New Mac user with a few questions :)

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Good evening guys (Or morning, or even afternoon depending on where you all are),

Im a new Mac user and have just purchased my self a new 15" MBP.
I really, really like it, however I do find the statement "It just works" to be a of a false claim. Anywho!
I have two quick questions if a few of you wouldn't mind answering:
1.) Is there a shortcut to hide all windows so I can access Finder a little easier?
2.) Im not expecting a soloution to this at all, however it would be great if someone could shed some light. Is there a way to make my Mac place files with certain extensions into a certain location? For example if I download an mp3 file from a website for it ti automatically be placed into my Music folder, jpg's into Pictures etc.

Thanks very much for taking the time to read this

Chris
 

pigoo3

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Good evening guys (Or morning, or even afternoon depending on where you all are),

It's not morning, afternoon, or night where I am...I'm in a different dimension!;)

I have two quick questions if a few of you wouldn't mind answering:
1.) Is there a shortcut to hide all windows so I can access Finder a little easier?

Hit the "F11" key.

Welcome to Mac-Forums & welcome to the world of Macintosh!:)

- Nick
 
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Hello Nick!
Thanks for the welcome, I'm sure its just a case of getting used to it.

Hitting the F11 button however is my volume button. If I press 'fn' and F11 however it just shows my desktop, doesn't actually hide everything so I can select Finder at the top. I want it so like instead of having to 'cmd' + 'H' all my windows to get Finder on my top bar, I can Hide them all

Thanks for the quick reply

Chris
 

pigoo3

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Hello Nick!
Thanks for the welcome, I'm sure its just a case of getting used to it.

Hitting the F11 button however is my volume button.

Chris

Depending on the keyboard layout on a new 15" MacBook Pro...you may need to hold down the "fn" button (function button)...then press the "F11" key.

This should make all your open windows move to the borders of your MacBook Pro's display...giving you easy access to your desktop. The desktop IS the "Finder".

- Nick

Edit: Oops...sorry...I see you already tried that.
 
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Looks like I didn't edit my post in time :(

If I press 'fn' and F11 it just shows my desktop, doesn't actually hide everything so I can select Finder at the top. I want it so like instead of having to 'cmd' + 'H' all my windows to get Finder on my top bar, I can Hide them all

Thanks for the quick reply's! :)

Chris
 
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Ive found it! Exactly like you said, but just double tap my keypad on the desktop to get my Finder bar up!

Thank you so much!
Any idea about the second question?

Chris
 
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You can also click on Finder in the dock to bring it to the front or use Command-Tab to switch to Finder. You you use a 3-finger swipe up (or 4 fingers, depending on how you set it up in System Preferences>Trackpad) to see all your open windows (Mission Control) and you'll see Finder there.

The thing you'll discover with Mac OS X is there's almost always at least 2 or 3 ways to do something. Just find which one works best for you.
 

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Looks like I didn't edit my post in time :(

If I press 'fn' and F11 it just shows my desktop, doesn't actually hide everything so I can select Finder at the top. I want it so like instead of having to 'cmd' + 'H' all my windows to get Finder on my top bar, I can Hide them all

Thanks for the quick reply's! :)

Chris

I edited my post as well. I guess I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to do.

If you press "fn" + "F11"...this moves all the open windows to the borders of your laptops display. This gives you easy access to anything on the desktop. Which on the "Macintosh World"...the desktop is the Finder.

- Nick
 
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1) Click anywhere on the Desktop after you use F11. Voila.
2) You might want to look into using Automator. It's great for carrying out simple tasks on a whole mess of files systematically.
 

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Ive found it! Exactly like you said, but just double tap my keypad on the desktop to get my Finder bar up!

When you say "Finder Bar" do you mean the "Dock"?

- Nick
 
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Wow, thats embarrassing, it was on the dock anyway!
But thank you all so much for your contributions. Discerptor I shall look into Automator, thanks for the suggestion!

Thanks guys
Chris
 
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GIs there a way to make my Mac place files with certain extensions into a certain location? For example if I download an mp3 file from a website for it ti automatically be placed into my Music folder, jpg's into Pictures etc.

This one got lost along the way. I'm quite sure there is not an easy way to make this happen "automagically". Anyone have an idea?

Next post (#13): That's what I was thinking, but have never tried that. It's after the fact, not automatic as the OP wants, but I don't know if that's possible.
 

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The idea of cleaning up automatically anodyne moving files to specific folders should be possible via AppleScript or Automator. This has to be done in conjunction with a watch folder and a feature called folder actions.

I won't have time to work this out before the weekend but here is what I think needs to happen. Files you need to move are dumped into a folder. The script then runs, examines the filetype, and moves the files accordingly.
 
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if you are using LION you should be setup to pinch with 5 fingers to see your desktop, unless you have made some changes in the touchpad settings. If you are not sure how to use it you can check it in settings -> touchpad for video instructions...
 
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chas_m

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2.) Im not expecting a soloution to this at all, however it would be great if someone could shed some light. Is there a way to make my Mac place files with certain extensions into a certain location? For example if I download an mp3 file from a website for it ti automatically be placed into my Music folder, jpg's into Pictures etc.

Well, using iTunes for music downloads and iPhoto for pictures kind of takes care of that automatically.

But to answer your question, YES, there are third-party utilities that will "file" any files that come into your Downloads folder to the places you assign automatically. Essentially, pre-written automator actions like this one.
 

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Thanks chas that should simplify things a bit. It appears to be aware of some filetypes that i was going to have to manage based on file extensions if that worked.
 
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Wow! Thanks so much guys, never expected responses like this
What a welcoming and helpful community.

Ill give that automator script a try thanks Chas. Going to read into it and learn how to get the most of it. This is brilliant.

Thank you guys!!

Chris
 
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Think I've sort of created my own little Automator script. Ive made use of the 'Find Finder Items' and 'Move Finder Items' actions.
Its not 100% perfect as I wanted it to be automatic, but at least I don't have to don't have to move them manually!

Chris
 

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If the script is doing what you need it to do making it automatic should not be too difficult. Here Is an example of something similar to what you are bring to do MacMost Now 488: Automator Folder Actions

BTW The guy in that video moved the files into subfolders of the folder being sorted but he could have moved them anywhere.
 
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If the script is doing what you need it to do making it automatic should not be too difficult. Here Is an example of something similar to what you are bring to do MacMost Now 488: Automator Folder Actions

BTW The guy in that video moved the files into subfolders of the folder being sorted but he could have moved them anywhere.

EXACTLY what I wanted my friend! Thank you! Ive tweaked it a little to deliver even more what I wanted.
I LOVE MY MACBOOK!

Thank you so much to you, and everyone else that contributed!

Chris
 

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