Chapter 5 - Preferences

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1 - Log in

Chapter 2 - Desktop/Finder

Chapter 3 - Windows

Chapter 4 - Dock

Chapter 5 - Preferences

Chapter 6 - Home

Chapter 7 - Virex

Chapter 8 - Resources

Chapter 9 - Assessment

To find out more about a preference, click on any of the Personal preferences and the Displays, Energy Saver, Mouse, and Sound preferences in the Hardware section. You can drag any preference icon to the title bar or remove it by dragging it off of the title bar. To return to the Preferences panel after selecting a item, simply click on the Show All icon in the upper left corner. The other System Preferences are not normally set by the end user.

 

Desktop preferences allow users to set up the basic look and feel of their computer. For example, a picture file dropped in the Current Desktop Picture: location makes that picture the background image. Pictures or colors can also be selected under the Collection: drop down menu. Users can even set the desktop picture to change at a pre-set interval by clicking on the Change picture: check box and selecting how often to change a picture in the drop down menu next to it.

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Dock preferences are used to set the size and location of the Dock. The size may also be determined by the number of objects in the Dock. The Dock will not extend beyond the edge of the screen. Magnification allows Dock items to appear larger when the cursor is above them. This is helpful for those who keep large numbers of items in the Dock. If you do not like the bouncing icon effect when opening applications, deselect the Animate opening applications check box. If you want the Dock to move off of the screen when not in use, you can select the Automatically hide and show the Dock check box. Dock preferences can also be set by holding down the control key and clicking on the dividing line between applications and folders or files on the Dock itself. For more information about the Dock, see Chapter 4.

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General preferences set the color of the title bar of windows and files. Highlight color is the color text becomes when selected. Scroll bar arrows can also be set as well as their behavior. The Number of Recent Items is set in their respective drop down menus. Font smoothing style helps the computer to approximate the appearance of letters at small sizes.

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International preferences set which languages are used by the computer in menus and dialog boxes. The standard script is Roman. OS X does provide a wide range of language support. Under the Date, Time, and Numbers tabs, users can select the format used by the system to display the date, time, or numbers. For example, the clock can be set to display time in a 12 hour or 24 hour format. The Input Menu is used to select additional language support for keyboard input. Corresponding keys work differently when set to different languages.

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If there are applications that you would like to have start up automatically each time you log in, they can be added to this list. Some applications may add a component to this window when they are installed. removing items from this list may disable correct functioning of an associated application.

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My Account allows you to reset or change your password. You can also set a new picture for your account. This picture only shows up in the login window if the login preferences have been set to show a list of users. By default, DPS installations are set to display both a user and a password field instead of showing a list.

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Screen Effects allows you to set up your screen saver preferences. Pick which screen saver to use, when it starts, and if any of the corners of your screen should be set to automatically start the screen saver, or to prevent the screen saver from starting up at all. Under the Activation tab, you can set your screen saver to require a password once it is activated.

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Display preferences set the monitor resolution and the number of colors displayed. Quick access to display options can also be added to the menu bar by selecting the Show displays in menu bar checkbox. Small adjustments to the positioning of the screen on the monitor may be made under the Geometry tab. Advanced color controls are found under the Color tab.

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Energy Saver preferences determine how soon the screen or system power down to a low power mode. When sleeping, the system uses very little energy.

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Mouse preferences determine how fast the cursor moves in response to movements of the mouse, and how fast clicking the mouse twice is interpreted as a double-click.

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Sound preferences set the default system beep, the sound heard when the computer is trying to get your attention. The volume is also set here. If you want a short cut to change the volume of your computer, it can be added to the menu by selecting the Show volume in menu bar checkbox. Newer keyboards come with dedicated keys above the number pad to also set the volume of your computer.

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