Mac OS Basics

Folder basics

All the items on your computer—including your documents, pictures, music files, applications, and more—are organized in folders. As you create documents, install new applications, and do other work on your computer, you can create new folders to keep your information organized.

Create a new folder

.                Click the desktop (the background area of your screen) if you want to keep the new folder on the desktop; otherwise, open the window where you want to keep the folder.

.                Choose File > New Folder.
If the New Folder command is dimmed, you do not have permission to create a folder in the current location.

.                To give the folder a new name, click to select it and press Return. Then type a name for the folder and press Return again.

Move items into folders

.                To put an item in a folder, drag its icon to the new folder.

.                To put several items in a new folder, select all the items, and then choose File > Group as Folder.

.                To keep an item in its original location and put a copy in a new folder, hold down the Option key while you drag the item.

.                To keep an item in its original location and put an alias for it in a new folder, hold down the Command and Option keys while you drag the item.

.                To make a copy of an item within the same folder, select the item and choose File > Duplicate.

.                To copy files to a different disk, drag the icons to the disk. To move files to a different disk without copying them, hold down the Command key while you drag the icons.

Group multiple items instantly

You can quickly create a folder of items on the desktop or in a Finder window.

.                Select all the items you want to group together.

.                Control-click one of the selected items, and then choose “Group as Folder” from the shortcut menu.

Type a new name for the folder.

How your computer is organized

Mac OS X organizes items on your computer in folders. Your internal disk, which is named “Macintosh HD,” contains many important folders. To view the folders, double-click the Macintosh HD icon. Some of the folders are described in this topic.

Important: Your home folder and certain other folders can’t be renamed. It is best not to rename or move the other folders that came with your computer. Many of these folders have special uses and are necessary for your computer to function correctly.

	COMMENTS
Applications	This folder contains applications, including Mail, iCal, Safari, and many others. Applications in this folder appear in the Launchpad. If you try to drag an application out of the Applications folder, it is not moved; instead, an alias to the application is created.
Library	This folder contains fonts, Internet plug-ins, and other items used by applications that are available to all users of your computer. Don’t use this folder to store files and folders you create; instead, use the Documents folder or desktop.
System	This folder contains the Mac OS X operating system. You can’t change the name or location of the System folder or the items within it.
Users	This folder contains the home folders of all the people who have user accounts on your computer. When you’re logged in, the icon for your home folder looks like a house, and the other home folders have folder icons. If you log out and someone else logs in, that person’s home folder changes to a house icon. This folder also contains the Shared folder. Items in the Shared folder are available to anyone who has an account on the computer.
Home	Your home folder has the same name as your user account, and is represented by a house icon when you are logged in to your account. It contains folders that hold your personal files, including Desktop (which includes anything you keep on your desktop), Documents, Pictures, and more. These folders may also appear in the Finder window sidebar, if you choose to keep them there. Your home folder also contains a Public folder for items you want to share with others. Inside the Public folder is a folder named Drop Box, where others can put files they want to share with you.
Pictures, Music, and other folders	These folders, which are located in your home folder, make it easy to organize your files. The applications that came with your computer are set up to use these folders. For example, iTunes keeps any music files you add to your computer in the Music folder.

You can create additional levels of folders to organize information as needed. If you can’t create a folder, you may not have permission to do so. If you can’t modify a folder, it may be protected. Talk to your administrator or the person who owns the folder.

Organize your files in the Finder

Represented by the blue icon with the smiling face, the Finder is home base for your Mac. You use it to organize and access almost everything on your Mac, including documents, images, movies, and any other files you have.

Use folders... or don’t	If you like working in a folder structure, you can do that. With Mac OS X, it’s easy to create new folders and subfolders, in your home folder or on your desktop, and then organize your files as you like.
Folder basics	If you’d rather avoid folders, use All My Files, where your items are organized for you and you’ll find a quick, efficient way to browse all your information.
Make files easier to spot with color labels	Color labels make it a snap to quickly identify all files of the same type—for example, all documents related to a work project, or all pictures of a person or place. To color-code items, select an item in a Finder window, and then choose File > Label and choose a color. You can customize the name assigned to each color label in Finder preferences.
Rename your files	You can easily rename almost any file or folder on your Mac. To rename an item, select it and press Return, then type a new name. For more information, see:
Pick a favorite way to view Finder windows	You can change how you view Finder windows to suit your working style. For example, you don’t have to view your items in a list—Cover Flow lets you flip through your files and folders visually. If you choose icon view, you can pick a size for the icons, and even add a color or picture to the window background. There are many ways to view Finder windows—find the one that suits you best.

Organize your files on the desktop

The desktop takes up most of the area of your screen, and it’s the area where you’ll do most of your work. If you keep documents, aliases, and folders on your desktop as you work, you can organize them to make it easier to find the items you need.

Organize items into folders	You can quickly group items on the desktop into folders. Just select all the items you want to group, Control-click one of the selected items, and then choose “New Folder with Selection” from the shortcut menu. Locked items can’t be grouped. If you like, type a new name for the folder.

The Finder offers many ways to work and organize your files, so getting access to your most important items is quick and easy.

Resources: 
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Mac OS Lion Basics. (2011). YouTube. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCO8pMg-2KM&feature=related]. Retrieved 5/28/12. 

Mac OS Lion New Features Review. (2011). YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4chZly484u8&feature=related]. Retrieved 5/28/12. 

Mac OS Lion — Getting To Know Your Basics. (2012). YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEsIthzd8BI&feature=related]. Retrieved 5/28/12. 

Mac OS Snow Leopard Basics. (2012). YouTube. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ithQTAhVSs&feature=related]. Retrieved 5/28/12. 

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