A folder in Community on the file server called NTM which can be used by both Macs and PCs for temporary storage of files by anyone on campus. Files in 24 Hour Drop are automatically deleted every day at 5:00am.
Alias
An alias (also known as shortcut) is 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
Any executable file that runs on a computer (Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, and FirstClass are all applications).
Community
A folder in NTM which contains software for Macs and PCs as well as the 24 Hour Drop folder.
Cover Flow
Finder has been updated in OS X v.10.5 to include a new feature called Cover Flow. Now you can literally see your files in Finder — not just as icons, but as they really look. Using Cover Flow, you can browse through documents and quickly see a preview of the first page of the document and click through multipage documents
Dashboard
Dashboard is a feature 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. The shortcut key to bring up Dashboard is F12 by default, but this can be changed. Alternatively, you can click on the black circle to the right of Finder on your Dock.
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.
Emaccess Account
This account is an emergency account that will allow Information Services to fix your computer in case something does go wrong with your system. If you do accidently delete the emaccess account, please call the HelpDesk at your earliest convenience at x3333.
Exposé
Exposè is a feature 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 shortcuts to access Exposè. By default, the shortcut keys are F9, F10, and F11, but these can be changed.
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 active.
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. 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.
NTM
A Windows file server 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 in Community.
Quick Look
Quick Look allows you to open a preview of a document without launching its native application. For example, you can view a Word document with Quick Look without opening Word. Simply click on the eye in the top of the Finder window to take advantage of this powerful tool. The keyboard shortcut for Quick Look is Apple + Y.
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.
Spaces
A new feature in OS X v.10.5 is Spaces, which allows you to group application windows and manage the space on your Desktop, effectively reducing clutter. This is especially helpful if you tend to keep many applications open simultaneously.
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.
Stacks
A stack is a Dock item that gives you quick access to a folder of files. When you click a stack on the right side of your Dock, the files spring up, giving you easy access to the contents.
Time Machine
Apple introduces an automatic backup system in OS X v.10.5 called Time Machine. Wellesley College Information Services does not support Time Machine at this time. IS recommends at least two backup strategies to ensure the safety of your data. If you are interested in learning more about Time Machine, please see Apple's website for more information. Note it requires an external hard drive or additional Macintosh computer to store the incremental back ups.
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.
