OS X El Capitan in easy steps

by Nick Vandome

Overview

OS X El Capitan in easy steps opens up the gateway to the foundations of OS X: the Dock and the Finder. Then, it reveals a raft of ways in which you can make the most of OS X El Capitan:

Multi-Touch navigation options for getting around in OS X El Capitan.
Working with and managing your apps.
Productivity options on your Mac.
Getting online with Safari, Mail, Messages and FaceTime.
Managing your digital lifestyle for photos, music, video, books and games.
The invaluable iCloud online function for backing up and sharing your files.

There is also a chapter on troubleshooting and keeping your El Capitan in tiptop shape

OS X El Capitan in easy steps also covers the new features in the operating system, which include:

A streamlined Mission Control function.
An improved Notes app
Enhanced Spotlight search functionality
An updated Mail app
Additional editing options in the Photos app.
An enhanced Safari app

Whether you’re new to the Mac or just upgrading, use this book to master the essentials and then unleash the power of OS X El Capitan.

Covers OS X El Capitan (10.11), due Fall 2015.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840786958
Publisher:	In Easy Steps Limited
Publication date:	01/12/2016
Series:	In Easy Steps
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Nick Vandome is an IT writer and trainer who specializes in digital imaging and web authoring subjects. In addition to his writing, he also works designing websites and runs training courses. Before he started working with computers he wrote books about working and traveling abroad. Nick is an established In Easy Steps author with several successful guides to his credit. He lives in Perth, U.K.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction OS X EI Captain 7

About OS X CI Capitan 8

Installing OS X El Capitan 9

The OS X Environment 10

About Your Mac 12

About System Preferences 16

Changing the Appearance 17

Changing the Resolution 18

Accessibility 19

The Spoken Word 21

Shutting Down 22

2 Getting Up and Running 23

Introducing the Dock 24

Apps on the Dock 25

Setting Dock Preferences 26

Stacks on the Dock 28

Dock Menus 30

Working with Dock Items 31

Trash 33

System Preferences 34

About iCloud 36

Setting up iCloud 37

About the iCloud Drive 38

Continuity 40

Handoff 41

About Family Sharing 42

Using Family Sharing 44

Desktop Items 48

Ejecting Items 49

Resuming 50

3 Finder 51

Working with the Finder 52

Finder Folders 53

Finder Views 55

Covers 58

Quick Look 59

Finder Toolbar 60

Finder Sidebar 61

Finder Search 62

Copying and Moving Items 63

Working with Folders 64

Selecting Items 65

Finder Tabs 66

Tagging in the Finder 68

Spring-loaded Folders 70

Burnable Folders 71

Actions Button 72

Sharing from the Finder 73

Menus 74

4 Navigating in OS X EI Captain 75

The OS X Way of Navigating 76

OS X Scroll Bars 77

Split View 78

Trackpad Gestures 80

Magic Mouse Gestures 88

Multi-Touch Preferences 91

Mission Control 93

Spaces 94

5 OS X EI Captain Apps 95

Launchpad 96

Full Screen Apps 98

OS X Apps 100

Accessing the App Store 101

Downloading Apps 102

Finding Apps 104

Managing Your Apps 106

6 Getting Productive 107

Spotlight Search 108

Contacts (Address Book) 110

Calendar 112

Taking Notes 114

Setting Reminders 116

Notifications 118

Getting Around with Maps 120

Preview 124

Printing 125

OS X Utilities 126

Creating PDF Documents 128

7 Internet and Email 129

Getting Connected 130

Safari 132

Safari Sidebar 133

Safari Tabbed Browsing 134

Safari Top Sites 135

Safari Reader 136

Adding Bookmarks 137

Mail 138

Using Mail 139

Mail in Full Screen 140

Messaging 142

FaceTime 144

8 Digital Lifestyle 145

Using the Photos App 146

Viewing Photos 147

Editing Photos 149

Starting with iTunes 150

Buying Music with iTunes 151

Using Apple Music 152

Reading with iBooks 154

Movies, Music and Games 156

9 Sharing OS X 157

Adding Users 158

Deleting Users 160

Fast User Switching 161

Parental Controls 162

10 Networking 165

Networking Overview 166

Network Settings 168

File Sharing 169

Connecting to a Network 170

11 Maintaining OS X 173

Time Machine 174

Disk Utility 178

System Information 179

Activity Monitor 180

Updating Software 181

Gatekeeper 182

Privacy 183

Problems with Apps 184

General Troubleshooting 185

Index 187