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. (click on image to enlarge)

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.

• The DEVICES section is the equivalent of opening My Computer on a PC.
  • Click on Macintosh HD to display any additional devices attached to the computer.
• The SHARED section displays any shared or networked items.
• The PLACES section shows common places on the computer, such as the Desktop and Documents folders.
• The SEARCH FOR section provides access to the Spotlight feature. 

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)

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.

How to Quit an Open Application/Program

1. Click the name of the open Application on the toolbar at the top of the screen, and
2. Select Quit "NameofOpenApplication/Program" 

(Click on image to enlarge)

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 (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 Applications and Documents from the Dock

There are two folders to the left of the Trash on the Dock: Applications and Documents. The Applications folder, contains all of the Applications/Programs on your computer. 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:

1. 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).
2. 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:

1. Hold down the Control button and click on the Application icon
2. 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:

Click and drag the item to the Trash

OR

1. Hold down the Control button and click the item.
2. Select Move to Trash. (Click on image to enlarge)
   
   
   
   

Emptying the Trash

To empty the trash:

1. Click the Finder menu button on the toolbar at the top of the desktop
2. Select Empty Trash. (Click on image to enlarge)
   
   
   
   

Installing New Software on the Mac

To install new software on a Mac:

1. Download the application package.  This is usually in a .dmg file format.
2. Navigate to the Downloads folder.
3. Double click the application package.  A dialog box will appear as the file opens.
4. A new window will appear.  This folder should contain the application, and may contain other files, such as instructions.
   1. If there is another folder inside of this window called "Applications", simply drag the application into this folder.  The application will be installed.
   2. If there is no other folder, open a new Finder window.  Drag the application you're installing onto the Applications heading in the sidebar.  The application is now installed.
5. Once the application has been installed, go to the Desktop.  There should be an icon labeled with the name of the application you've just installed.  It will appear as a rectangular object.  Hold Control as you click it once, then choose "Eject" from the menu that appears.

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 

Keyboard and Trackpad Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts

Trackpad Shortcuts

For More Information, see the Mac 101 and Switch to Mac 101 pages on the Apple web site.