Where's My Computer's Library?

       John Carter was telling about a problem with Adobe.  "After allowing Adobe to install updates, I discovered I could no longer view a PDF file in Safari.  I found the following fix in the Apple Support Communities:  Try removing the following files:

       /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AdobePDFViewer.plugin

      /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

      OK, John, but how do you find the Library on Mac?  So, here's the info we need. 

Lion reserves will NOT display Library. Snow Leopard and below lets you see it.

Regardless of what version of OS you have, the one way that works for everyone is:

1. Open Terminal (type "terminal" in Spotlight to get it)

2. At the command line, enter the following commands, one at a time. When the first command is entered, you will be asked for your login password, but not for the second command.

When you first open Terminal, the command line may look something like this:

jcarter@JC-Mac ~

$ 

or this:

jcarter@JC-Mac ~ $

Regardless, the command line is identified by the dollar sign. You start typing after the dollar sign.

Here are the two commands:

sudo rm -rf /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AdobePDFViewer.plugin

sudo rm -rf /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

You can copy and paste these two lines directly into Terminal (one at a time) and get the same results. Every command has to be followed by pressing the Return key.

        So, there we are, thanks to John.  Another question answered! 

How Long Will CDs Last?

        You didn't expect CDs and DVDs to last forever . . . but how long will they still be good?  John Carter grabs our attention with this information, "Here's an interesting article that attempts to explain the reasons why you might not want to rely on CDs and DVDs for an archive of your favorite images, videos, and documents. The life span of such a media is dependent on more than just how the CD/DVD is made - mold and rot are also factors."  This MakeUseOf article was posted yesterday, and it tells how to check your disks for deterioration.

Helpful Tips for Pages '09

        Well, what do you know? See the little toolbar at the bottom of a Pages '09 window?  This article explains some features you maybe hadn't noticed.  (I hadn't!)

Look What Your iPad Can Do

         Without bragging on his iPad, Jim Hamm does find nifty stuff to share with our readers.  "Want to transfer a document to your iPad?  This article outlines one way."

Volume Adjustment in OS X Lion

        "Want to increase/decrease volume in quarter steps on your Mac?" asks Jim Hamm.  Here's his solution,  "Hold down the shift and option keys at the same time you tap the volume control on the keyboard.  I find this particularly useful when listening to music on headphones from an internet radio station."

How to Keep Your Email Address

        If you currently have a .mac or .me email address here's helpful info from Jim Hamm.  He says, "MobileMe is ending shortly.  Here's an article with some instructions. . . Although I've got a .me email address, I don't use it (because Gmail seems to work so well) — but I think I've got it set up to continue in case I might want to start using it in the future."

Five Finder Features

        From Jim Hamm we have a link to five Finder tips that might be helpful.  Anyone have any other nifty Finder features? Is it simple and easy?

Drag & Drop Graphics

        Prez Art Gorski found out how to do something nifty.  He writes, "This is a cool way to find interesting graphics that you see in application programs. Just drag and drop an application onto the Preview application and it will show you every graphic in the application. You can then save a graphic you like and use it elsewhere."   Thanks, Art. This might be fun to do.  Let us know how it works for you.

Firewall: Yes? No?

Jim Hamm started the discussion about Firewalls with, "You may have already read this article. In recent years not much has been written about firewalls — one way or the other. I leave mine turned on in my Macs and when running Windows on my PC. Ubuntu doesn't come with a firewall and I haven't checked to see if one is even available."John Carter sends this information, "The purpose of a firewall is to keep someone from hacking directly into your computer."  He goes on to explain in detail. "Without a firewall, a computer is open to attack even if you have an Anti-Virus application installed on the computer. In fact, you don't even have to be browsing the Internet to be hacked if you don't have a firewall; the computer just needs to be turned on and connected to the Internet. "However, a firewall is not a guarantee to stop spam and viruses that come through email or when browsing the Internet. An Anti-Virus application is best for that. Ubuntu does have a firewall, but it is not enabled by default. The firewall is ufw. "If you have a server (one computer providing access to the Internet for other servers in a network), the server is the only computer in the network that needs a firewall, unless a given computer in the network wants to block a port on that computer for some reason. "All new routers (and some modems) come with a firewall (a hardware firewall) and it is typically turned on by default, and this is probably the only firewall anyone ever needs. In fact, a router with a firewall is recommended, even if you only have one computer and if the modem itself does not have a firewall. "However, the modem/router may not have the features and/or flexibility that a computer firewall (a software firewall) can offer. "If you have both the modem/router firewall and the computer firewall enabled, and if you have ports open for access in the computer firewall (required by some applications), those same ports need to be open for access in the modem/router firewall. "It's a little more complicated than this, but the bottom line is that the author of that article is off-base about not needing a firewall. However, he is right about one thing: 'Firewalls tend to be horribly managed.'" John winds up his view of the issue with,  "If something isn't working right and you turn off the firewall and things start working right, call an IT professional to properly set up the firewall. One such professional works at CompuTime in Prescott." Anyone else jumping into the discussion?

How to Make Safari Easier to Read

        If you'd like to increase the font size on Safari web pages see this link that comes from Jim Hamm.  He tells us, "I set the font size to 18 in tip #one. Definitely makes web pages easier to read, although the article states this may not work on all websites. I haven't tried tip #two yet, but may try it later on."
       Or, try doing Command and + once, twice, or more to enlarge the Safari page.  If the site you're looking at has the Reader listed at the top click to delete the ads and bring up only the article. Then if you want it larger click on Command and + to bring it larger to read and/or print it from there.

How to Convert to WordPress

        Today's PMUG speaker, Dr. Mary Ann Clark presented us with a lot of information today. Here she sends a listing of two sites that make it easier to convert an existing website or blog site to Word Press. For iWeb see here.  For others, see this.

Where Does the URL Go?

        "Here's a tip that might be helpful," says Jim Hamm.  "If you get an email with a shortened URL through TinyURL.com, you can preview where it goes to, before opening it, by visiting the following website and enabling this feature: http://tinyurl.com/preview.php
        "Once enabled, it will place a cookie on your computer. Then, just right-click a shortened URL and then click 'Quick Look URL.' It will show you where the link goes before you open it. This could be helpful if you are suspicious of a shortened URL and want to know where it goes before you click to open it," Jim closes with a grin.
        And, we're all happy not to need a correctly-entered URL to go to many sites.  Google has simplified our search.

What Happened to "Read More"?

        This is the latest on http://pmugnews.blogspot.com/  -- yes, this blog.  Apparently, on April 23 Blogspot made changes to their procedures and an aggravation has surfaced here.  When you subscribe via RSS, clicking on the upper right hand side of the top bar, you'd be notified via your own email program when something new was posted here.  About 4 lines would give the opening of the article, and then came those helpful words, "Read More."  Clicking there took you immediately to this website and you could read the whole article and see the whole newsletter.
        Now the "Read More" is missing.  Until the solution is found I will start each new posted article with this http://pmugnews.blogspot.com/ in the first line, so you can click on that and go straight to the whole blog.  That's the idea.....now to see if it works for you!
     

MacMail: Missing Plug-in

        John Carter springs this question, "Have you ever noticed that when you send an e-mail with an attachment, it shows up in your Sent folder with the attachment seemingly replaced with the words 'Missing Plug-in?'
        " A few weeks back, some advice was given out to supposedly protect you from a Java related virus. The advice said to open 'Java Preferences' (this application is in /Applications/Utilities, or just search for it with Spotlight) and uncheck the box in the General tab: 'Enable applet plug-in and Web Start applications.' Unchecking that box causes your attachments to disappear from your e-mail in the Sent folder and maybe cause you to think that the attachment didn’t go through.

 "To see your attachments in your Sent folder again, make sure that the box is checked and then click on the button 'Restore Defaults.' All will be fine again. As for the Java related virus warning, both Java and Apple have pushed updates that you should have installed, and those updates will protect you - until the next new virus comes along."

        But John, we asked, "what about the Safari Preferences"?

Here's John's reply: "Not the same. What you show is for Safari, not Mail. Since I have installed all the latest Java and Apple updates, I have 'Enable Java' box checked in Safari Preferences as well. But that setting does not affect how Mail works."

Yes, You CAN Find It

Mac makes it easy for you to find what you’ve written and saved. Of course, it does take a little effort on your part. So you wrote about your dog, but you gave the piece a cute little title. Now, where is it? You could try Command + the space bar which opens the Spotlight at the upper right side of the menu bar. With a few key words typed in you might get some clues as where to look. You can click on an entry there and it will open, or hold the cursor there and it will identify where it is filed.

Better yet. Give yourself an assignment. Go to that list of stories or articles or poems you’ve written. Click to open one of them and see what key words would help you find it next time. Then close the piece, click on just the title in the list of documents. Do Command + i and it opens the Spotlight Comments box with the info of Kind, Size, Where, Created, Modified, Open with, Preview and Sharing & Permissions. Put in some key words in that Comments box. Close and smile; you’ve just made your life easier with Mac. Next time one of those key words might help Spotlight find your document.

You already know you can find things by date when you click View to make it sort by date. If you just wrote this piece last week or last month perhaps you can find it by date. When you have Finder open on the screen you can do Search For and choose Today, Yesterday, Past Week.

Finding That Comma!

Something sent to me for posting on the newsblog had some commas misplaced outside, instead of inside the quotation mark. I needed to check the whole document while it was still on my mind.

In Pages, the writing program I use, I opened the document and did Command + F for Find. I put a comma in the blank by the word Find. One by one, as I went Next each comma in the writing came up highlighted. I could see the ones which were properly placed, and several that needed fixing. How easy is that! Find not only finds words that you want to locate, but can help you use your punctuation correctly. Sometimes in a font the exclamation mark looks too close, so I find each of them, highlight one of them at a time and change it to italic!

 Finding Help For Your Grammar

Need some help with punctuation or grammar? Here are several websites, quick and easy to read. Info from Purdue University, examples, etc. Examples from Stage Door, short and to the point. Lots of links, samples, specific info from the University of Northern Iowa.

 Finding Info on the Internet

What a relief. We no longer have to correctly type in http:// and the correct and complete URL of some site. Key words can help Google or Yahoo, whoever, come up quickly with a list of suggested sites. One of them on the first page is probably the one you want!

 Finding Yourself on the Internet

Yes, the search engines know where to find you. Take a look. I’ve used Google as the example, but try also other search engines listed & described here.

Where do you live? Google Maps can show you. Enter your address. Click on the Yellow Man and drag towards the marker Google has placed. Neighborhood streets that have been filmed by the Google camera vehicle are shown now in blue. Up comes street view.  Don’t like what they show? You can contact them about your concerns. What does your old house in Phoenix look like now? Are they keeping the yard looking nice?

If you enter your name in the Google search box and place quotation marks around it you can find websites that mention you by name, or other people with YOUR name. Interesting to see how many of “you” there are in the US.

You can also put your name down under Google Images and see what comes up! In my example, up came book covers and people’s photos from websites that have quoted a poem or writing of mine.

Been mentioned on the Daily Courier lately? Look under Find It for classifications such as Archive, Photo Gallery, Sports, etc. If you want to submit a great photo this is where to go.

Finding What Apple Is Doing

Keep up with the latest on Discussions and Widgets. Anyone download the “Boredom Button”? The Apple Store has items and prices, but also links to education, business, international stores, government and military, special deals, and click to talk to an Apple Specialist.

Curious? Another Way to Check

        Curious if your Mac got infected?  Jim Hamm writes, "Here is an article by MacWorld describing another very easy method of checking to see whether your Mac has been infected by the Flashback Trojan. Odds are good that you haven't been infected, but I tried, out of curiosity, the small app in the second link below. It worked quickly and showed that my Mac wasn't infected."

Java in Lion: You Might Need Help

        In a recent post regarding the Flashback virus, John Carter reported that he had a problem with Java. This “bug” appeared only after a recent update to Java. He brings us up-to-date here:
        "There is a workaround for the problem with Java in Lion. (The problem is that in the Terminal the command ‘java -version’ returns an error message: unable to locate java runtime to invoke) The workaround is accomplished by adding the system environment variable JAVA_HOME to the login environment in the file /etc/bashrc.
        "The variable should be set to '/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Home'
        "There is no easy way to instruct the non-technical person on how to add a line of code to a system file. Anyone having a problem with Java should contact John Carter and he will install the workaround free."  Go to the PMUG site > About Us and scroll down to Contact Us and click on Webmaster.
        John closes with this, "The JAVA_HOME variable should not have to be added, so there is still some kind of Java problem that needs to be researched."
        Now, John Carter to the rescue!  Here's the very latest help: "Regarding why Java fails on the iMac Lion that I have, I just discovered this fix:
        Remove this file: /Users/[logname]/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.java.JavaPreferences.plist
        That file does not exist on the Mini, MB Pro, or MB Air.
         The next time you execute ‘java -version’ in Terminal, you get:
         java version "1.6.0_31"
        Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_31-b04-414-11M3626)
        Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.6-b01-414, mixed mode)
        "This is confirmed by: osdir.com/ml/java-dev/2010-10/msg00974.html  by Mike Swingler, Java Engineering, Apple Inc."
        Any other questions?  If so,  email John.  And remember, he's speaking this Saturday for PMUG.  See you there?  

From Problem to Solution

Having a Problem Downloading New Software?

Is your ISP Cable One?

Do you have a Motorola Cable Modem?

Howard LaPittus wants you to know what to do. (Yes, believe it or not,  he wrote a technical article, what is the world coming to?)  So, from problem to solution, let's hear from Howard. "If you answered yes to all of the above questions and you have the Firewall Protection checked as Enable in the set up of the Motorola Modem this could be the cause of the problem. "To solve this issue put in your browser http://192.168.0.1 and you will come to the Motorola Login page. User name: admin, Password: motorola. (Both Login and Password is lower case) Click the login in button and at the top of the next page click on Firewall. On that page you will see Web Features and if Firewall Protection is checked Enable, uncheck and Apply. Log out and now you’re now good to go. "Thanks to the suggestion made by John Carter, I contacted Cable One to have my line checked for static, which could cause problems download. I spoke to a Cable One technical representative who was very knowledgeable about Mac computers. He did find a problem with the line, and I did not have a clean connection. He said that is was caused by having the firewall enabled on my Motorola modem. Yes, Motorola and Macs sometimes to do play together well." (So, Howard, all I had to do was put in a few commas.)

Format Both a Mac & a PC

If you need to transfer files between a Mac and a PC, the only way to do that is by using either a USB flash drive or an external hard drive that is formatted with the exFAT format. You do need a blank flash drive or a blank external drive. Almost any new external drive you buy will have the correct format, but to be certain you should check the format with Get Info on the drive. To format a drive as exFat, open Disk Utility and click on the drive to be formatted in the left column. Then click on the "Erase" tab. In the window that pops up, choose "exFAT" for the Format option. Name the drive something that will remind you what the format and size is. Click "Erase". You can now use that drive on both a Mac and a PC - as long as the PC isn't running Windows XP (which doesn't support exFAT format).

The DOS format isn't supported on a Mac, so please don't use that.

Tips 'N Tricks Now on PMUG Site

         There's a new page in the PMUG website called Tips 'N Tricks. The very first article submitted is by John Carter and the title is "Using One Time Machine Device for Two or More Apple Computers." Check it out! Go to www.pmug.us/  and click on the Benefits tab to see the drop-down menu, then click on Tips 'N Tricks. Enjoy!
        Then submit your own articles by sending an email to the website administrator.  Go to About Us and scroll down to Contact Us.