All I need to know about Applications
This post details all I need to know about running and installing Applications on my Mac.
Where are my Applications?
Applications are found in the current User’s Applications folder. An easy way to browse this folder is by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock and selecting Applications on the left sidebar in the Finder. If I don’t see a sidebar, Select View: Show Toolbar from the menu bar at the top of the screen. If Applications is not in the sidebar, then click the Hard drive logo in the sidebar of the Finder or on the Desktop and select Applications.
Applications have a home in the Dock
I can drag any Application from the Applications folder to the Dock. This is so I can easily access Applications I use often.
How do I install an Application from the Internet?
Most Applications from the internet come in a container called a disk image (.dmg). A dmg acts like a CD. It is a copy of a CD into a file, a disk image. If I open a disk image, it will usually open a Finder window. If it doesn’t, I can browse the disk image in the Finder by selecting it in the sidebar or on the desktop.
Applications could also come in containers called .tar.gz, .rar, .sit, or .zip. Any of these containers can be opened with StuffIt Expander, an Application that ships with every Mac. Simply Ctrl + click any of these files and Select Open With StuffIt Expander. That is, with the exception of .rar. I will have to download and install UnRarX to open .rar containers.
Smaller Applications usually do not require an installation, so just drag and drop the Application file right into my Applications folder.
If the Application does require an installation, simply click the install icon, follow the on screen instructions, and allow the installation to run. Do not let the Mac go to sleep or shutdown during the installation process. Restart if necessary.
