etc.Īfter customizing the interface to my satisfaction I logged out, logged in as my admin account and used the finder to create a backup copy of the /System/Library/UserTemplate directory within my home directory (just in case!). I set the finder to open with four columns, etc. I also customized the OmniWeb toolbar and added a basic set of bookmarks/prefs. I then marched through all the preferences giving optimal settings to each but NOT inputting any user information anywhere as this is to be a set of generic settings. I set Classic and OmniWeb 4.1 sneeky peek as login items (you need to have more than just Classic starting up at login for new users or they will sit and wait for Classic to launch before they try anything.Apple should really hide this). cshrc file in my the home directory to add several terminal shortcuts, installed Tinkertool and put the dock on the bottom right with the scale effect, added a few apps and folders to the dock, customized the toolbar with icons/apps/folders to my liking. I proceeded to customize the user interface the way I like it.I set up XDarwin, Windowmaker edited the. I created a new (non-admin) user called "UserTemplate" and logged in as that user. Read the rest of this article if you'd like to change the default setup for new users on your system. We will now create a new set of default preferences to replace the Apple supplied prefs. In the folder /System/Library/UserTemplate/English.lproj/ there is a default set of home directory files and preferences used by the system for each new user created by an admin in the Users preference panel. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.Here's how I set my system up for multiple users to try and guarantee that things will work for my users just like they work for me. Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and join the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple? This lets you drag a URL from a document straight into Safari, grab text from a document to chuck into an automatically created new email, or take text from one document to use directly in a creative app.
If you’ve used one script too many and yearn to get your old Dock back launch Terminal and type:ĭefaults delete killall Dock Contextual textĪ little extra from the it's so incredibly obvious once you learn it dept., try this: Highlight text in any application window on your Mac and and drag it to another application on your dock and the application will begin working with that text. This invaluable tool makes it incredibly easy to get back to what you were doing last time you used your Mac. If you want shortcuts to each of these just create a new folder by repeating the command. This creates a blank app icon – effectively a blank space - in your Dock that you can drag and drop to wherever on the Dock you want it to go.ĭefaults write persistent-apps -array-add '' killall DockĬontrol-click on the folder icon in the Dock and you’ll get the option to see Recent Applications, Documents, Servers, Volumes or Items. (Replace YES with NO to reverse this effect.)Īdd blank space between icons in your Dock using a Terminal command. You can tweak the Dock so any active but hidden (Command + H) apps you might have running on your Mac are shown as transparent icons in your dock.ĭefaults write showhidden -bool YES killall Dock Defaults write static-only –bool TRUE killall Dock