Last week happened to be the start of our Mac 101 series and we had a lot of questions posted in the comments to the inaugural post. So this week in Ask TUAW, in addition to our normal questions, I've decided that to tackle some of those questions as well. I want to emphasize that new Mac users and Switchers should feel very welcome to post questions for Ask TUAW. We're happy to take questions from all levels. As always, please submit your questions by commenting to this post or using our tip form. This week we'll be addressing questions about pasting with the middle mouse button a la X11, previewing pictures in the Finder, locking the screen to preclude mischief, and much more. Let's get to it.
David asks
Coming from a unix (X11) world the one thing i miss more than any other is middle click paste. is there anything that does this on a OSX?
To my knowledge there isn't a built-in way to do this, but it's easily accomplished with third-party software. If you have a Logitech mouse, for instance, you can use the Logitech Control Center Preference Pane to do. My MX1000 doesn't have a middle button, but click-wheel has a button so I've simply set that to keystroke: ⌘V.
I believe that Microsoft's IntelliPoint will allow you to do something similar with a Microsoft mouse. You should first check here at VersionTracker to see if your specific mouse manufacturer offers a Mac-specific that will let you do this. If not, there are a couple of third-part USB mouse drivers that will let you do this: SteerMouse and USB Overdrive, both of which are $20. SteerMouse seems to be in much more active development, so if I were going with a third party driver I'd probably choose that one, though I have used neither of these products.
Goobimama asks
I recently installed 2GB of RAM in my iMac but I bought the modules from different dealers at different times. How do I know if the RAM is running in dual channel or not?
From my research (and as well as this Apple support doc) there is no easy way to determine this in OS X. I hate to say this, but I found a Windows utility that will apparently tell you if you happen to have Boot Camp installed and would like to boot into Windows for this test. That said, differing vendors should not be a problem if the SODIMMs are exactly the same size and speed (including the same number of chips on each module). You should be able to visually inspect them to determine this.
mkernan asks
Is there any way that I can enable a keyboard lock on my computer? Apple suggests setting a password on my screensaver and having a hot corner activate a screensaver, but then the problem is that every time I return from a screensaver, I have to authenticate myself. I live in a dorm with 250 guys who are fans of pranking so I'm just thinking of something like a quick keystroke (maybe in Quicksilver?) or something that I can hit whenever I leave Macky in the study area.
Fortunately, Macworld has the solution to your problem. Just launch the Keychain Access.app (/Applications/Utilities), go to the preferences and in the General tab, choose "Show Status in Menu Bar." That will then give you a little lock in the menu bar and when you select "Lock Screen" it will start your Screen Saver, and require a password to unlock. The great thing is that normal Screen Saver operation will not activate the password protection.
Jordan asks
Lets say I'm opening several pictures at a time in preview and i want to be able to view them all at once. Instead of highlighting them all and opening them i open them individually but every time i open one, preview becomes the active application. Is there any way to open files one at a time from the finder and keep the finder the active application?
The short answer is: no. Basically, by definition the foremost application has to be the active one, so if you're using Preview to open the files then it must become the active application. However, there are some ways to do something like what I suspect you want, i.e. previewing the image files in the Finder. If you have an older PPC Mac you'll love QuickImageCM, which has not been updated, alas, since 2004. It's probably the single thing I miss most having gone all Intel. If you are on a Mactel you may find some comfort in PicturePopPro or MilkyWay, though I don't think either of them is as quick and convenient as QuickImageCM.
Now let's quickly look at some of those Mac 101 questions:
Jaime asks
Hope this qualifies - How do I get rich text to format consistently in mail, primarily so that it looks good on my client's windows systems. I've seen a few mails I've sent out to windows user clients and while they looked fine on my screen they look all over the place in outlook/outlook express. All I want is to type in a consistent serif font (Ariel 12pt). I'd use plain text but inserting links takes longer. I've tried this over and over and I'm still none the wiser.
The solution to your problem is likely found in this post from macOSXhints.
ji3000 asks
I'm about to switch and just wonder if (cheaper) software bought in the US will work on a UK iMac ?
Yes. :)
Karl asks
How about how to create ISO images from CDs?
One question: are you actually sure you want to create an ISO. The standard disc image format on the Mac is DMG. Creating a DMG is super easy with the Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities). Just mount the CD, select it in Disc Utility, then click on "New Image"
Select where you want to save it and this will create a DMG. If you really want an ISO, it's pretty easy to use the Disk Utility to convert the DMG to an ISO. You'll find complete instructions here. If you happen to be command line savvy, you can do it very easily as described here.
All right, that'll do it for this week. Keep those questions coming!
This information is provided for your entertainment. Neither TUAW nor this author can be held responsible for any problems arising from the use of the information provided here.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-18-2007 @ 11:10AM
Fin said...
There's actually an easier way to set up a lock screen, using Quicksilver - enable the "Extra Scripts" plugin. Then simply set up a trigger to run the "Fast Logout" script, which is the same as "Fast User Switch" in Windows - I've mine binded to apple-shift-L.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 11:10AM
Benjamin said...
Regarding Jordan's question (if I understand it correctly), it's simple, and built-in: in Finder, highlight the images you want, right-click and select "Slideshow".
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 11:52AM
akuhn said...
@Screen lock - there is no need for keychain, just enable fast user switching in the login options in accounts preferences, this enables a menu in the menu bar that includes a "login window..." command which actually has the same effect as screen locking.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 11:57AM
Brian said...
If you don't have Quicksilver installed, an alternative way to lock the screen is to install WinSwitch. One of its several features is the ability to set a key-combo that will bring you to the login screen (without logging you out) effectively locking the computer.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 12:01PM
Seth just said...
I use the application DeskShade (http://macrabbit.com/deskshade/) to lock my laptop. It has hot-key activation built in, and totally locks your computer. It also allows you to use a new password for locking the desk instead of your account password.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 12:04PM
Seth just said...
I also use the option to require a password on screensaver resume and wake from sleep. I like having it on the wake from sleep, but not with the screensaver. Can Mac 101 help me with that?
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 12:19PM
SMAC said...
Speaking of slide show does anyone else have the problem where it crashes the Finder. It seems that if I select a bundle of pics, control-click (I just can't bring my self to call it right-click it is from windoze and it isn't right) select slide show, watch it, select another bundle, control-click, select slide show and Finder restarts.
Highly annoying, anyone have some advise.
I find that selecting them all, then double clicking to get them into Preview, streaching the window to fill the screen, and clicking zoom to fit, works ok, I just keep pressing down arrow to scroll through.
But I like to show off the slideshow, is there another way to start one besides control-clicking?
Thanx
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4-18-2007 @ 12:22PM
Matt said...
Fast User Switch and the screen lock have one very large difference. Fast user switch will kill your iChat and other chat sessions I believe and log you out of them. Screen lock just locks the screen without messing with your apps.
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4-18-2007 @ 12:31PM
Aron Trimble said...
@mkernan - Use WinSwitch... it basically is the same as "locking" a computer with windows. It is a better version of the fast user switching menu item... It allows you to use a keyboard shortcut (your choice) to pull up a login window or switch users.... I use it several times a day at work.
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4-18-2007 @ 12:32PM
Aron Trimble said...
You can start a slideshow from within in preview. I believe it is in the view menu? i'm not positive - i'm on the windows box right now... *sigh*
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4-18-2007 @ 12:38PM
Burt said...
The problem with the propose solution to the middle click paste is that the truly great thing about it in a Unix style window manager is that it's not just paste, the middle click takes whatever you have highlighted in whichever other window and pastes that (without you having to first copy it) Sound like nothing but I miss it like crazy working on my MacBook compare to my work (Solairs/Gnome) system. And no I haven't found a solution yet either.
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4-18-2007 @ 12:59PM
Pat said...
Quicksilver also has a "LockScreen" script which I believe is included in the "Extra Scripts" plugin. Effectively, it starts your screensaver with password protection.
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4-18-2007 @ 1:08PM
Brian said...
@8 Fast user switch doesn't stop any currently running programs, so it shouldn't be a problem. I know at least Adium continues to run, I don't use iChat but I don't see why it would be any different.
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4-18-2007 @ 1:27PM
Braulio Silva said...
Hi.
i have a doubt...
How do I enable a password everytime my computer wakes up??
I don't like the security password because of the screen saver...
what can I say, I like the Flurry :D
thanks
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 2:44PM
Charles said...
I have to give a vote to Steermouse. I've been using it for about a month now, and it has make my mouse work great. I got a clearance Logitech Bluetooth mouse. The gotcha is that the enhanced capabilities of Control Center only apply if you use the Logitech Bluetooth dongle.
Steelmouse brings all those features using any set of drivers. Further, the buttons can be configured per application. For instance, there are three extra buttons on the side of my mouse (just under my thumb). I have two programed as page up/down. But, in Firefox, it's back/forward for web pages. And, in another app, one of those buttons is "mark all as read."
I never thought paying $20 for a driver is something I would do. After two weeks, I gladly paid it.
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4-18-2007 @ 2:47PM
ajt said...
"That's just faster and easier than having to switch to the Finder and find the file you're looking for by opening a bunch of images in Preview (or in a slideshow) until you find the one you're looking for."
err... you can turn on image previews (and set the icon size) in View, Show View Options, or you can use one of the alternate Finder views, such as the column mode.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 3:46PM
Christopher M said...
I'm as big a Mac fan as there is, but I think it's totally bizarre that there's no image preview built into the Finder. The apps you mentioned are slightly helpful. But in Windows, when you're browsing files in an "Open File" dialog box, you can preview image thumbnails directly from that dialog. That's just faster and easier than having to switch to the Finder and find the file you're looking for by opening a bunch of images in Preview (or in a slideshow) until you find the one you're looking for.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 3:48PM
Christopher M said...
Well, what do you know. :) It's still silly that you can't preview a bunch of images at once in an file open dialog.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 8:44PM
Allister said...
The built in slideshow has limitations in that it seems to randomise the pictures and is limited to 99.
I found the perfect quick image view in Xee. Check it out.
Reply
4-18-2007 @ 9:52PM
sporobolus said...
regarding Jordan's question: Path Finder has excellent, resizable image preview that can be either in a drawer or in the last column; you could also use a little AppleScript to keep Finder in front as Preview opens selected files (no error checking):
tell application "Finder"
set them to selection
tell application "Preview"
repeat with thing in them
open thing
end repeat
end tell
activate
end tell
assign this to a keyboard shortcut (using e.g. QuickSilver), save it as an application to put in the Finder toolbar, or use On My Command to put it it in a contextual menu
Reply