A folder in Community on the server called NTM which can be used by both
Macs and PCs for temporary storage of files by anyone on campus.
Alias
A reference file which points to a file or folder on your Hard Drive. An
Alias can be deleted without losing any information because it does not represent
the actual item, only a "bridge" to that item.
Apple Menu
The menu in the upper left-hand corner of your screen which contains the
system preferences, shutting down, restarting, and logging in capabilities.
Application Program
Any executable file that runs on a computer (Internet Explorer, Word, Excel,
and FirstClass are all application programs).
Classic
The OS 9 environment that runs within OS X v.10.4 to allow OS 9 applications,
which otherwise wouldn't be able to run in OS X, to work. Classic applications,
created to run in OS 9, are found on the Macintosh HD in the Applications
(Mac OS 9) folder.
Community
A folder in NTM which contains software for Macs and PCs as well as the
24 Hour Drop folder.
Cursor
The blinking line which indicates your current location in a document. Any
keyboard input is registered at the location of the cursor.
Dashboard
Dashboard is a feature of OS X v.10.4 that allows you to access your "widgets".
A widget is a small basic program that does a specific task. It's very convenient
to bring up a program to quickly access information or perform a simple task,
such as getting the weather or using a calculator.
Desktop
The empty space on your screen when all windows are closed, containing Macintosh
HD, Dock, and any disks you have inserted. The Desktop is actually a folder
called Desktop found in your Home folder. Each user account has its own personalized
desktop. You can put aliases of files and folders on the Desktop for easy
access.
Dock
Usually located at the bottom of your screen, the dock contains the Finder
and all other currently active programs (applications). Aliases for applications,
folders or files can also reside in the dock. When a window is minimized,
it goes to the dock.
Document
A file created from within an application program. Word-processing files,
spreadsheets, and web pages are some of the most common documents you might
create and use.
Exposé
Exposè is a feature of OS X v.10.4 that allows you to reduce the
size of your open windows temporarily to see them all at once. You can then
click on one to bring it to the front. You can use keyboard short cuts to
access Exposè.
File Server
A computer connected to the campus network which you can access from your
Macintosh. File servers allow you to share information over the network among
computers without having to physically transfer files using disks. All computers
(even your own!) can be configured to act as file servers.
Finder
The "application" which lets you view the Desktop and all your files and
folders. The Finder is where you are when no other programs are running.
Hardware
The physical material of a computer, including hard drive, motherboard,
power supply, memory modules, floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, network interface
card, and monitor.
Home Folder
Found in the Users folder, the home folder is your personal space in OS X v.10.4. Files stored here are secure from other user accounts. Your home
folder
is listed as your domain account username.
Icon
The small picture representing a file or folder, usually associated with
the item's name.
Macintosh HD
The name of your hard drive which stores all files and folders.
Menu
A pull-down or pop-up listing of commands within a subject heading.
NTM
A Windows NT file server located in the Science Center that can be accessed
by both Macs and PCs. NTM contains software you can download and install on
your computer, as well as the 24 Hour Drop folder.
Software
A general term which refers to applications such as Microsoft Word.
Software Updates
Software updates download more recent versions of applications, which may
fix bugs and security holes in applications and the operating system and in
general help make your computer more secure and function better.
Spotlight
Spotlight is a search feature that allows you to quickly search
your entire computer for items such as applications, documents, photos, and
more. Spotlight is available system-wide, and can be accessed
by clicking on the Spotlight icon in the upper righthand corner of your screen.
Trash
A temporary storage container where you can move any files or folders you
no longer need. These items will remain in the Trash and can be retrieved
later if you need to recover an item. Once you empty the trash from the Finder
menu, however, these files are gone forever.
Window
The graphical display of the contents in a folder or file, consisting of
the window's name at the top with buttons for size management, window information
along the upper edge, and two scroll bars along the right side and the bottom.
