|
|
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
This is a good hint, now if Apple could make it to where the Dictionary application could be in another folder other than /Applications! I like to organize my program by their type such as Applications, Accessories, Online, Utilities, etc (I'm a Windows convert, and I like this organization :) )
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
As you may have discovered, it's not a good idea to move apps as they may not update properly, among other troubles. But you can use aliases to do this - make your own structure and move aliases of the apps where you want them - now you can ignore the original Applications folder and use your own.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
You'll find though that almost the only applications that need to be in a fixed locations are Apple's. There is no need to develop software like this and personally I wish Apple would stop setting a bad example. (Long story short, its lazy programming IMO. Admittedly they probably have bigger things to worry about.)
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
Somewhat offtopic, but surely if you start moving around your installed apps in Windows, you'll get loads of trouble too?
Re: 10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
But in Windows you also get to choose where to install the programs to begin with (or at least that used to be the case; I don't touch Windows much), so you can do the organizing at app-install time and not break anything.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
Yes, I realize that if I were to move applications around in Windows that it would pretty much kill the machine... which is why we have the Start menu to organize the way we want our applications.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
I'm fairly new to Apple (about 1 year) and why wouldn't they want me to organize my programs so that I can access them (or other programs in the same group) more easily rather than searching through a rather large list of unsorted programs to find what I'm looking for?Well... ask Apple! ;-) In the meantime, as moving things from the Applications folder _is_ in fact dangerous (not to mention renaming...), IMHO you may follow a different route: - Create a folder somewhere (say, in your home/Documents folder); let's say it's called myApps. - Create all the folders you want/need inside that folder (Applications, Accessories, Online, Utilities...). - Fill these subfolders with aliases to the various apps. - Drag the myApps folder to the dock. If you assign a custom icon to the myApps folder, you'll also have a visual clue of its content.
Favorites folder
The ~/Library/Favorites folder was often recommended for storing aliases to apps, etc. but the supportive command-T and shift-command-F shortcuts have changed from "Add to Favorites" to "Add to Sidebar" and from "Go > Favorites" to "Services > Spotlight". And quick access to that folder was also removed from Open/Save dialogs.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
You might want to look into the built-in Spotlight (assuming you're using Tiger 10.4) or downloading QuickSilver. Once you get past the idea of needing to navigate a hierarchy to access something, but instead just launching a program by typing in the first few letters of its name, it feels really constricting to do it any other way. :)
app launching
I agree. Frequent use of hierarchical navigation for application launching is slow and awkward.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
Yes and no. A hierarchy of apps provides the same benefit that menus does: it reminds you of what apps (options) you can choose from for a particular class of tasks. Working via Spotlight has the same "fault" as command line use of computers: you have to remember the (command/app) names. This is the same basic reasoning people moved to GUIs in the first place...
[non-]hierarchical access/organization
I prefer the Dock/Hierarchy split with commonly-used apps in the Dock (no hierarchy to negotiate) and a hierarchy of "menus" for the others to remind me of what's available.
I prefer a similar personalized "best of" hierarchical and non-hierachical organization/access style, too. Apps with frequent launch/quit cycles are my favorites candidates for the Dock, although I also use it as a "top-level" reminder for a few important items I access less often. My general recommendation (at least for more novice users) is not to reorganize apps directly in (and out of) the primary Applications folders and instead create desired custom "virtual" organization/access for them using whatever "resources" are required. . . .On multi-user systems a "personalized virtualization of the shared system environment" often becomes a necessity, or at least a cooperative agreement. It's pretty annoying when location becomes too much of a moving target for some users because other admin users decide to shuffle shared apps/data around for their own "selfish" convenience. On OS X, understanding and heeding the distinctions and boundaries between system and user "space" helps keep both running healthier. Even with experience that's not always an easy, black/white issue.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
After having been thoroughly spoiled by many years on Classic where you could pretty much wrassle that thing to the ground, I've kinda satisfied my lust for app classification by taking full advantage of the Users appplications folder. The main Apps (and Utilities) folder holds all Apple stuff, as well as Office and other behemoths that just kinda sit there . . . and my own apps folder and subfolders actually work just fine. Damn, doesn't Steve know, it goes against the grain to view long lists of unrelated apps, what the heck are folders for. And subfolders, and all the meaning and direction a Mac user takes from the way they structure what's on their disk.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
You can also get "Start" menu like behavior using Unsanity's FruitMenu.
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
I used to use FruitMenu, and I rather liked it. But I noticed that the more programs one opens, the more memory FruitMenu takes up. Since then, I've turned to XMenu (scroll to the bottom) and I've grown to really like it. It took some getting used to at first (moving the cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen instead of upper-left), but it's fast, efficient, and I can have as many sub-menus as I want. (Needless to say, it doesn't use up nearly as much RAM as FruitMenu can.)
Windows-like application moving
In Windows, you can't even view your applications folder by default ( c:/Program Files ). Any "organization" possible in Windows is only within the Start menu, which is just a bunch of shortcuts.
10.4: Make the App folder easier to use
I too used to organize my Apps folder by type prior to OS X. But as you know that really won't work, especially with multiple accounts where non-admin users won't be able to access sub-folders, and of course the update problem. But now, I never even go digging in folders, I use LaunchBar. Now, I simply hit <cmd-space> and type a few letters, say "add" for Address Book, hit <Enter>, and it launches the app. LaunchBar will also find docs, MP3s, URLs, and more. (I should be writing their ad copy) Check it out:
10.4: Make the Dictionary safer and easier to use
you can make your own start menu ... sorta, here's how: |
SearchFrom our Sponsor...Latest Mountain Lion HintsWhat's New:Hints1 new Hints in the last 24 hoursComments last 2 daysNo new commentsLinks last 2 weeksNo recent new linksWhat's New in the Forums?
Hints by TopicNews from Macworld
From Our Sponsors |
|
Copyright © 2014 IDG Consumer & SMB (Privacy Policy) Contact Us All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. |
Visit other IDG sites: |
|
|
|
Created this page in 0.08 seconds |
|