Basic Macintosh NavigationLinks: Apple Icon | File Menu | Special Menu | Blue Telephone | Application Icon | Helpful Keystrokes | Finder | Trash | Restarting |
Navigation is fairly simple with Macintosh. This tutorial will cover the basic menus and functions.
The Apple Icon Menu contains About this Macintosh which lists total and available RAM and system software versions, as well as Virtual Memory info. It also has a reference to the Control Panel in it for easy access.
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The File Menu contains a choice to Find. If it does not contain a choice to Find, then switch programs to Finder. It also contains the Get Info command. This command allows you to select an application's icon and when you choose Get Info from the File menu (while the application is inactive).
You can find out how much RAM a given application is allowed to use as well as change this amount.
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This menu contains choices for Restart, Shutdown and Empty Trash.
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Blue Telephone Icon:
top right-hand corner of the Macintosh desktop in Systems 7.1 to 7.9 or use the control strip pictured below to get to either of the following icons:
or 
The blue telephone icon drops down into a bunch of useful options. For example, you can open FreePPP Setup or just Open Connection. It also allows you to launch any application that is installed on your Macintosh. You can also get to the Mac 8+ dialer options (usually Remote Access) by clicking on the in the control strip.
The Finder/Application Icon
(top right-hand corner of the Macintosh desktop)
This lists all running programs. It should always contain Finder. This icon will change to match the program in the foreground of your monitor. The main title bar menu options will also change to reflect the program in the foreground.
You delete files and things by dragging & dropping them in the trash can pictured above. Just put your pointer over the item and then hold down on the mouse button while moving the pointer over the trash. Release the mouse button and the item will go into the trash. Afterwards, click the special menu at the top and choose the "empty trash" option as pictured below.
You restart your computer by clicking the special menu and choosing restart as shown below.
Helpful Keystrokes to know:
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Mac OSX Universal Access Keyboard Shortcuts
Press all keys at the same time to get the following results:
Tab to highlight next item
Command Tab to switch applications
Command UpArrow to move up one directory
Command DownArrow to move down one directory
Command DragWithMouse to move to new location without copying
Command T to show font palette in application
Command Shift 3 to take a picture of the screen
Command Shift 4 to take a picture of the selection
Command Shift 4 followed by a separate press of the spacebar will take a picture of the selected window
Command click window toolbar button will cycle through available views for the window's toolbar
Control Eject to get the Restart, Sleep & Shutdown dialog box
Control Command Eject to quit all applications and restart
Option Drag to copy to a new location
Option Command D to show/hide the dock
Option Command Drag to make an alias in a new location
Option Command Esc to force quit an application
Option Command Eject or Option Command Power to go into sleep mode
Shift Command C to show the colors palette in an application
Page Up or Control UpArrow to move up one page
Page Down or Control DownArrow to move down one page
Option Command * will turn on zoom
Option Command + will zoom in if zoom is turned on
Option Command - will zoom out if zoom is turned on
Control Option Command * will switch to White on Black format
When Full Keyboard Access is turned on, you can use the following key combinations in the Finder utility.
Control F1 will turn on Full Keyboard Access
Control F2 will highlight the menu
Control F3 will highlight the dock
Control F4 will highlight the active Window or next window behind it
Control F5 will highlight the toolbar
Control F6 will highlight the utility window
Mouse Keys Keyboard Shortcuts: (Mouse keys must be turned on)
The Universal Access preference pane allows you to turn on Mouse Keys. When Mouse Keys is on, you can use the numeric keypad to move the mouse. If your computer doesn't have a numeric keypad then use the Fn (function) key.
8 - Move Up
2 - Move Down
4 - Move Left
6 - Move Right
1, 3, 7, and 9 - Move Diagonally
5 - Press Mouse Button
0 - Hold Mouse Button
0 . will release Mouse Button (press number 0 then period key)