Wellesley College Information Services documentation logo

What's new or different in OS X?
OS X 10.4
Macintosh

What's new or different in OS X v.10.4?

If this is the first time you're working with a Mac, you might want to look at the Intro to Macintosh documentation

Dashboard
Spotlight
Printing
Microsoft Office 2004

Return to Welcome to OS X v.10.4

Dashboard

OS X v. 10.4 includes a new feature called Dashboard, which runs a multitude of mini applications known as widgets. These programs can be easily recalled and minimized by using Dashboard, and provide a wide range of information in a single click. These widgets bring all types of information to you including the weather, time and flight information.

OS X v.10.4 includes a suite of widgets to get started.

How do I navigate Dashboard?

  • To enter Dashboard, click on the Dashboard icon in the dock.
  • To open a widget, enter Dashboard, click on the Plus sign , and click on the widget to be opened.
  • To view the rest of the widget bar, click on one of the arrows at either end of the Widget Bar . While your mouse is over the arrow, the arrow will change to indicate you are on page # of # pages .
  • To minimize a widget, enter Dashboard, click on the Plus sign, then click on the x in the upper left corner of the widget to be minimized.
  • To exit Dashboard, click anywhere but on an open widget or the Widget Bar.

For more information on using Dashboard, click here.

 
back to the TOP

 

Spotlight

OS X v.10.4 includes a new feature called Spotlight, a permanent feature in the menu bar, which allows you to find files, images, and applications instantly.

Changing Preferences

Navigating Spotlight

  1. To search for something using Spotlight click on the Spotlight icon in the top left of the menu bar.
  2. Type in the application, file, word or phrase you are looking for.
  3. It will display a list of the top twenty hits sorted by type. For example, if you do a search for Firstclass, the top hit is the Firstclass application. It also shows you other files and applications that the word Firstclass in them.
  4. To open that file or application select it and click once from the Spotlight search results window.
  5. At the top of the search results next to Show All it will tell you how many hits were found.
  6. If the file you are looking for was not in the top 20, click Show All and it will bring you to a new window that look like this:


    Spotlight also allows you to search for a file even if you don't remember the file name or file format.
  7. You can sort by Group, Sort Within Group, When and Where. For example, If you know when you saved a file you can type in relative time periods like “Date:Yesterday” to find it or if you ure unsure of the file format of the item you are looking for, use “kind” to find types of files including “Kind:Movie,” “Kind:Image” or “Kind:Document.”
  8. Spotlight displays a neatly sorted result list that you can browse to find what you want.

How do I Change Preferences?

Within the Spotlight Preferences you can select and deselect where you want Spotlight to Search, as well as change the order in which results appear.

  1. Click on the Apple icon at the top left of the menu bar.
  2. Scroll down to System Preferences.
  3. Click on the Spotlight icon under Personal.
  4. Under the Search Results tab you can check and uncheck categories.You can also drag categories to change the order in which the results appear.
  5. Under the Privacy Tab you can add or drag folders and spotlight will not look in those locations during the search.

 
back to the TOP

Setting up a Printer

print center icon

Configuring a network printer in OS X v. 10.4

Configuring a network printer allows you to print to any printer in the Wellesley College network. These instructions are for computers running OS X v. 10.4. For any other OS X version, please click here.

Getting Started

  • Find the printer queue name and model number. Usually this information is on the printer. If you cannot find the queue name, please contact the Faculty/Staff Computing Helpdesk (x3333) for assistance.
  • Check what version of OS X you have. To do so:
    1. Click on the Finder icon in the Dock
    2. Go to the Apple menu
    3. Select About this Mac. The version should be listed in the window that appears.

Configuring your network printer for an OS X application

Printer Setup Utility

Click on the Printer Setup Utility icon in the Dock.

If the Printer Setup Utility icon is NOT in the Dock:

  1. Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.
  2. From the Go menu select Applications.
  3. Open the Utilities folder by double-clicking on it.
  4. Double-click on Printer Setup Utility.

Once you have located and opened the Printer Setup Utility:

  1. In the Printer List window that opens, click on the Add Printer button.
  2. A new window shade will appear:



  3. Make sure Line Printer Daemon - LPD is selected in the Protocol pull-down menu.
  4. In the Address field, type the queuename (e.g., plib3a). When you have finished typing the queuename, the message "Incomplete or invalid address" will disappear or may be replaced by "Complete and valid address."
  5. Leave the Queue Name field blank.
  6. Type in where the printer is located in the Location field.
  7. From the Print Using pull-down menu, select the printer manufacturer. A new area with a list of possible models will appear. Select your printer model. If the printer's model is not listed, select Generic in the Print Using field.
  8. Click Add.
  9. Depending on the printer added, a Printer Browser window may appear. If you have a duplex printer, check Duplex Unit. Leave all other field as is and click Continue.
  10. The window shade will disappear, and the new printer will appear in the list of printers in the Printer List window.
  11. The new printer is listed by its queue name. This can be cryptic especially if you have many printers listed. You can change the name of the printer by:
    1. In the Printer List window, click once on the printer to select it.
    2. Under the Printers menu, select Show Info.
    3. A Printer Info window will appear. Change the name of the Printer in the Printer Name field.
    4. Click the Apply Changes button.
    5. Close the Printer Info window.
  12. From the Printer Setup Utility menu, select Quit Printer Setup Utility.

How do I set up a default printer?

  1. Open the Printer Setup Utility.
  2. Select the printer you would like to be the default printer.
  3. Click once on the Make Default button at the top of the window.
  4. The printer name of the printer you selected should now be bold indicating that it is the default printer.

 

How do I print duplex?

Setting up the duplex option for a printer:

    1. Click on the Printer Setup Utility icon in the Dock.
    2. In the Printer List window, click once on the printer you want to set up to select it.
    3. From the Printers menu choose Show info
    4. Click the Names and Location pull-down menu and select Installable Options.
    5. Check Duplex Unit.
    6. Click Apply Changes.
    7. From the Printer Setup Utility menu, select Quit Printer Setup Utility.

Printing a double-sided document:

    1. Select File > Print to print a document.
    2. In the dialog box that appears, click on the Copies & Pages menu and select Layout.
    3. Under Two Sided Printing, check Long Edge Binding or Short Edge Binding.
    4. When you are finished selecting your print settings click Print.

 
back to the TOP

Microsoft Office 2004

Microsoft Office 2004 is the standard on all Faculty and Staff office computers with OS X v10.4.

For helpful hints on using Word and Excel and Powerpoint please click here.

back to the TOP

 

Computing at Wellesley

Macintosh Documentation

Windows Documentation