OS X Introduction

For those of you unfamiliar with OS X, please spend a few minutes running through the basic operations.

Logging In

You have to log in, using your domain username and password

OS X is a multi-user operating system with security barriers between users, individual preferences and a host of other great features. Each Wellesley student has her own username and password (the same domain password used for the Windows machines). Please make sure you're logged in as yourself.

Please don't customize the machine (such as installing applications), since you'll affect other users. The machines are refreshed often, so don't store files on the hard drive overnight.

The Desktop

The area at the bottom is the "dock," which holds icons of certain programs, such as Safari, Firefox and FirstClass. Many other programs are on the machine, which you can find in the Applications folder near the right end of the dock. Menus appear at the top of the screen, and change with the application.

Launching Applications

(1) Single-click on the "dock" icon to launch

Try launching Safari (icon like a compass). Notice that the menus at the top of the screen have changed. Notice the bright dot under the Safari icon on the dock. To terminate an application, find the Quit option under the menu with the application name, to the right of the Apple menu at the upper left corner of the screen. You can use command-Q as a shortcut.

You can also try launching Firefox. (We'll use both in this class.) It is also on the dock.

Try launching FirstClass, too. (You might take this opportunity to put the CS110-F10 course conference and the CS110-Announcements subconference on your FC desktop.)

(2) Search in the Applications folder near the right end of the dock, or select Applications under the Go menu in the Finder, and double-click the icon

Try launching TextWrangler (icon like a big W).

Try launching Fetch (icon like a running dog).

Window Decorations

The buttons at the upper left of the window mean:

• red: close window (but not the application)
• yellow: "genie effect" shrink the window onto the right end of the dock
• green: resize window (rarely used). You can do a custom resizing of the window using the lower right corner.

Locating Files and Disks

Opening Files and Disks

Double-clicking on a file only opens it in the default application. We'll manipulate, or look at, HTML files with several applications, like TextWrangler, Safari, or DreamWeaver later, so it's better to open your file from within the desired application, rather than double-clicking on it.

Try opening an HTML file using Safari, and then open the same file using TextWrangler.

Logging Out

Always remember to log out. (Use the Apple menu.) It's a good habit to protect yourself and our computers.

Additional Info