Dear Scott,
Thanks for the description of the file hierarchy - it is
slowlybeginning to makesense. If I could impose upon you further,
let's say that you wnt to create a new folder called private docs.
Does it by default get placed in your home folder, or do you have to
specify it? If you do have to specify it, how do you go about it?
Secondly, let's say that you have already created such a folder called
private docs, if you want to retrieve a file from this said folder,
how do you go about it? I know from reading the manual that you can
use spotlight to find a file but in some operations like attaching a
file to an e-mail, spotlight might not be available as part of the
process.
I am askig these questions because I have been trying to import e-mal
addresses from a file which I had previously put in my home folder,
and in Address Book, whilst going through the import process, I got
myself into a complete tangle trying to locate and open the wretched
file. I'm sure it is a familiar story!
Many thanks, Scott, Simon
On 26 Dec 2007, at 15:06, Scott Howell wrote:
Ok, here ya go. The entire file system is a tree. Think of / (slash)
as the root of the tree, the main trunk if you will. Off this main
trunk or root you have various folders such as one named System
which is kind of like the windows or winnt folder in windows, you
have applications where all system-wide apps would go, this is apps
all users generally have access too, then you have library where a
lot of other system stuff is, users where all the users on your
system have their person home folders. So, you have your personal
home folder here which is tied generally to your user name. In this
folder you will have applications possibly, but not always and this
is where you would place apps that you don't want anyone to access
accept yourself, you'll have movies, music, documents, and possibly
other folders.
This is a basic explanation of how the system is setup and it may
vary based on some differences in configuration etc. Hopefully this
helps and if you have other questions, just let me know and I'll try
to help.
On Dec 26, 2007, at 5:55 PM, Simon Cavendish wrote:
Dear All,
I was wondering whether somebody could wzplain to me the hierarchy
of files in Mac. Up until recently, I had been working in Windows
and previously in DOS, and I am very much used to the concept of
paths that identify where my files are. I find it difficult to know
where to look for my files. I seem to need to know where precisely
they reside in terms of which folder. I'm confused when it comes to
choosing where a particular file might be. I have a home folder but
I also have a folder listed which is called simon and a folder
which is called documents.
I would appreciate any light you might shed on this dilemma of mine.
With best wishes
Simon
Scott Howell
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
