ATTENDING : Tom B, Gene N, Jerry L, Bob S, John M, Al J, Larry T, Andrea
R, Susan W, Lucy W, Phil W, Nancy D, Ella D, Terry D, Carl H, Donna M
and Don M.
Our first meeting of 2015 began with the announcement that the library's
Internet connection was not working. So we had to revert to plan B which
meant talking to each other and looking at books made of paper. Tom mentioned
that the first medieval IT Help Desk may have faced similar challenges
(see video -
2m37s).
After brief introductions of our group of 16, discussion and short demos
of built-in Mac automation features followed.
AppleScript
- short quick demo of how to write a simple script using AppleScript
Editor (found in the Utilities) - follow this simple
beginners guide to produce an automated message box
1
2
3
4
Services -
automated scripts found under 'Services' in the right-click menu of any
file - Apple has already supplied many possible tasks but you can add
more if you wish - see some tutorials here.
Automator
- uses a simple drag-and-drop process to create and run “automation
recipes” that perform simple or complex tasks for you, when and
where you need them - read
more at Apple
Watch video
tutorial from Gary at MacMost - how to create a Workflow to batch rename
multiple files
Watch video
tutorial from Gary at MacMost - how create an Application to duplicate,
rename and scale images
Watch video
tutorial from Gary at MacMost - how to use Automator in Yosemite to create
commands that your Mac will react to using only your voice
COM - OPT - ESC - - - force-quit any application that is unresponsive
COM - CTRL - POWER (the famous 3-finger salute) - - - forces computer
to re-start
TIME SAVER - renaming a file
1 Original file
2 Select file
3 Push 'Enter' Key
4 Type new name
WEATHER CHANGER
Don't like the forecast in your weather widget? Hold OPT-COM then click
on icon for changes.
Press C during startup - - - Start up from a bootable CD, DVD, or
USB thumb drive (such as OS X install media).
Press D during startup - - - Start up in Apple Hardware Test (AHT).
Press Option-Command-P-R until you hear startup sound a second time
- - - Reset NVRAM (PRAM)
Press Option during startup - - - Start up in Startup Manager, where
you can select an OS X volume or network volume to start from.
Press Eject, F12, or hold the mouse or trackpad button - - - Ejects
any removable media, such as an optical disc.
Press N during startup - - - Attempt to start up from a compatible
network server (NetBoot).
Press T during startup - - - Start up in Target Disk Mode.
Press Shift during startup - - - Start up in Safe Boot mode and temporarily
disable login items.
Press Command-V during startup - - - Start up in Verbose mode.
Press Command-S during startup - - - Start up in Single-User mode.
Press Option-N during startup - - - Start from a NetBoot server using
the default boot image.
Press Command-R during startup - - - Start from the OS X Recovery
System1
IN THE NEWS
Japan bets revival on humanoid robots - read
article
FREE APPS
Adblock
Plus - free Add-on for Firefox or Safari to block annoying ads,
flash, etc.
MONEY SAVER
iPhone 4s (with
Verizon SIM card) - can now be set up for transfer of Tracfone cell phone
number and unused minutes via Tracfone's BYOP (Bring
Your Own Phone) option - read good article here
Hammondsport Mac Users Group - Hammondsport, NY 14840
- www.hportmug.com