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 | This week, we take a look at Apple's Automator, a nifty application for creating workflows to speed up your work. Getting things done faster and more easily is Automator's bread-and-butter. We're going to show you how to use Automator to perform some basic Finder tasks that Apple never got around to including in OS X. We'll also use Automator to create an application that opens a list of applications, folders, and URLs, so you can easily get your core work done quickly. On the troubleshooting front, we'll show you one way you can eliminate the dreaded Spinning Pinwheel of Death. | |
Fix SPODs: How to Fix a Spinning Pinwheel of Death
Once in a while, for no apparent reason, you may encounter the SPOD (Spinning Pinwheel of Death). You know, that multicolored pinwheel mouse pointer that signifies a temporary delay while your Mac tries to figure something out. In this case, your Mac is trying to think but nothing happens, so the pinwheel keeps spinning, and spinning, and spinning. While many Mac users throw their hands up when they see the SPOD, there are actually a few fixes you can perform that should banish this dreaded sight for good... Read more
| Setting Finder Views for Folders and Sub-Folders
One area where OS X leaves a bit to be desired is in the setting of folder views. If you want every folder to open in one type of Finder view, you're all set; you can use or set the default Finder view. But if you're like me and you want to set different folders to different views, it's not quite so easy. If you have a lot of sub-folders that need to have their preferred Finder view set, you're in for some real pain. All is not lost, though. You can use Automator to not only set Finder views for a folder, but also to apply those settings to all of that folder's sub-folders. And for good measure, you can use Automator to create a couple of Finder plug-ins that will simplify the process of creating new folders... Read more
| Automate Opening Multiple Applications and Folders
You probably have specific work or play environments you use with your Mac. For instance, if you're a graphic designer, you may always open Photoshop and Illustrator, plus a couple of graphics utilities. You may also keep a couple of project folders open in the Finder. Of course, opening applications and folders is a simple process; a few clicks here, a few clicks there, and you're ready to work. But because these are tasks you repeat over and over, they're good candidates for a bit of workflow automation. In this step-by-step guide, we're going to show you how to use Apple's Automator to create an application that will open your favorite applications, as well as any folders you may use frequently, so you can get to work (or play) with just a single click... Read more
| How to Use the Force Quit Option to Terminate an Application
It happens to the best of them; an application simply stops responding to input. You may not be able to access the application's menus or the application just seems frozen. Sometimes you will even see the SPOD (Spinning Pinwheel of Death), an indication that the application is frozen, or at least hung up waiting for something to happen. When all else fails, you can use the Force Quit option to terminate a rogue application and return control to your Mac... Read more
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