Mac OS and application Tips and tricks

The Mac OS has many documented and undocumented commands. here you'll find unique tricks and tips to help you be more productive, including tips and tricks for both the OS and commonly used applications. If you have a suggestion, submit a tip. For archived tips, please see the Mac OS Tip Archive page.

Mac OS 9 System Disk Control Panel Tip:
Option double click on a drive in the System Disk Control Panel main window to open an Advanced Options/Detailed Settings window.

Multiple User Desktop Rebuild.
When using Multiple Users under Mac OS 9, you may have difficulty rebuilding the desktop by holding down the Command and Option keys when you log onto the Mac.

This can happen if you have limited access to the Finder. In order to rebuild the desktop you must have full Finder access. Once you establish that access you can rebuild the desktop by holding down the Command and Option keys after entering your password.

Multiple Users Gotcha
If you've configured your Mac to use Mac OS 9's Multiple Users function, some of the folks accessing your Mac may have trouble running the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, and Outlook Express if you, as the owner of the Mac, haven't already run these programs once. Here's why:

The installers on these applications automatically install certain extensions when the applications are first run. If you haven't yet launched these applications or granted access to users to alter the contents of the System Folder these installers will be unable to do their job.

Duplicate Application Sets for Multiple Users
Mac OS 9's Multiple Users function allows you to create a customized set of accessible applications for each user. However, if a Mac is used by a number of people, creating several sets of these applications can be tiresome. Apple makes this process a little easier by providing a Duplicate button. Here's how to use it to its best advantage:

Create a set of applications that every user will have access to. For example, if you know that everyone will need access to a web browser and email client, create a set that includes access to those applications. Name this set something like "Base User." With Base User selected in the Multiple Users control panel click the Duplicate button. Now add those applications that you'd like a subset of all users to access -- a word processing application and QuickTime Player, for example.
Continue to grant greater access to other users by building application sets based on the last duplicated user.

Disc Burner works with MCE CD-RW drives:
The MCE Xcarét Pro CD-RW drive bay for PowerBooks works with Apple's Disc Burner software, even though Apple officially states that it only works with the CD-RW drive in the new G4s. Reports indicate that this may be the only burner that will work here (for now) - as it is similar or identical to the one Apple is putting in the new G4s.

Even so, the Disc Burner Installer will refuse to install on the PowerBook. To get the software installed, you need to use TomeViewer to extract the files from the Tome and manually install them.

Outlook Express 5- Rebuilding the database:
Rebuilding the database (by holding the Option key down when you launch Express) did successfully reduce the size of the file. Indeed, Outlook Express documentation states: "Outlook Express 5 uses a single-file database to store messages and contacts. When you delete mail from the database, Outlook Express does not automatically reduce the size of the database. You can, however, compact the database to reduce its size.

To compact the database: 1) Press and hold down Option while you launch Outlook Express 5; 2) When the "Would you like to compact the database?" message appears, click Yes.