Installing Applications, A Noobs Guide 9

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Installing Applications, A Noobs Guide

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Every so often I will publish a newbies tip or trick for people that are new to the Mac operating system. As Mac’s are getting more popular I feel that basic newbie tips will be a great help. These will sort of tips will range from nearly everything. This first tip will be about installing applications. With anyone who is a switcher from a Windows machine this can be an interesting experience. Many newbies, you may not believe it, do not know how to install an applications, I was one of them for a short time. Hopefully this guide will explain all.

There are three ways to install an application. From a disk image, zip (or similar) or from a custom installer. Each method is very similar although there are slight differences. All usually involve one method, drag and drop.

All applications are usually installed in one place. The Applications folder. This is the main source for all your applications. It is similar to Program Files on a Windows machine. You can run an application from any folder, but Applications is a more convenient and easy to organise your apps.

Disk Images/Folders

The main way your find applications on the internet is through a disk image. A disk images is similar to small disk you would normally put in a CD drive. When you find a .dmg file you double click on it and you would be presented with an interface similar to the image below. Usually they contain the application, a shortcut to Applications and optionally some supporting materials. To make things more interesting there is usually an image to brighten up your day, although this is not present in the screen shot below.


To install an application you drag the application (on the left above) and drop it on the shortcut to Applications. It will then copy it across and you are done. No funky installer and usually it is installed in a matter of seconds.


You can then unmount the disk image and delete it if you are finished with the image. You can then run the program. On a first run you will be presented with a warning message about the application. This is a new addition to the Leopard build. It is a small bit of protection to warn you in case it is something malicious.


Zip files and folders which you download on the net or very similar expect you don’t get a special shortcut within the image, you have to drag it in a Finder window.

Installers

Sometimes an application has to have an installer to enable you to install the app. This applications usually need to put some files into secure places on the system or files in places other than the Applications folder. This once again is very simple. You open the disk image, double click the installer file and read through the screens. Most of the time your will have to agree to a terms of use message.

Every so often an installer or application will vary from the norm. But usually there are instructions. Its simple and very easy to do. Most of the time your can be running the application within a couple of seconds from downloading and opening the disk image. Any questions leave a comment below.


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9 Responses to “Installing Applications, A Noobs Guide”

  1. 1

    This is great!
    What about uninstal?
    Is there a different between a packege uninstall and image uninstall?(how do I get rid of the “other” files?)

    Comment By Anonymous on March 1st, at 12:59 am

  2. 2

    Its that difficult I will post about uninstalling today.

    Comment By James Powell on March 1st, at 11:02 am

  3. 3

    Thanks, but I have one question. I am switching from Windows and wand some advice about this.

    Many simple applications come with auxiliary files. For example, Backdrop — a free application that creates a solid background for screen shots — has a ReadMe.rtf and a link to the Backdrop web site. For a simple application like this on Windows, I would typically create a Backdrop folder under C:\Program Files, copy everything there, create a shortcut to the executable, and copy the shortcut to wherever I wanted it. On my Mac, I copy the application to /Applications, but for future reference, where should I store the related documentation and web page link? I suppose one might use /Library/Backdrop this way, but is there a better or easier way to handle this issue?

    Comment By Anonymous on September 23rd, at 2:50 pm

  4. 4

    Erm, the best I think is to make a folder in Applications and put everything in there. Most of the time though you can just bin the read me.

    Comment By admin on September 23rd, at 5:26 pm

  5. 5

    Thanks. I’ve started working on this and related issues. I have some thoughts about how to tackle the problem.

    First, while waiting for a reply to my question, I worked on a solution to a related problem. In Windows, under Start > All Programs, I have a hierarchical structure that helps me find applications. E.g., I have folder labeled “Development” and have compilers, etc. there. Another folder labeled “Webmastering” has things like html editors. Under Multimedia I have subfolders named Burners, Editors, Players, Screen Capture, and so on. Etc.

    I find a layout like this to be necessary because I have several very useful applications that I use rarely and whose names do not reveal what they do. When I need, for example, to find a bloated file, I go to my Utilities and look for a disk analyzing program.

    On the Mac I implemented this by creating a Programs folder with the appropriate subfolders and then by copying shortcuts where appropriate.

    If I understand your suggestion, it works because applications are really folders with names ending in “.app”. One can easily copy auxiliary files into the folder.

    Now a nice enhancement would be to have some kind of script that would look at the shortcuts in my Programs file and open a Finder window to the *.app folder. This could work from a context menu. There might even be a way to automate the task upon installation and create a list of non-applications moved to the *.app folder. Maybe a text file with a name like .installedAuxFiles could keep the list. The context menu entry would then fly out, list these files, and open the selected one(s).

    This sounds like a bit of work, but not too much. Standard Unix tools should make it pretty easy. Your thoughts?

    Comment By Anonymous on September 23rd, at 11:18 pm

  6. 6

    i am on a school MacBook at home. they have blocked the installer ( default ) you need a name and password. is there any other way to install things? im not trying to install anything illegal, just mods for a game called minecraft. please reply.

    Comment By Zach Tolson on December 30th, at 2:46 am

  7. 7

    You would need the admin password. You may be able to set up a new admin account (or change yours to an admin account). Otherwise it is a bit difficult.

    Comment By admin on December 30th, at 6:06 pm

  8. 8

    hi sir, im a newbie,, started using Mac just last week. i would like to ask for help. im having problem on downloading games. i can run the game it says “not compatible with Chess Application” please help me. i dont know what to download so i can play games in my laptop.. thanks..

    Comment By Arrianie Lim on April 8th, at 12:12 am

  9. 9

    Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I have really loved browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more soon!

    Comment By Site web dynamique | Page Facebook | Logiciel personnalisée | gestion de cabinet | gestion de stock on November 21st, at 8:58 pm

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