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What macOS should I be running right now?
Please keep an eye on the Apple security releases table at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222.
Especially for a personally-owned Mac, you should keep up-to-date for security purposes.
For Drew-owned Macs, we may push security patches out to your computer, and we may prevent installation of new versions of the operating systems while determining whether regular Drew software is affected by Apple's changes.
Exploring files on a Mac
On a PC, you use Windows Explorer to browse through files and folders on your computer. On a Mac, you use an Application called the Finder. It is a blue face icon that is always the first icon on the left hand side of the Dock. Open the Finder to view all files on your computer by clicking once on its icon in the Dock.
The Apple Menu
The Apple menu is the equivalent to the Start button on the bottom left in the Windows interface. The Apple menu is accessed by clicking on the small Apple logo in the top left on the toolbar. (snapshot here filename:apple logo.jpg)This is how you can log out of the computer, shut down, get information about the computer, access Software Updates, and more.
Quitting Applications
The Menu at the top of the screen remains open in every application, and changes its functions based on the application with which the user is currently working.
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When you close the window of an Application on a Mac, it does not necessarily quit the application. |
How to Quit an Open Application/Program
- Click the name of the open Application on the toolbar at the top of the screen, and
- Select Quit "NameofOpenApplication/Program"
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To close an Application, it needs to be the active Application, meaning you can see the name of the application on the toolbar at the top. |
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Basic Functions on a Mac
Preview
While you click on a file, such as a picture, pdf, video, document, etc., tap the Space bar to preview the file without having to open it.
Opening, Closing, and Maximizing Windows
Instead of controlling the window from the top right hand corner of the screen, Macs controls are on the top left hand corner of the screen. The red circle closes the window, the yellow minus minimizes the window, and the green plus changes the window to its optimal size. There is no maximize button like on Windows. The optimize button opens the window to the ideal size for itself, not maximizes it to fill the screen.
Computer Status Information
Basic information about the general status of you computer can be found at the top right hand of your computer. Information that can be found here includes:
- time
- day of the week
- wireless status
- sound volume
- internet connection
- battery level
- Spotlight functiton function (more on this below)
Spotlight
At the very right hand side of the toolbar at the top of the screen, there is a magnifying glass icon for the Spotlight feature. The Spotlight feature allows you to searches your entire computer based on file names. This is the easiest way to search for a particular file, folder, application, or anything else on your computer. (Click on image to enlarge)
The Dock
The Dock at the bottom of the screen is an advanced version of the Taskbar on the bottom of the Windows interface. Apple provides a set of default applications already installed on the Dock.
Finding
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Documents from the Dock
There are two folders is a folder to the left of the Trash on the Dock: Applications and Documents. The Applications folder, contains all of the Applications/Programs on your computer Documents. The Documents folder is the place where you can store documents like papers and image files. (Click on image to enlarge)
Removing Seldom-Used Applications/Programs from the Dock
If you wish to remove an Application from the dock, follow these steps:
- Hold down the Control button and click on the icon of the Application/Program that you want to remove (the equivalent of right clicking on a mouse).
- Choose Options → Remove from Dock. (Click on image to enlarge)
Adding Often-Used Applications/Programs to the Dock
To add Applications and Programs to the Dock:
- Hold down the Control button and click on the Application icon
- Choose Options → Keep in Dock.
Accessing Minimized Windows from the Dock
The right side of the dock also holds all your minimized windows. To open the window again, just click on its icon on the Dock. 
The Trash
The Trash is the metal trash can icon, which is the last icon on the right hand side of the Dock. 
Deleting Items from Your Computer
There are two ways to delete an item from your computer:
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- Hold down the Control button and click the item.
- Select Move to Trash. (Click on image to enlarge)
Emptying the Trash
To empty the trash:
- Click the Finder menu button on the toolbar at the top of the desktopHold Control and click on the Trash icon.
- Select Empty Trash. (Click on image to enlarge)
Installing New Software on the Mac
Marissa, this process is really confusing for Windows users. The whole "drag the icon to teh Applications folder" and then having to eject the installer from the desktop is weird. Run through this process once with screen shots
Exploring files on your Mac instead of on Windows
On a PC, you use Windows Explorer to browse through files and folders on your computer. On a Mac, you use an Application called the Finder. It is a blue face icon that is always the first icon on the left hand side of the Dock. Open the Finder to view all files on your computer by clicking once on its icon in the Dock. (screenshot filename: finder.jpg)
Navigating through the Finder
On the left side of the Finder window is the sidebar, which allows you to move throughout your computer files with ease.
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- Click on Macintosh HD to display any additional devices attached to the computer.
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To install new software on a Mac:
- Download the software you wish to install. This is usually in a .dmg file format.
- Navigate to the Downloads folder. This should be an icon in the Dock, located next to the trash can.
- Click the icon for the software you want to install. A dialog box will appear as the file opens.
- A new window will appear. This folder should contain the application and another folder inside of this window called Applications. Simply drag the application into this folder. The application will be installed.
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Keyboard and Trackpad Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
KEY COMBINATION | WHAT IT DOES |
Command-C | Copy selected item/text to the Clipboard |
Command-V | Paste |
Command-X | Cut |
Command-Z | Undo / Redo |
Command-A | Highlight every item in a document or window, or all characters in a text field |
Command-N | Create a new document in the frontmost application |
Command-S | Save the active document |
Command-P | Display the Print dialog |
Spacebar (or Command-Y) | Quick Look |
Shift-Command-Q | Log Out |
Trackpad Shortcuts
TRACKPAD COMBINATION | WHAT IT DOES |
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One finger click | Clicks item |
Control + click | Right clicks item |
Two fingers drag | Scroll through frontmost window |
Four fingers drag downup | View all open windows |
Four fingers drag updown | Go back to previously open window |
*Some clicking trackpad shortcuts require "Tap to Click" to be turned on in System Preferences.
For More Information, see the Mac
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Support pages on the Apple web site.
Reviewed June 9, 2023