OS X: Fixes Hints Tweaks and Tips

OS X Yosemite: Set up a scanner

You can add a scanner to the list of devices in Printers & Scanners preferences.

If you’ve already set up a printer that includes a scanner, you may be able to use its scanner features without any additional work. Select the printer in the list at the left, then click Scan.

Before setting up your scanner, choose Apple menu > App Store, then click Updates to make sure OS X has the latest information about scanner software it can download from Apple.

If you have a multifunction AirPrint printer and scanner, no software is installed, so you don’t need to check for software updates.

Follow the instructions that came with the scanner to unpack it and connect it to your Mac. Important:  Don’t install software that came with the scanner. OS X downloads the latest scanner software automatically.

Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners.

If you don’t see your scanner in the list at the left, click Add. If a pop-up menu appears, choose Add Printer or Scanner.

Select your scanner, then click Add.

If your scanner isn’t in the list, see the documentation that came with the scanner to find out how to scan with it.

READ/WRITE TO NTFS FORMATTED DRIVES
Install software from here.

NOTE: On install NTFS-Free Yosemite you are required to run the following in the terminal:

Terminal:~$ sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1" sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel sudo kextcache -system-caches

After the first command you will need to enter your password because of 'sudo' (super user do) this disables the security check. The other 2 commands just clear your cache of any old versions of this kernel extension to give you a fresh slate. After you install/reinstall you'll restart and things seem to be working. It is suspected that this will be broken in the next update because this uses the /System/ folder which apple will be phasing out 3d party use of that folder.

CUPS WEB INTERFACE
Terminal:~$ cupsctl WebInterface=yes

To access the web interface in a browser's address bar type either of the following:

http://localhost:631 your.ip.address.here:631

DASHBOARD
The Dashboard is activated by pressing F12, however it is always running in the background hogging resources, so to permanently disable it undertake the following.

Terminal:~$ defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean YES killall dock

To revert the behaviour run again changing YES for NO, followed by 'killall dock'.

USER PROFILES FROM APPEARING ON THE LOG IN SCREEN
NOTE: Applies to Yosemite (10.10 and newer).

Terminal:~$ sudo dscl. create /Users/hideuser IsHidden 1

To revert the change:

Terminal:~$ sudo dscl. create /Users/hideuser IsHidden 0


 * Where 'hideuser' is the name of the profile to be hidden.
 * Reboot the system after either change to enable it.

This also hides the user from the Fast User Switching menu and login and logout menus.

The account can still be accessed through SSH, screen sharing, remote login and GUI login panels.

Thanks to OS X Daily.

BLANK SAMBA FOLDERS or CANNOT CONNECT TO FILE SHARE
Finder > Go To Folder > cifs://ip.address.of.server

NOTE: This will not work, but then close that window and try your other shortcuts or shares again, they should now work.

HOWTO: MODIFY:
Where jpg is the format you want, or substitute with bmp gif etc as required:

SCREEN SHOT FORMAT
Terminal:~$ defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg

Logging out and in is required to activate the change.

PRIMARY HOST NAME
Your fully qualified hostname will look something like this: mymac.domain.com

In the following is replaced by the new name for the machine:

Terminal:~$ sudo scutil --set HostName dscacheutil -flushcache

Finally restart the machine.

BONJOUR HOST NAME
Where is replaced by the new name for the machine:

Terminal:~$ sudo scutil --set LocalHostName dscacheutil -flushcache

Finally restart the machine.

COMPUTER NAME
Where is replaced by the new name for the machine:

Terminal:~$ sudo scutil --set ComputerName dscacheutil -flushcache

Finally restart the machine.

BOOT FROM USB / OPTICAL DRIVE
Hold down the Option key, then turn on and keep holding until the Startup Manager appears.

Thanks to Apple Support

CREATE A SHORTCUT TO A SERVER
Sidebar Shortcut


 * Make sure you are connected to the file server.
 * Display the folder you want to create a shortcut for.
 * Drag the folder from the Finder window contents section to the window's Sidebar.
 * Sidebar icons can be placed in any order you wish. When dragging the icon to the sidebar a blue line will indicate where the icon will be placed when you release the mouse.
 * To reconnect, simply click once on the icon.
 * Note: If you haven't already authenticated/logged into your computer, you will be prompted for your log in name and password.

Dock Shortcut


 * Make sure you are connected to the file server.
 * Display the folder you want to create a shortcut for.
 * Drag the folder from the Finder window contents section to Dock.
 * When placing items in the Dock, they need to be placed:
 * To the RIGHT of the divider line that separates applications from the Trash and other document and folder icons, if the Dock is on the bottom of the screen;
 * UNDER the divider line that separates applications from the Trash and other document and folder icons, if the Dock is on the left or right side of the screen;
 * When dragging the icon to the Dock a space will "open up" for the icon to indicate where the icon will be placed when you release the mouse.
 * To reconnect, simply click once on the icon.
 * Note: If you haven't already authenticated/logged into your computer, you will be prompted for your log in name and password.

Desktop Shortcut


 * Make sure you are connected to the file server.
 * Display the folder you want to create a shortcut for.
 * Drag the folder icon to your Desktop.
 * To reconnect, double click on the icon.
 * Note: If you haven't already authenticated/logged into your computer, you will be prompted for your log in name and password.

MAKE HIDDEN ITEMS ICONS TRANSLUCENT
Terminal:~$ defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool YES

To revert the behaviour run again changing YES to NO

PREVENT A USER'S DIRECTORY FROM BEING VISIBLE IN FINDER
NOTE: Applies to Yosemite (10.10 and newer).

Running the following command moves the home directory to /var, a hidden directory:

Terminal:~$ sudo mv /Users/hiddenuser /var/hideuser

The following command updates the user record of "hiddenuser" with the new home directory path in /var:

Terminal:~$ sudo dscl. -create /Users/hideuser NFSHomeDirectory /var/hiddenuser

The following command removes the Public Folder share point for the user with the long name "Hide User”:

Terminal:~$ sudo dscl. -delete "/SharePoints/Hide User Public Folder"


 * Where 'hideuser' is the name of the profile to be hidden.
 * Reboot the system after either change to enable it.

BROWSE OUTSIDE OF YOUR OWN USER PROFILE

 * Open Finder
 * Use the keyboard combination 'Shift+CMD+G' to open the 'Go to the folder:' window
 * Typing / in the box provided will take you to the root of the drive

DISPLAY HIDDEN FILES
Terminal:~$ defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool YES

To revert the behaviour run again changing YES to NO

DISPLAY THE FILE PATH
Terminal:~$ defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES

To revert the behaviour run again changing YES to NO

SEARCH FOO
http://richardleggett.co.uk/blog/2008/12/07/improve_osx_searches/

http://www.mcelhearn.com/spotlights-secret-search-syntax/

http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/index_files/12-tips-for-finder-in-Mac-OS-X-Lion.php

Package Updates
Not all of the installed applications in OS X can be updated via the command line or by downloading the update manually.

The App Store for OS X 10.6.6 onwards was introduced in January 2011 and can be used to update packages such as iPhoto, iMovie etc.

Domain Environment
https://wiki.bath.ac.uk/display/bucsapple/Binding+an+OS+X+10.4+%28Tiger%29+to+Active+Directory

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/use-your-mac-on-windows-based-network-3594407/

http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/fileadmin/ICT/pdf/Mac/Working_Together_Your_Apple_Mac_and_Microsoft_Windows.pdf

http://www.techworld.com/operating-systems/22-top-tools-for-professional-apple-mac-admins-3298690/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/05/apple_in_enterprise/

http://www.markwilson.co.uk/blog/2008/02/using-active-directory-to-authenticate-users-on-a-mac-os-x-computer.htm

Burn An ISO File

 * 1) Insert a blank disc.
 * 2) Start Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities/).
 * 3) File menu, choose 'Open Disk Image' then browse and select the ISO to be burned.
 * 4) In the volumes listing there will be an item representing the ISO file, select it.
 * 5) Click the 'Burn' button and follow the instructions.

Keyboard Shortcuts

 * Delete = CMD+backspace
 * Spotlight = CMD+Spacebar

Location

 * Open Finder
 * Open Utilities folder, Terminal is inside.

Using
As with many other *nix systems in the terminal 'sudo' is used to do things as root.

System Updates
OS X Terminal:~$ sudo softwareupdate -i -a

Create/Add/Edit Aliases
Unlike Linux OS X does not provide a user with their own aliases file, so you will need first to create one.

OS X Terminal:~$ nano .bash_profile

This will open a blank file, create your alias:

alias ll='ls -lah' alias la='ls -A' alias l='ls -CF' alias ping='ping -c3' alias pingg='ping -c3 www.google.co.uk' alias update='sudo softwareupdate -i -a alias hg='history |grep'

CTRL+O to write to the file, press enter then CTRL+X to exit.

To load the new alias profile:

OS X Terminal:~$ source ~/.bash_profile

To confirm the entries:

Linux Terminal:~$ alias

This will then display all the aliases entered in the bash_profile file.

Links
http://lifehacker.com/the-best-hidden-settings-you-can-unlock-with-os-xs-ter-1476627111

http://lifehacker.com/5993772/tweak-the-dark-corners-of-your-operating-system-this-weekend

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/handy-keyboard-shortcuts-for-os-x-yosemite.html

http://guides.macrumors.com/Taking_Screenshots_in_Mac_OS_X

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201361

http://superuser.com/questions/174297/how-can-i-get-an-address-bar-in-finder

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18798?locale=en_GB

http://www.econtechnologies.com/chronosync/overview.html

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6682199

www.postbox-inc.com