Using EXCEL for personal accounts
Keep a simple running account to compare with what the bank says you have. Drag the bottom right-hand corner of the balance column to copy the formula.
Switching Apps
When you have several apps open it’s handy to be able to quickly switch between them, especially on a Mac with a smaller screen like the Macbook Air 11 inch. The F3 key or Mission Control is handy for this – which shows a screen with apps nicely spaced out (see below).
An alternative way is to use a key combination called Task Switcher. Hold the Command key and click on the tab key. You will get a display of app icons in the centre of the screen, see below
There are eight apps in use but only one, the Finder, is outlined in grey/white – click on this to enable the app, or keep clicking the tab key to move the focus to the next. Just click on the one you want to bring it to the front.
or create new screen spaces
Press f3 to access Mission Control and click on the + square, red arrow, highlighted, top right. Now drag your apps into the new spaces, for example to give the three screen spaces shown below. Hover over a space and click the cross to delete it. The app falls back into the first space.
Check version of software
These tips should work with recent versions of the Mac operating system.
Click the Apple icon in the toolbar and select About this Mac
Here it’s version 10.9.5
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion 2012
OS X 10.9 Mavericks 2013
OS X 10.10 Yosemite 2014
Right clicking
On a Windows PC you can bring up a new context related menu.
In Finder on the Mac it’s ctrl + click – with the result below
Or, change your trackpad/mouse settings
Tap with two fingers to see menu.
Change default application
Right click on a file and press alt key. Open with changes to Always open with, then pick your default application – in this case it is Microsoft Word.
Emoji icons in emails, tweets. Accented characters
In text type Cmd + Ctrl + space
Accented characters are easily obtained by holding the appropriate key down, or by pressing alt followed by the letter.
For an acute e
Check your computer memory
Find the size of your computer drive (hard disk HD / solid state drive SSD ) or files and folders. Click the Apple icon (top left of screen). In drop down box select:
About this Mac > More Info > System Report > Storage (button at top).
To find the size of a file or folder, go to Finder, select a file or folder and Right Click (see tip 2). then select Get info. The resulting panel shows the size near the top under General.
Display laptop screen on a monitor or projector
To enlarge your screen area on a separate monitor you need a displayport or thunderbolt† to VGA adaptor (cost about £3 on ebay, or pay the Apple price!). Connect the monitor to your computer displayport or thunderbolt socket via the adaptor and turn on. You may see an extension of your desktop background but no windows on the monitor. If so, take the following steps:
From System Preferences select Displays and then Arrangements (Syncmaster is the name of the monitor). If Mirror Displays ticked, the monitor will try to replicate your desktop with a suitable resolution. If it is not ticked, the monitor will provide an extension of your screen area, which is useful if you have several programs open where you can drag windows from one display to the other.
Projectors will also replicate your laptop screen when Mirror Displays is ticked.
†Earlier Apple computers had VGA or HDMI sockets which could be used with a matching monitor/projector connection (just a cable, but no adaptor).
Safari – add a bookmark
Open the web page you wish to bookmark. Under Bookmarks on the top toolbar, click Add Bookmark… and it’s done. Show or hide bookmarks by clicking the little open book icon on the left.
Password protect a Pages or Numbers document
With the document open, click File and Set Password … You can then set a password – see
below.
You can even open a protected Microsoft Word/Excel document in Pages/Numbers using the appropriate password.
Airdrop files
Move files between computers. In Finder, turn on Airdrop on both computers.
Should get this:
Cmd + N opens another Finder window to get the file to drag to R’s Macbook Air.
Move Dock around
In System Preferences choose Dock – gives more vertical space when on side of screen.
Notes4mac 