• mac os x is a system that turns outdated very fast, unlike windows machines, new mac can not be installed with old os x system;
• each mac OS is targeting at specific time-period mac machines, so it is more like fixed system
  • (unlike windows or linux, you can install any version of OS on any type of machines, as long as the basic hardware drivers works)
• OS X is a system per-bundled with hardware drivers, and sold together with mac hardware.

Finder operation

• open terminal:

  sudo vi /etc/hosts

  or

  sudo nano /etc/hosts

  or to view only

  view /etc/hosts

  • note: /private/etc/hosts is actual path, /etc/hosts is a alias to it. vi/nano both are terminal text editor, vi for pro, nano for normal user

• common shared directory /Users/Shared
• Root level directory with symbolic link config

  echo -e "MyDirName\tUsers/MyUser/MyDirName" | sudo tee -a /etc/synthetic.conf

• another version

  sudo touch /etc/synthetic.conf
  sudo echo "MyDirName\tUsers/MyUser/MyDirName" >> /etc/synthetic.conf

  • reboot needed for every change to show up
  • note: Because the root mount point is read-only as of macOS 10.15, physical files may not be created at this location. All writeable paths must reside on the data volume, which is mounted at /System/Volumes/Data
  • /etc/synthetic.conf should be owned by root and group wheel with permissions 0644
  • ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4qMv0UwCL4

• Mac comes with free tool called “Font Book” for font management,
  • install font for single user in “Font Book”, basically drag and drop into a collection in the window, it is basically same as manually put in ~/Library/Fonts
    • ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=288&v=eOGykGwNreg

• install font manually for single user:
  • put font files into ~/Library/Fonts (Note, it is hidden by default, you need Hold Option/Alt key and click Go menu in Finder window, to go Library from there)
  • ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=160&v=xUz3b24Ehfw

• the system library: /Library/Fonts/

Other Management Tool

• FontExplorer X: (paid app) a tool managing font without move to system/user folder, similar to NexusFont for windows (free app)
• FontBase: (free for win,mac,linux): another font manager: https://fontba.se/
• SkyFont: (free for win,mac): http://skyfonts.com/
• Adobe CC app: (paid and locked) it comes with cloud based font management tool, allow you to activate fonts from adobe's own font library and auto shown in all your adobe app linked to your CC account, but most of their font is linked with account and adobe app, once out of their circle, it is not editable.
• Suitcase Fusion: (paid app for win,mac): allow client/project based font manage: https://www.extensis.com/suitcase-fusion/

Problem: Stop Music.app keeps popping up and remove Music app from menubar

• Stop music app: go to Music App, > under main menu > Preference : General tab > notification: off (when song change)
• remove music app from menubar: go System Preference > Dock and menu bar > Now Playing item: off (show in menu bar)

Problem: USB Ethernet device Drive installation

• for “UGREEN USB RJ45 Ethernet Adapter with USB Hub” (Model: 20265)
• need to download lastest mac os driver form website, at the bottom of page: https://www.ugreen.com/product/UGREEN_USB_RJ45_Ethernet_Adapter_with_USB_Hub_and_Gigabit_Ethernet_Port_Support-en.html
• install the dmg as normal, restart computer, then go Security panel > allow the ax88179 driver to load
• now go network > you should see that AX88179 devince in the left panel

Problem: Wacom Driver installation security error prevent wacom working

• Solution:
  1. after install the wacom driver as normal, ref: https://www.wacom.com/en-th/support?guideTitle=Is-there-a-driver-for-Mac-OS-10.15-Catalina%3F&guideId=015-916
  2. in System Security panel > Privacy, use right side + sign to add /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.wacom.IOManager file into Accessibility and Input Monitoring side tab
     
     
     

Problem: make mouse extra button works

• most likely you need to install that device driver from original mouse maker site, and add the mouse device into Security panel > input part to allow the mouse driver to load, like above wacom setup

system setup

• initial disk backup

Working with Windows

• windows NTFS disk write:
  • http://www.macbreaker.com/2014/06/how-to-enable-writing-to-ntfs-hard.html

Reference

http://www.imore.com/how-set-and-restore-time-machine-backup
http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1060844-norton-ghost-type-software-for-mac/
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5630862
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2210269
http://www.macworld.com/article/2056561/how-to-make-a-bootable-mavericks-install-drive.html
http://www.macworld.com/article/2151706/create-a-bootable-mavericks-install-drive-for-newer-macs.html
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/backup_recovery/
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5943
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4848
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5911
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

How to save Mac OS X updates locally from Software Update tool

• Method 1 (not working): use Apple built-in Software update from Apple Logo > Software Update
  1. click show details in the Pop-up window
  2. check the one you want
  3. go to Update menu > Download only, then it should be at Download folder
• Method 2: the terminal command - “softwareupdate –list”
  1. open terminal, type “softwareupdate –list”
  2. wait for a while for it to show the list, you will see some item like

     * GBExtraContent-1.0
     GarageBand Instruments and Apple Loops (1.0), 1170290K [recommended]

  3. the name after the star sign is the name, like “GBExtraContent-1.0”
  4. to download the one you want, type in terminal “softwareupdate –download thePackageNameYouFound”
  5. then it will start downloading, and it will tell where it stores in the end
  6. Generally, it will be at /Library/updates/

Mac system customize

• bash(with mac binary tools) + Spark (app) + AppleScript

• screen capture customize
  • no shadow from capture

    defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true

    defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool false

  • custom capture format

    defaults write com.apple.screencapture type png #format:png,pdf,jpg,gif,tif,bmp,tga

  • custom save location

    defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Desktop #cust path

  • custom save name (no recommended) http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20091228142521881

    defaults write com.apple.screencapture name "txt"

  • dashboard on desktop

    defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES

• enable root user

  sudo passwd root

  • ref: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20010324095804436

How to Enable Sharing Feature

• connect windows share folder
  • go to Finder > Go menu > Connect to Server > at the dialog, enter

    smb://the_computer_name/
    smb://192.168.56.1 # ip address

Mac system shortcut

• macbook pro 2012 upgrade process:
  • ram: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPjvXoOIxqU
  • hard drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShUAGwtVMHg
  • optical drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds_6IET3siE

• DiskInternals Linux Reader: reader for Ext2/3/4, HFS format disk
• Mediafour’s MacDrive: reader and writer for HFS format disk (not free)
• HFSExplorer: reader for HFS format disk and DMG files

Linux can natively read and write on NTFS, FAT format disk.
Mac can natively read NTFS, and read and write on FAT format disk.
Mac can use ntfs-3g tool to write on NTFS disk, but not recommended, as it's slow and unstable.