Apple stuff - Mac, iPad, iphone

[AppleMacster]

You could try a Safari reset.

Firefox should be able to import the bookmarks, assuming the bookmarks file associated with Safari isn't corrupted; I've had that happen once. Luckily, they were backed up.

Console can be quite useful in showing what the problems are.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I had a perusal through console, but faced with a wall of data, even in and around the event, I decided to go and see a genius at an Apple store who might cut through the confusion. However, after much faffing around announced that it seemed to be a user account problem and that I should do a back up and then do an erase/restore of the whole OS! As I'm the only user and there was no and seems to be no problem otherwise it is all a bit strange to be honest. It's so rare that I ever had a software problem I find myself being somewhat annoyed...


SHJ

[mixture]

SpringHeeledJack,

Have you tried setting up a new user account and using that for a couple of days to see if it's any better ? You may just have a corrupted user profile.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I've set up a new user profile and Safari is working again, though without my one million and one bookmarks! As to how my user profile got corrupted beats me It would be nice just to delete my user profile after transferring all data across to the new one, but I'm sure that would just transport any corrupted data over to the new profile ?


SHJ

[mixture]

SpringHeeledJack,

Profile corruption on OS X is rare, but it does occasionally happen (normally if you've a fair bit of software installed and you've done upgrades to newer versions of OS X)

Fortunatley for you, OS X is BSD based (although I admit, the following concept can be used in Windows too !).....

Simples.... now you have a working profile.....

(a) For your files and general clutter, just give your new user permission to access your old user's home directory then you can continue to access that like you would any other folder......

1/ Apple-N
2/ Apple-Shift-G goto "/Users" (no quotes)
3/ Apple-I on the folder corresponding to your old user
4/ Add your new user to the sharing & permissions list and give yourself full (read & write users)
5/ Close the info window
6/ Drag the folder to the shortcuts bar on the left for ease of access in the future

(b) For you safari bookmarks.....

1/ File -> Export bookmarks on your old user
2/ File -> Import bookmarks on your new user

[Algy]

PDF web pages not displaying

Running OS-X on Macbook Pro with latest Acrobat Reader and browsers.

All of a sudden...whenever browsing to a page which is a pdf, none of the content is displayed. The link appears to open but just white space where the pdf document should be.

A page like this for example http://www.easa.europa.eu/certificat...utoretrctn.pdf

In some cases Save Link works and I can then view the pdf on the hard drive (and all my pdf files are working fine in A. Reader). Also, Quick View in Google works when available.

Tried reloading A. Reader.

I'm baffled. Any ideas???

[luca321]

Oxford OAT Compatiblity

Hi,

I want to buy Oxford's "Essential GCSE Maths and Physics" package (OATmedia Products), but I can't work out if the software will work on my new Macbook Pro.

Can anybody help me?

Thank you,

Luca!

[Milo Minderbinder]

Algy

which web browsers have you tried?
do they all give the same problem?

However, try this from another forum

Go to /Library/Internet Plug-Ins
Move the Adobe PDF Viewer plugin to the Trash.
Restart the Mac.

[Bushfiva]

Luca, From the link you posted, they're Windows products.

[mixture]

luca321,

Do you have Parallels / VMware Fusion running on your mac ? The products might work fine under an emulator.

[luca321]

No, I haven't! Are Parallels or VMware Fusion worth buying? Do they let me access all window's programs?

[MOSTAFA]

Numbers app on a IPAD

Any help greatly appreciated.

Working on putting a large set of FRCs on my IPad using the 'Numbers' App.

Basically most sheets are just simply Jpegs of the real thing (about 200). I then had to create all the warnings cautions' on a sheet. Now I would like to touch a cell on this page and get it to direct me to the corresponding Jpeg sheet. I can do it on excel but somehow the same does not work on the numbers app. Any numbers experts out there?

[Air Soul]

Have you tried creating the spreadsheet you want in Excel, then opening it in Numbers?
I've done this with some relatively complex spreadsheets (difficult formulae and embedded charts) and they work well.

[le Pingouin]

luca321, another option is Virtualbox, which is free:
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

I use it on Linux and it works well.

With any of the virtualisation software (Virualbox/Parallels/VMware) you need to bring your own copy of Windows and install it in a virtual machine (VM). You can then install Windows based software in the same VM.

[Agaricus bisporus]

New Mac User

Having finally had it with poxy Vista I've done the deed and got a (used) macBook Airbut am struggling to do much more with it than surf the net. Previous owner reloaded the OS as a fresh installation and I've downloaded the latest updates. This thread looks superb but it is so big it is hard to find what I need, no doubt its here somewhere! Bear with me!

Although I am supposed to have ilife (its automatically there, right?) there is no word processor except a toy thing called Text Edit and no photo management programme, shouldn't I have iphoto? If I do its not in the dock - how do I find it? Why wouldn't it be there? I have looked everywhere I can think of but no joy. Is this the best prog for basic photo management and filing - I don't mess with them so simple filing is about all I need.

Which word processor is recommended?
Is Firefox an improvement on Safari?

I can import MS Word files from my PC but can't open them - aren't .doc /.docx files compatible - I thought they were?

Ipad. I want to sync my ipad 2 with the new macbook but it tells me that I can't sync with two computers and must delete the content of the ipad before I sync it with the (empty) macbook. I want to sync the ipad up to the macbook. Can I? Esp keen to get diary/calendar datail across, either from the ipad or the old PC where it is in Outlook format. How to?

Best way to transfer data between PC and MAc? Wireless? Bluetooth? (Can't make them pair)? Currently the only way that's worked is an ext hard drive but that's a bit clunky tho I can live with it.

Any must have progs I should know about?
Any online resources that will help a mac newbie to break the ice?

Scuse the dumb questions - this is all very new!

[mixture]

Agaricus bisporus,

Welcome to the Mac world, and congratulations on making the switch.

Although I am supposed to have ilife (its automatically there, right?)

See "Restoring iLife applications after Internet Restore of OS X Lion" here

Which word processor is recommended?

Try the stuff that comes with iLife first.

Is Firefox an improvement on Safari?

No, its a bloated memory-hog. Safari is great. But hey, it's a free download, so you can try it out if you want.

I can import MS Word files from my PC but can't open them - aren't .doc /.docx files compatible - I thought they were?

Get iLife on there and you'll probably find this question answers itself.

Best way to transfer data between PC and MAc? Wireless? Bluetooth? (Can't make them pair)? Currently the only way that's worked is an ext hard drive but that's a bit clunky tho I can live with it.

You should always have a backup on external HD anyway....

Crossover ethernet cable (or standard ethernet cable via your internet router) between the two. Then enable the appropriate option on System Preferences -> Sharing (I think it's the "File Sharing" one you want).

Any must have progs I should know about?

Don't clutter up your computer with other people's junk.

What sort of stuff do you like doing ? e.g. Photo editing ?

Any online resources that will help a mac newbie to break the ice?

MacOSX Hints (hints.macworld.com) for neat tips and tricks
Macworld Forums (Forums - Apple Discussion, Macworld Chat - Macworld UK)
Some random little website called PPRuNe

I'll try to dig up some more beginner sites too...

[Agaricus bisporus]

Thanks very much Mixture - just what I needed.

But...That procedure to reload ilife just doesn't work. I get my desktop every time...

[Background Noise]

You won't necessarily have iLife - it comes with new machines but not with OSX when purchased separately and who knows what the previous owner has done. However, you can get the individual apps through the Mac app store, which you should have with Lion. 'Office' types apps are not in iLife anyway, they are in iWork, but they too are available separately.

If you need/want to run windows software you can do it from within a 'virtual machine' but for that you need the virtualisation software (e.g. VM Fusion or Parallels) and Windows itself. These are mac programs which allow you to run windows. Alternatively, you can use bootcamp, which does come with your OS, (you will still need a copy of windows) - this allows you to boot your macbook air into either OSX or Windows.

[MacBoero]

I use Oracle VirtualBox, which runs Windows XP well enough for the odd task that requires Windows. I even tried Windows 7 on it, and that works, but is noticeably more sluggish as it is far more demanding on the virtual machine.

Whether or that is all worth it, depends on what Agaricus bisporus is going to use the machine for.

TextEdit is actually more useful than many people give credit for. I use Office 2010 on Windows at work, but I can prepare a lot of the text at home in TextEdit, because it can read and write MS Office .DOC and .DOCX files. It is certainly good enough for basic home correspondence and document writing. Compatibility is not perfect, so complex Office files imported into TextEdit may lose some formatting though.

As for transferring you iPad have a read of this : https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0

PCs and Macs can file share over a network, but it can be difficult to set up. I have encountered Windows machines that refuse to mount Mac shares and vice versa, even when settings are identical to other working pairs. My preference is to use external drives, but make sure they are FAT32 formatted for maximum compatibility. NTFS is OK for a one way transfer from PC to Mac, as the Mac can read NTFS, but won't write to them. NTFS is preferred if you need to transfer very large files, i.e. over 4GB.

[Agaricus bisporus]

Great info guys, thanks.

iCal question.
How do I assign colours to calendar entries? There are various screenshots on help and guides showing entries in all sorts of colours but I can't see any reference how to do this.