macOS Sierra - Up To Speed

By R.M. Hyttinen

The macOS Sierra: Up To Speed guide helps you to get up and running  quickly with Apple's latest operating system.  This handy step-by-step guide is written from scratch, starting with basic macOS topics and moving on to more advanced features of the operating system, designed to help you to become more productive more quickly.   Though comprehensive, the information in this book is presented in a clear, consise manner with screenshots providing helpful visual guidance all along the way.

In no time at all you're be navigating Sierra, setting up and maintaining user accounts, managing files, playing music and video, modifying system preferences, surfing the Web and working with applications like a pro.     

Some of the topics include:        

- Logging On to Your Mac   - Understanding the Mac Interface   - Investigating Menus   - Using Gestures with a Trackpad   - Using the Dock   - Shutting Down your Computer   - Moving a Window   - Switching Between Windows   - Using Split Window View - Hiding the Finder Toolbar and Sidebar - Using Mission Control - Changing Window Views - Opening Folders and Disks - The Finder Toolbar & the Sidebar - Arranging & Sorting the Contents of a Folder - Keeping Folders on Top When Sorting - Navigating Folder Hierarchy - Using iCloud & iCloud Drive - Optimizing Disk Storage - Creating & Renaming Folders - Copying, Moving & Deleting Files and Folders - Restoring a Deleted File - Using the Info Window - Finding Files using Spotlight - Finding Files from the Finder Window - Using Smart Folders - Searching with Siri - Creating an Alias - Using & Creating Finder Tags - Compressing Files and Folders - Batch Rename Files - Setting Dock Properties - Adding & Removing Items to the Dock - Setting System Preferences - Modifying Appearance Preferences - Changing the Desktop Background - Using an External Monitor with a Laptop - Using AirPlay - Adding a Printer - Playing CDs & DVDs - Setting Spotlight Preferences - Syncing Documents & Desktop to the Cloud - Setting Energy Saver Options - Setting Parental Controls - Creating & Maintaining User Accounts - Security & Privacy - Opening Applications and Documents - Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text - Formatting Text - Duplicating a Document - Quitting an Application - Installing & Removing Applications - Using Automator
- Using Contacts, Calendars, Notes and Reminders - Using Dictation - Working with the Photos App - Managing Applications with Launchpad - Backing Up with Time Machine - Sharing Files with Airdrop - Moving Between Devices with Handoff - Sharing between Devices with the Universal Clipboard - Setting up an Internet Connection - Browsing a Web Page - Adding & Managing Bookmarks - Pinning Frequently Visited Sites - Composing, Sending & Receiving E-mail - Using the Messages Application - Playing Music & Video - Purchasing  Music from the iTunes Store - Streaming Music with Apple Music ....and more

• Language: English
• Publisher: PCM Courseware, LLC
• Release date: Dec 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781943005000

Book preview

macOS Sierra: Up To Speed

R.M. Hyttinen

Copyright & License Notes

OneNote: Up to Speed

By R.M. Hyttinen

Copyright © 2016 by R.M. Hyttinen.  All rights reserved.

Published by PCM Courseware, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

http://pcmcourseware.com

ISBN: 978-1-943005-00-0

Examples used in this book are fictional.  Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, incidents, organization or events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Publisher.  Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors and omissions.  Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained within.

If you found this book helpful, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased this book.  Also consider telling your friends about it to help me spread the word about my book.

Thank you so much for supporting my work!

License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold, given away to other people or used in any type of training classes. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Trademark Acknowledgements

Apple, Mac and macOS Sierra are registered trademarks of the Apple Corporation.  All other known trademarks have been appropriately capitalized and are the property of their respective owners.

Introduction

As the author and founder of PCM Courseware, I am delighted to bring you the next in our Up To Speed series of guides:  macOS Sierra - Up To Speed.  Since 2003, PCM Courseware has been publishing innovative Print-On-Demand electronic courseware for both the PC and the Macintosh and beginning with the Up to Speed series, we are now creating software guides for everyone, not just for software trainers.

My mission is to create guides to make learning technology concepts easy, no matter what kind of learner you are. The guides are simple to use yet comprehensive in their effectiveness. Many students find the step-by-step approach of our manuals to be a valuable self-study resource.

You do not need to read the book sequentially, although this can certainly be helpful if you are just starting out with the Mac operating system.  I’ve written the book from scratch, starting with basic macOS Sierra topics and moving on to more advanced features of the operating system, designed to help you to become more productive more quickly.

If you are looking to accomplish a specific task, be sure to take advantage of the handy Table of Contents.

So let’s get started with macOS Sierra – Up to Speed.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Copyright & License Info

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 - THE FUNDAMENTALS

Operating System Basics

Logging onto Your Mac

Understanding the Mac Interface

Using the Mouse

Using the Keyboard

Investigating Menus

Using Shortcut Menus

Using Gestures with a Trackpad

Using the Dock

Using Trash

Getting Help

Shutting Down Your Computer

CHAPTER 2 - INTERACTING WITH WINDOWS

The Parts of a Window

Navigating a Window

Minimizing, Full Screen Zooming and Closing a Window

Moving a Window

Changing the Size of a Window

Displaying the Status Bar

Switching Between Windows

Using Split Window View

Hiding the Finder Toolbar and Sidebar

Using Mission Control

Changing Window Views

Using Quick Look

Using Finder Tabs

CHAPTER 3 - ACCESS FOLDERS AND DISKS

A Look at macOS Sierra Disk Organization

Opening Folders and Disks

Using the Go Menu

The Finder Toolbar

Using the Sidebar

Accessing Recent Folders

Arranging the Contents of a Folder

Sorting the Contents of a Folder

Keeping Folders on Top When Sorting

Browsing the Contents of Folders

Navigating Folder Hierarchy

Using iCloud and iCloud Drive

Optimizing Disk Storage

Storing Most Files on iCloud

Empty Trash after 30 Days

Reducing Clutter

CHAPTER 4 - WORKING WITH FILES AND FOLDERS

Creating a New Folder

Renaming a File or Folder

Copying Files and Folders

Moving Files and Folders

Deleting Files and Folders

Restoring a Deleted File

Emptying the Trash

Using the Info Window

Finding Files using Spotlight

Finding Files from the Finder Window

Using Smart Folders

Searching with Siri

Selecting Multiple Files and Folders

Creating an Alias

Using and Creating Finder Tags

Compressing Files and Folders

Working with Burn Folders

Batch Rename Files

Expand all Finder Subfolders with One Mouse Click

CHAPTER 5 - CUSTOMIZING YOUR MAC

Arranging Finder Window Icons

Setting Dock Properties

Adding Items to the Dock

Removing Items from the Dock

Setting System Preferences

Modifying Appearances Preferences

Auto-Hiding the Menu Bar

Changing Desktop Background

Adding a Screen Saver

Using an External Monitor with a Laptop

Using Air Play

Adding a Printer

Adjusting Your Computer's Volume

Setting the Default Speaker

Setting CD & DVD Preferences

Setting Spotlight Preferences

Setting Mission Control Preferences

Modifying Notification Center Settings

Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Display the Notification Center

Setting View Options

Setting Finder Preferences

Applying and Removing a Custom Icon

Save Mouse Clicks on your Mac by Creating a Menu Keyboard

Syncing Documents & Desktop to the Cloud

Setting the Date & Time

Setting Energy Saver Options

CHAPTER 6 - USER ACCOUNTS & SECURITY

Setting Parental Controls

Creating a User Account

Changing a User Account's Picture

Switching User Accounts

Changing Your Password

Security & Privacy

CHAPTER 7 - WORKING WITH APPLICATIONS

Opening Applications and Documents

Opening Items at Login

Using TextEdit

Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text

Formatting Text

Saving a File

Duplicating a Document

Using the Save As Command

Quitting an Application

Forcing an Application to Quit

Installing & Removing Applications

Previewing Fonts with Font Book

Using Automator

Using Dashboard

Organizing Contacts with the Contacts Application Contacts

Organizing Your Schedule with the Calendar Application

Getting Things Done with the Reminders Application

Using the Notes Application

Using Dictation

Working with the Photos App

Managing Applications with Launchpad

Backing Up with Time Machine

Sharing Files with Airdrop

Moving Between Devices with Handoff

Sharing between Devices with the Universal Clipboard

Mac Utilities

CHAPTER 8 - GOING ON THE INTERNET

Setting up an Internet Connection

Starting Safari

Browsing a Web Page

Adding Bookmarks

Managing Bookmarks

Pinning Frequently Visited Sites

Setting Internet Options

Searching the Internet

Using Apple Pay in Safari

Introduction to Mail

Composing & Sending E-mail

Sending Attachments

Receiving E-Mail

Using the Messages Application

CHAPTER 9 - WORKING WITH MUSIC AND VIDEO

Playing a CD with iTunes

Importing CDs

Playing Music from your Music Library

Creating a Playlist

Purchasing Music from the iTunes Store

Streaming Music with Apple Music

Playing DVDs

Purchasing Movies and TV Shows

Subscribing to Podcasts

Chapter Ten - Thank you!

CHAPTER ONE

The Fundamentals

Operating System Basics

Welcome to Apple’s latest operating system, macOS Sierra 10.12!  Before we begin to work with the Macintosh, it is helpful to understand what exactly macOS Sierra is and what it does.  Sierra is the latest generation of the Macintosh operating system, incorporating an innovative new look and feel.

An Operating System is a software program that controls just about everything your computer does, such as:

Controls the application programs that run on your computer

Controls the computer’s hardware

Implements user management utilities and features such as the Finder and the Dock

Organizes the files and folders on your computer

Sierra is actually made up of two operating systems, which provide for maximum power and flexibility.  These are:

Unix – A powerful and complex command-line interface

Aqua – The graphical overlay of macOS Sierra

Older versions of the Mac operating system included Mac OS 9 Classic support, allowing you to run your pre-OS X computer applications on OX 10.  The classic environment is no longer supported on newer Intel-based Macintosh computers or under the macOS Sierra operating system.  Additionally, those applications that need Rosetta to run are also no longer supported.

If you are new to computers or to the Mac, you are about to embark on an exciting new journey – the discovery of macOS Sierra.

So, let’s get started!

Logging On to Your Mac

The most basic task you will need to do with your computer is turning it on and logging on to your Mac.  To turn on your computer, find your computer’s On/Off switch.  Assuming your computer is plugged in correctly, macOS Sierra should launch.

Depending on how your computer is set up, you may be presented with a list of users who have been added to the computer’s account list. Click your user name, type your assigned password in the text box and then press the Return or Enter key (depending on your keyboard).

If you are about to turn on a brand new out-of–the-box Mac, you will need to configure your computer first.  After you turn on your computer, your Mac will prompt you for some information:  your name, the language you prefer, keyboard layout (US or Canada), short name (the name you want to give to your Home folder), and the password you want to use to log on to your Mac.  You may be prompted to set up your iCloud account (more on iCloud later).  If you already have a wireless network available, your Mac should identify it.  If your network is security enabled, you will need to provide your Wi-Fi password or key.  We’ll discuss setting up a new network in a later section.

You are now ready to begin working with your Macintosh!

To log on to your Mac, do this:

1.  Find the computer’s On/Off switch.

2.  Press the On/Off switch.

3.  Move your cursor over the icon that corresponds to your user name and then click with your mouse button.

4.  Type your password in the password box.

5.  Click Log in.

Understanding the Mac Interface

This section will help you become familiar with the Sierra screen, also known as the Desktop.  The Desktop is the first screen you will see after logging in to the computer.  The table below summarizes the major elements of the macOS Sierra screen.

Don’t worry if the Mac screen appears mystifying or confusing at first.  Each of these elements will be covered in detail in subsequent sections.  This section is just to introduce to you to major parts of the Desktop.

Major Elements of the macOS Sierra Screen

Apple Menu

The Apple Menu is used for a variety of Mac system commands such as opening System Preferences, modifying the Dock properties, logging out, restarting your computer, selecting a network location and jumping to recent items.

Desktop

This is the large background area of the Sierra screen.  The desktop is where you may find shortcuts to your favorite folders, documents and applications.

Menu Bar

Displays the Mac menus used to execute commands.  Clicking on a menu displays a list of commands for that menu.

Menulets

Icons that display in the menu bar, such as date and time or Airport connection status.

Notification Center

The Notification Center provides a place for all of the alerts from various applications.  You can easily view all of your appointments, events and reminders from the Today tab of the Notification Center.

The Dock

The Dock is a band of icons that launches programs, files or folders that you use often.  When you open another application or minimize a document window, its icon will then appear in the Dock.  The Dock also includes the Trash. To delete a file, drag it to the Trash.

Trash

Files and folders that you delete are moved to this folder.

Using the Mouse

The Mouse, a small device that is connected to your computer (or connected to it wirelessly), allows you to select and move objects on the screen.  The mouse is associated with the Mouse Pointer on your screen.  The mouse pointer is used to point to and select objects on your screen.  When you move the mouse on your desk, the pointer moves on your screen.  To move the pointer left, move your mouse to the left on your desk.  Likewise, to move your pointer up, down or to the right, move your mouse upwards, downwards or to the right, respectively.

The mouse pointer normally takes one of three forms:  Standard Pointer, Insertion Point and Rotating Beach Ball.

The Standard Pointer is the most common appearance of the pointer. When the Standard Pointer appears, it looks like an arrow pointing to the upper left, at about a 30-degree angle. In Standard Pointer mode, you can move the mouse and single click to highlight an icon, double-click (click twice in rapid succession) to open an item, and click and drag to do a number of different actions, such as highlighting more than one item at the same time, or moving an item.

The next common pointer is the Insertion Point. This pointer appears when you move the mouse and place the cursor over an area in a text-based program, such as a word processor, the Terminal or even a text field in a dialog box. When the pointer is in this mode, you can usually perform text-based actions, such as clicking once to place the cursor (commonly called setting the insertion point), or clicking and dragging to select a section of text.

  The third type of pointer is the Rotating Beach Ball (sometimes referred to as the Beach Ball of Death). This pointer appears when an application is busy processing a task and cannot do anything else at the current time.  You are unable to do anything with that application while the beach ball is spinning except wait.

Mouse Actions

Selecting is the process of choosing an object in order to perform some action.  For instance, you may wish to open an application or move a file from one location to another. There are five basic Mouse Actions that you will use to select objects:

• Single-Click – Press and release the mouse button once.  This action is used to select an icon or to click a button in a dialog box.

• Double-Click – Quickly press and release the mouse button twice in rapid succession.  This action is used to open an application, a document or a folder.

• Right-Click (also known as Control-Click) – Press and release the right mouse button once.  This action is used with a two-button mouse and usually produces a pop-up menu.  To produce this same result with a one-button mouse, hold down the Ctrl key and then press the mouse button.

• Click-and-Drag – Press the mouse button and, with the mouse button still pressed down, move the mouse.  This action is used to select text in a document or to select more than one sequential item at a time.

• Drag-and-Drop – Used to move items from one location to another.  Move your mouse pointer over the item you wish to move and then press and hold down the mouse button.  With the mouse button still held down, move or drag your mouse until the mouse pointer is in the location where you want to place the item.  Release the mouse button to drop the item.

If you are using a two-button mouse, pressing the right-mouse button often produces a contextual shortcut menu.  This is the equivalent of pressing down the Control key and clicking with a one-button mouse.  You can use either a one-button or two-button mouse with your Mac.

Using the Keyboard

The Keyboard is another device that is connected to your computer.  You may already be familiar with the keyboard.  However, there are several special keys on the Mac keyboard that allow you to use keyboard shortcuts instead of using the mouse.  One key that you will find on a Mac compatible keyboard that is typically used in combination with one or more other keys is the Command (⌘) key.  Holding down a combination of keys executes a particular command associated with that keystroke combination.  For example, holding down the key combination of ⌘ + W (The Command key and the W key) will close the active window.

It is important to note that the Control key, which is often labeled Ctrl, is not the equivalent of the Control key on a non-Mac keyboard.  One of the main purposes of the Control key on a Mac is for control-clicking to display shortcut menus. The Option key is often used to display hidden menus or to add special characters.

Below is a list of common keyboard shortcuts.  Keep in mind that not all shortcuts will work in all applications.

Common Keyboard Shortcuts

Cut:  ⌘ + X

Copy:  ⌘ + C

Paste:  ⌘ + V

Select All: ⌘ + A

Undo:  ⌘ + Z

Redo:  ⌘ + Shift + Z

Delete:  ⌘ + Backspace

Page Top:  ⌘ + Up Arrow

Page Bottom:  ⌘ + Down Arrow

Line Begin: ⌘ + Left Arrow

Line End:  ⌘ + Right Arrow

Previous Word:  ⌘ + Option + Left Arrow

Next Word:  ⌘ + Option + Right Arrow

Save: ⌘ + S

Save As: ⌘ + Shift + S

Force Quit: ⌘ + Alt + Escape

Switch Window:  ⌘ + `

Screen Shot:  ⌘ + Shift  + 3, ⌘ + Shift + 4

Font Panel:  ⌘ + T

Color Panel:  ⌘ + Shift + C

Close Window  :  ⌘ + W

Quit Program:  ⌘ + Q

Hide Program:  ⌘ + H

New Window:  ⌘ + N

New Folder:  ⌘ + Shift  + N

Open Spotlight Box:   ⌘ + Space

Investigating Menus

In the last section, we learned how to give commands to your Mac by using keystroke combinations.  Another common way to issue a command is by use of menus.  A menu is a categorized list of commands relevant to a particular application and is located near the top of window.  The menu titles are displayed on the menu bar.  To display the commands for a menu title, position your mouse pointer over the title and click with your mouse button.

Common menu items