Mac OS X Notes from Karl

  1. To enable the root account:
    In command window, type "sudo passwd root"

  2. To change a user's default shell:
    - Open Applications:Utilities:Net Info
    - Click users -> the particular user
    - Click the lock to allow changes
    - Change shell to /bin/bash
    [ need to restart for this to take effect in X windows ]

  3. Create files .bashrc, .bash_profile, .emacs

  4. Create files .Rprofile, .Renviron

  5. For root, create .tcshrc file containing the following two lines:
    source /sw/bin/init.csh
    set path = ( $path /usr/local/bin )

  6. X-windows doesn't look at .bash_profile, but rather .xinitrc include in there, in addition to PATH stuff, the following:
    xterm -geometry 120x40+0+10 & # opens an xterm
    /usr/X11R6/bin/quartz-wm # windows manager

  7. To have letter paper as the default in LaTeX (from Aidan):
    texconfig
    DVIPS -> GLOBAL -> letterSize

  8. Note: latex stuff located in /sw/share/texmf/tex/latex

  9. Using an external display (e.g., using a projector for a seminar)
    - put the powerbook to sleep (e.g., close it)
    - attach the projector cable (th projector should be warmed up)
    - open the powerbook

    Note: things should be automatic, but you may need to go to "displays" in the system preferences (you can have a link to this placed on the menu bar) in order to turn on "mirroring" and/or adjust the resolution

    Note: you might want to go to "energy saver" in the system preferences (you can get to it via the battery on the menu bar) and select "presentation", so that the display never turns off.

  10. To prevent the start-up sound from chiming when powering up, hold down the mute button (aka F3) until the apple shows up on the screen.

  11. To have X-windows and the CPU monitor automatically started when logging in, add them in System preferences -> Accounts -> Startup Items (click on +/-)

  12. From X-windows, use the command "open" to have documents opened with native-Mac applications. (For example, typing "open myfile.pdf" would open the myfile.pdf file in Acrobat Reader; "open myfile.ppt" would open myfile.ppt in Powerpoint.)

  13. To check network connection speed, use the application Applications:Utilities:Network Utility

  14. In System Preferences -> Network, under DNS Servers, include 172.30.34.11 and 172.30.34.12, and under search domains, include jhsph.edu and biostat.jhsph.edu

  15. Regarding acrobat's stupid buttons in Word and Excel... if you go to Applications/Microsoft Office X/Office/Startup and replace the pdfmaker files in the Word and Excel subdirectories with empty folders of the same name, the buttons won't be made, and acrobat won't try to reinstall the files.

  16. Regarding the "red X" graphics in Word...it seems to not be a problem if one doesn't load the endnote add-in.