The terminal is an excellent tool for lots of stuff. If you're big on software, or want to log on to other computers, or want to do quick file transfers, the terminal is where it's at. You should check it out. The built in X11 server is one of the best things OSX has going for it. They're ahead of windows by a long shot on that one.

Well, seeing as how I'm one of those GUI-obsessive kind of people, command lines aren't really my forte.

Ok, so I guess I have to do it for every folder. I was hoping for someplace where I could set that mode for all file browsing..

Try this: Close all of your Finder windows. Then, click on the Finder icon in your Dock, so that a new Finder window pops up. Change it to List View. Then close it by clicking on the red close button (not with Command + W). Now try opening a new window. This should cause your current window setting to "stick" with all new windows.

Sounds like what happens when you hold the control key in windows.

Oh, okay – I'm used to the control key invoking contextual menus.

Is there a way to turn on multiple desktops?

Desktop Manager. Sweet little thing.

I've seen someone do a cool zoom out, zoom in thing with the windows on his computer. It was a quick way to see what was open and select one when the windows start to get cluttered. Do you know how to do that?

That's the aforementioned Exposé... F9, F10, and F11. You can change those settings by opening the System Preferences application and going to the "Exposé" pane. (You'll notice that you can assign mouse buttons and corners to Exposé, which works quite nicely.)

 

[Danoff]

Well, seeing as how I'm one of those GUI-obsessive kind of people, command lines aren't really my forte

That's going to cripple your speed. But that's ok sometimes the GUI is the fastest way to do stuff.

Try this: Close all of your Finder windows. Then, click on the Finder icon in your Dock, so that a new Finder window pops up. Change it to List View. Then close it by clicking on the red close button (not with Command + W). Now try opening a new window. This should cause your current window setting to "stick" with all new windows.

Doesn't appear to be working.

That's the aforementioned Exposé

Expose' is pretty cool, though, I'm not sure it's as good as the taskbar. At least Mac has something like a taskbar now though. That was lacking.

More questions
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What's the hotkey for "save as" in MS word?
If there is no hotkey for that (which I suspect there is not) what's the hotkey to get the keyboard to control the menu at the top.

Example - in windows if you hit the alt key your keyboard controls the top dropdown menu. You can then select the file dropdown menu by pressing "f". If you want to "save as" the next key to hit is "a".


How do you create a link (shortcut) to a program in the GUI (I know how to do it on the command line)?

How do you cut a file and paste it in another window (rather than dragging it from one window and dropping it in another). Or, if that's not possible, how do you move a file up one directory without having to open a second window?

 

[Sage]

Doesn't appear to be working.

Strange... I just tried it, and it works fine for me.

What's the hotkey for "save as" in MS word?

Command + S is the universal shortcut for "Save"... "Save As" in MS Word is F12 (I have no clue why... it used to be Command + Shift + S, which makes perfect sense).

You can change it if you want – go to Tools > Customize... in the resulting dialog window, click on "Keyboard..." (at the bottom of the window), then in the new window choose "File" (it should already be chosen), and in the second column choose "FileSaveAs", and you can change the shortcut there.

[...] what's the hotkey to get the keyboard to control the menu at the top.

Example - in windows if you hit the alt key your keyboard controls the top dropdown menu. You can then select the file dropdown menu by pressing "f". If you want to "save as" the next key to hit is "a".

In the System Preferences application, go to the "Keyboard and Mouse" preference pane. Scroll down to "Keyboard Navigation"... this'll show you the shortcuts (the carrot symbol is "control"). So, Control + F2 would make the Apple menu drop down, then you use the right/left arrow keys to jump between menus, and use the down/up arrow keys or type the first letter or two of the menu function within each menu. That's how most Apple apps work... for example, if you open a Finder window with a whole bunch of files, you can type the first few letters to jump to it.

BTW, since you're very keyboard-inclined, I think you'll really like QuickSilver (if you're familiar with LaunchBar, it does the same thing, but better, and free). I rarely use the Finder now, since I use QS to access everything.

How do you create a link (shortcut) to a program in the GUI (I know how to do it on the command line)?

Right-click, "Make Alias", or Command + Option + Drag it.

How do you cut a file and paste it in another window (rather than dragging it from one window and dropping it in another).

You can't cut... only copy. Apple purposely did this in case the system crashed while a file was on the clipboard.

Or, if that's not possible, how do you move a file up one directory without having to open a second window?

This is why I use Column View. (And also why Apple, erm, Jobs, hates List View.) Basically, no can do, to my knowledge (since I never use List or Icon views).

On a related note though, it's very easy to move a file deep down in subdirectories with "Spring-loaded folders". In the Finder, go to Preferences (Command + comma), and make sure "Spring-loaded folders and windows" is checked (I like to set the delay to shortest). Now grab a folder/file, and hold it over another folder (including in the sidebar)... after a couple seconds, a new window will spring up, and you can keep doing this process until you get to the right folder. And once you drop the file, all the extra windows close.

 

[Danoff]

This is why I use Column View. (And also why Apple, erm, Jobs, hates List View.) Basically, no can do, to my knowledge (since I never use List or Icon views).

On a related note though, it's very easy to move a file deep down in subdirectories with "Spring-loaded folders". In the Finder, go to Preferences (Command + comma), and make sure "Spring-loaded folders and windows" is checked (I like to set the delay to shortest). Now grab a folder/file, and hold it over another folder (including in the sidebar)... after a couple seconds, a new window will spring up, and you can keep doing this process until you get to the right folder. And once you drop the file, all the extra windows close.

Good to know.

Is there a way that I can set up, like a link or something to the previous directory and put that in all of the directories on the computer? That would allow me to copy a folder to the one above it without opening a second window.

 

[Sage]

Is there a way that I can set up, like a link or something to the previous directory and put that in all of the directories on the computer? That would allow me to copy a folder to the one above it without opening a second window.

You can drag any folder to the Sidebar (and drag out any folders you don't need). Is that what you're kinda looking for?

 

[Danoff]

If the sidebar had a spot for "previous directory" or "parent directory" or something like that, that's what I'd need.

Thanks for all your help by the way sage.

 

[Sage]

If the sidebar had a spot for "previous directory" or "parent directory" or something like that, that's what I'd need.

Sorry, no such thing. The only viable substitute would be to have "Macintosh HD" in the sidebar, then use Spring-Loaded folders to drill in to the folder you want to drop the file in. The thing is though, 95% of the work you do would (presumably) be either in the Applications directory or your user (home) directory... so if you have your Home directory in the sidebar (and a few subdirectories of that, such as Documents), then that should be sufficient to handle most situations. You should see my sidebar – I've got 9 directories in it, and it works out so perfectly that I almost never have to go through the top-level Macintosh HD.

Thanks for all your help by the way sage.

No problem!