Oh Simon, let me answer your second question.
This is a bit more complex so maybe this is something we should do
over the phone, but let me try to explain.
If you are in an application and you want to open a file etc. Command
+o will present you with a menu of choices for opening files. You have
a few things here and lets see if I can describe this correctly. There
is a table for choosing volumes, network resources, etc. There's a
popup menu that lets you choose folders, i.e. if you are looking for
something on Macintosh HD, normally the default location, within your
home folder, generally a default location, you only need to look for
the file browser and interact with it. Lets say you were last in your
movies folder, you can use that popup menu to select Simon or backup
one level, then navigate to the file browser and locate the folder of
interest. You can generally just use your arrow keys and navigate to
the right to expand a folder, up/down to move between folders, etc.
This is assuming that you have your view set to the default which is
what those checkboxes are. Now maybe someone can provide a mch better
description, but hope this helps. Its something you will with time get
used to, its not that hard, but you will get there.
On Dec 27, 2007, at 5:03 AM, Simon Cavendish wrote:
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]
Scott Howell
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
