75 System 3 Software When you first buy a computer, it’s the hardware that gets all the attention. But what really makes the Mac what it is—an easy-to-use and highly customizable personal computer—is the system software. The system software creates the desktop, lets you organize your files in folders, and gives you capabilities—such as cutting and pasting text and graphics—that work in virtually any Mac program. In this chapter, we describe the basic components of the Mac system soft- ware. You’ll also find advice on system software installation and modification. 76 Chapter 3: System Software Contributors Contents Sharon Zardetto The Operating System.....................................................77 Aker (SZA) is the chapter editor. System Software ........................................................................77 Updates, Tune-Ups, and Enablers...............................................79 John Kadyk (JK) has been involved with System Installation .....................................................................83 all six editions of this The Installer ...............................................................................85 book. When he’s not working with the Mac, he likes playing music The System Folder ...........................................................88 and biking. The System and Finder Files.......................................................88 Charles Rubin (CR) The Inner Folders .......................................................................90 is a Mac writer who has Extensions..................................................................................92 contributed to previous Mac Bible editions. Control Panels............................................................................96 System Components for PowerBooks ......................................103 Desk Accessories ......................................................................104 Special System Features ................................................106 The Hierarchical Apple Menu...................................................106 Aliases ......................................................................................107 AppleScript ..............................................................................108 Find File ...................................................................................109 Drag-and-Drop ........................................................................111 Other.......................................................................................113 System Tips....................................................................116 General ....................................................................................116 Control Panels..........................................................................117 Aliases ......................................................................................118 The Operating System 77 The Operating System The hardware components that make up your computer system aren’t enough to make the computer work; it’s the software that makes things really happen. Without software, a computer is like a terrific stereo system with no tapes or CDs: You have the potential, but you don’t have the music. But on the computer, before you can run any programs to get any work done, you need the system software—the stuff that gets the computer working at its most basic level. The system software creates the desktop and provides across-the-board capabilities such as cutting and pasting and program launching. Together with the routines built into the Mac’s ROM, which provide the lowest-level essentials such as window- and menu-handling, the system software provides the Mac’s operating system. System Software The Mac’s system software is inside the System Folder on your hard drive. When you buy a Mac, the most recent version of the system software is already installed on it, but you can continually upgrade it as new system releases become available. System, system (SZA). The word system in this chapter usually refers to your system software, but can be used in several different ways: the version of the system software you’re using (What system are you running?); your system software in general (The system crashed); or your hardware configuration (Which Mac system do you have?). The phrase System file (with a capital S) refers specifically to the suitcase-icon System file in your System Folder. Without the capital, system file refers to any file inside your System Folder or its subfolders. Likewise, the System Folder (capitalized) is that special System Folder; a system folder, uncapitalized, refers to one of the System Folder’s subfolders. System version numbers (SZA). As with other software, system software continu- ally evolves, with higher numbers indicating later versions. A double-decimal system is used so that you can tell the difference between major and minor changes. When the main number changes (such as System 6 to System 7), that indicates a major change, with totally new approaches to the system environment—so major that often older hardware can’t handle it and older software can’t run under it. A change in the first decimal place (such as System 7.0 to System 7.1), usually means some significant component was changed or added, but you won’t have to relearn anything or change your hardware or software. 78 Chapter 3: System Software A change to the second decimal place (such as System 7.5.1 to System 7.5.2) can mean one of two things. First, it might be the newest version of the current system that has a few minor tweaks so it works on Mac hardware that was developed after the system was released. Or, it can indicate that there were some bug fixes and/or enhancements to minor system components such as printer drivers. Or, it can be both—a fix for existing Macs through an updater, while those fixes are rolled into the version of the system that’s shipping on new Macs. To see what version of the system you’re running, use the About This Macintosh command in the Finder’s menu. To check what version of the system software is on your Mac, use the Finder’s About This Macintosh command in This book assumes you’re using System 7.5 the menu. or some “tweak” of it, such as 7.5.2 or 7.5.3. (As I write this, 7.5.3 is just about out.) But almost everything in this chapter (and others) also applies to System 7.0 and System 7.1, and the text usually mentions when there’s a significant difference between System 7.5 and the two earlier versions. Hardware requirements for system software (SZA/JK). You can’t run just any system on any Mac. Older Macs sometimes can’t run a newer system because it takes too much memory or hard disk space, or because it absolutely requires certain support from a processor chip or the ROMs in the newer machines. (The next generation operating system, for instance, is planned strictly for PowerPC chips.) Newer Macs won’t run at all on systems earlier than the one that was current when the hardware was released. In addition, later systems need a lot more memory to run effectively—or at all. Here’s Apple’s recommended memory requirements for System 7.5: Basic System 7.5 4MB Basic System 7.5 on Power Mac 8MB System 7.5 with QuickDraw GX 8MB System 7.5 with QuickDraw GX on Power Mac 16MB System 7 flavors (SZA). System 7 was introduced, to much fanfare, back in 1991; since then it has had several minor updates and two distinct version changes (7.1 and 7.5). Here’s a roundup: • System 7 Pro, a ridiculously marketed upgrade, included a few enhancements (such as a scriptable Finder, QuickTime, and PowerTalk) that didn’t make it into the System 7 package; while System 7 was free, you had to buy the Pro version. All of its capabilities were later added to the standard system software. The Operating System 79 • System 7.1’s most obvious improvement over 7.0 was the way it handled fonts, pro- viding a Fonts folder inside of the System Folder. There were also more subtle differences, such as how memory is allocated to an application in its Get Info win- dow. It was the first system to include WorldScript, a technology that lets a single application work in many different languages as long as the correct language kit from Apple is used. It was the system that introduced the can of worms known as enablers (which we’ll get to later) and is also infamous for being the first system upgrade that had to be (gasp!) paid for. • System 7.0.1P and System 7.1P were the 7.0 and 7.1 systems that came on Performas. As mentioned elsewhere, early Performas came with modified systems to make the machine even easier to use. • System 7.5 ushered in features such as QuickDraw GX, AppleScript, QuickTime, PowerTalk, and more. It’s the biggest—in terms of both memory and disk space needed—operating system ever seen on a Mac. Everyone learns to live with it, and most learn to love it. There are new control panels with better capabilities, and old desk accessories have been updated. Some of its more minor features are the most appreciated: a terrific Find File utility, a hierarchical menu, and drag-and-drop capability (all of which are covered later in this chapter). Performa system software (SZA/JK). Prior to System 7.5, Performas came with their own special system software (versions 7.0.1P and 7.1P) which were standard Mac systems modified slightly to be even easier for beginners. System 7.1P went through several modifications—7.1P1 through 7.1P6—which included many bug fixes and added a few new features (such as the Shut Down desk accessory on