Tile windows in OS X

tile windows mac
tile windows os x
tile windows mountain lion
tile windows mac os x
lion tile windows in mac os x

There are were a few programs that allowed for window tiling in Mac OS X. But for a more universal solution that works across all OS X versions and monitors, we'll have to get our hands dirty with AppleScript.

This script will tile all windows for a single application. In a future post there will be a script that will work across all windows on screen. The only part of the script you'll need to edit is the second tell application line. Where it says "Terminal" simply put the application name for which app you want to tile.

property x_index : 1
property y_index : 0
property screen_width : 0
property screen_height : 0

tell application "Finder"
    set _b to bounds of window of desktop
    set screen_width to item 3 of _b
    set screen_height to item 4 of _b
end tell

tell application "Terminal"
    set the window_count to the count of windows
    if the window_count is not greater than 1 then error number -128
    set the bounds of window 1 to {0, 0, screen_width / 4, screen_height / 4}
    copy the bounds of window 1 to {x1, y1, x2, y2}
    set the window_width to (x2 - x1)
    set the window_height to (y2 - y1)
    repeat with i from 2 to the window_count
        set the position of window i to {(x1 + window_width), (y1)}
        copy the bounds of window i to {a1, b1, a2, b2}
        copy the bounds of window i to {x1, y1, x2, y2}
        set the bounds of window i to {a1, b1, (a1 + window_width), (b1 + window_height)}
        set the x_index to x_index + 1
        if (x_index is 4) then
            set the y_index to y_index + 1
            set the x_index to 0
            set y1 to y1 + window_height
            set x1 to 0 - window_width
            if (y_index is 4) then
                set the y_index to 0
            end if
        end if
    end repeat
end tell

Some paid software you can look at
 http://www.irradiatedsoftware.com/sizeup/
http://www.irradiatedsoftware.com/cinch/

How to sync an iPad, IPhone, and/or iTunes library

Searches
"sync ipad with another computer without erasing"
"sync without erasing"
"can't sync without erasing"
"transferring itunes library"
"sync itunes library"
"move itunes library"
"sync to a new computer"
"transferring between ipads"
"transferring to new ipad"
"transferring between ipods"
"transferring to new ipod"
"transferring between iphones"
"transferring to new iphone"


A recent puzzle to solve was how to tackle both syncing a new iPad with data from an old iPad (all app's and their settings/files) and then pair that iPad with a different computer. Old forum posts and how-to articles involve copying the entire iTunes library manually between computers, copy pasting presistent IDs, and iOS file transfer applications. Most of the literature I found was dated 2008-2010.

Allow me to calm your nerves and say that as of March 2012, this process is much more automated and painless.

The initial situation was the following, and most of you will fall under some part of what I needed to accomplish.

A. Old computer with full iTunes library
B. New computer which needs the iTunes library
C. Old iPad with various settings, apps, and files
D. New iPad which needs all data from the old iPad and will be synced with the NEW computer

Transferring an iTunes library between two computers has been made much easier thanks to Apple a few years ago finally answering user's demands that this process be automated. Ignoring the more recent option of iCloud, Home Share was added to iTunes and fully automates (most) of the process. When it first was introduced it only transferred purchased files (music, movies, apps). Keep this in mind if you have any files that were not purchased from the iTunes store in your library and double check if they got transferred later.

On the old computer open iTunes then
Find the Advanced menu
Select "Turn on home share"
Type in your iTunes account password

It should tell you that home sharing is active. DO NOT CLICK DONE. This actually turns home sharing off.

Now open up iTunes on the new computer
If you haven't already, authorize the new iTunes with your iTunes account by selecting "Authorize this Computer" under the Store menu. With both computers on the same network, and authorized for the same itunes account, you should see the other computer listed in the left panel. Click the home share icon, and at the bottom left you will see a drop down menu for what to show. Select "only items not on this computer", highlight everything listed above, and click import. Depending on how big your library is this may take awhile.

Transferring data between iOS devices is just as easy. Plug in your old iPhone, iPad, or iPod and sync it with the same computer it usually has been used with. During sync iTunes backs up all information from the device.

Once that's complete plug in your new iOS device and right click on it in the left panel of iTunes. Whether there is information on it, or it's the first time you're plugging it in there may be some steps before you're able to do this.

In the right click menu there is a "restore from backup" option. Select it.
Choose the latest backup from your old iOS device.

Now the somewhat scary part, syncing your iOS device with a new computer. Most of the confusion comes from the way Apple has worded a message prompt when you plug an iOS device into a new computer. Your options are do nothing or "Erase and sync with this computer." This message is very misleading under one situation, and if you've followed the steps so far, you're in it.

Both computers have the same iTunes account and the iOS device have the same iTunes account and data. So what really happens when you choose "Erase and sync"? iTunes will make a new backup on the new computer and then pair that iOS device with the new computer. After a short sync, the iOS device will not have lost any information, and will be happy to sync with the new computer.

Links to watch and sources
http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/7533/how-to-synchronize-iphone-with-new-mac-without-losing-data
http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/8318/how-can-i-transfer-iphone-ipad-data-to-a-new-computer
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=2137
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3819?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

steam beta must be running

"steam beta must be running to make use of find servers"
"error steam beta must be running"
"steam beta must be running mac"
"steam beta must be running tf2"

It's a pain, it's ambigious, and not only is the error message confusing, but it actually is wrong. But once you know the solution you might understand part of how this error shows up.

But it's so simple.

Most of the time this is fixed by restarting steam. The next best thing is to check for an update in order to update steam.

In fact do that first since it will restart if there is an update.

SOLUTION:
[Check for an update + Restart]
On mac this means going to the Steam menu at the very top of your screen and choosing "Check for Updates"
In windows you will find the check for update option under the tools menu.

If there wasn't an update, restart. If there was an update it will ask to restart by itself.

If neither of those work try validating your game files by right clicking on the game in your game list, choosing "Properties" followed by selecting the "Local Files" tab and you should see a button that mentions validation.

If all three of these do not resolve your issue it's time look for other causes for your problem.

What's happening:
The game you are trying to find servers for isn't happy with the version of steam you are running. So it either isn't up to date or something is preventing the game from properly shaking hands with Steam, hence the restart.

Forum threads to watch
http://forums.steamgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1306946
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=824497

kleptomaniacal "Open With..." OS X menu

"clean OS X open with menu"
"reset open with menu"
"organize os x open with menu"
"remove adobe photoshop open with menu"
"how do I clean up the os x open with menu

If you're looking for a solution to this problem, you either have a lot of applications, use various Adobe products that come with rarely used droplets, or are just tired of looking at applications you deleted long ago in the "Open With..." menu. Thankfully there are simple solutions. (If you're main problem is a massive list of adobe actions or droplets in your "Open With..." list, skip down to the "Adobe Droplet Invasion" section first, then come back up and follow these steps.)

Etch a sketch method
Start with the basics, we are going to force the Finder to forget its "Open With..." list so that it will create a new one. Find your way to the local user's Preferences folder under /YOUR_USERNAME/Library/Preferences. In here there should be a file named com.apple.LaunchServices.plist, delete or rename this file and perform a restart. Try it out by right-clicking or ctrl-clicking on a file to see if you're "Open With..." has fixed itself. If that didn't work open up a Terminal window (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal) and copy paste the following command into it by highlighting from "user" at the end up.

/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Once again restart your computer. Neither of these restarts are necessary, however for some users it is needed to take affect, why is not known, but it can't hurt to ensure that things get cleaned out and reset. Once your computer comes back up go ahead and right-click or ctrl-click on something and see if the "Open With..." problems have gone away. Keep in mind that some applications can keep adding themselves back, but these two methods should deal with any lingering applications listed that you have deleted.

Adobe Droplet Invasion
If your "Open With..." menu is slow and cluttered with Adobe actions, then its time to take action against them. Open up the Adobe folder where you have it installed, and you're going to need to look for those items listed in the "Open With..." list. For Adobe Photoshop this is will either be /Adobe Photoshop/Presets/Droplets/ or /Adobe Photoshop/Samples/Droplets/. Delete the droplets folder if it contains those items listed in your "Open With..." list. If you ever want to bring them back you can re-install photoshop, or a better solution is to simply make an archive or zip file of the droplets folder before deleting it. Now go back to the top of this post and follow the steps for cleaning the "Open With..." list itself.

Additional control, more refined solutions
Programs exist that give you more control over the "Open With..." list and other parts of OS X. Examples are
Cocktail
Onyx

Further reading and sources
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24770?viewlocale=en_US
http://macapper.com/2007/10/08/tutorial-clear-the-finders-open-with-menu/
http://macosx.com/forums/howto-faqs/50890-howto-removing-extra-photoshop-open-options.html
http://macosx.com/forums/mac-os-x-system-mac-software/306807-cleaning-open.html
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030730161311391

Every Nth data point on a spreadsheet

Possible searches

• "How to Select Every nth Row in Excel?"
• "Select every other row in excel"
• "Select every other cell in excel"
• "Select every other column in excel"
• "Select every other row in a spreadsheet"
• "Select every other cell in a spreadsheet"
• "Select every other column in a spreadsheet"
• "Access every other row in excel"
• "Access every other cell in excel"
• "Access every other column in excel"
  
• "Access every other row in a spreadsheet"
• "Access every other cell in a spreadsheet"
• "Access every other column in a spreadsheet"
  
  

The following pertains to excel versions OLDER than 2007 and iWork Numbers program

Consolidating data

So you've got a massive or complex set of data in a column or row in excel, and you want to grab every other, every third, etc. item. No problem, there's a quick and dirty method. Assuming your desired data is in column A, type the following formula in any cell that is in the same row as the first data value (usually A1, though it could be A2, A3 etc.)

[excel]
=INDEX(A:A, ROW()*2)
[numbers]
=INDEX(A, ROW()*2)

For Excel 2007 some suggested directions can be found at
http://www.lytebyte.com/2009/06/02/how-to-select-every-nth-row-in-excel/
I have not tried these.

Hide what's open when screensaver activates

"screen saver hide running programs"
"screensaver hide running programs
"xp password screen saver"
"xp password screensaver"

So you've chosen a screensaver off the internet or wherever but it shows your program windows rather than hiding them. Well there's a one step fix

1. Right click on the desktop and choose properties
2. At the top of the window that appears choose the "Screen Saver" tab
3. Near the middle check the box that says "On resume, password protect"

This will make your desktop wallpaper appear rather than your icons or open windows. However, when you awaken the computer it will ask for a password, which most likely is blank if you didn't set one, so just hit enter. If you do have a user password make sure you remember it.

i. Good free screen savers
Here are some clean running and well done screen savers that are completely free. Also feel free to look around their websites for other software they have made.

http://www.laconicsoftware.com/fire-screensavers.php

http://www.meticulous-software.co.uk/

ShapeShifter can't find the Finder

"ShapeShifter won't theme Finder"
"ShapeShifter preferences reset"
"ShapeShifter not applying to Finder"

Frustrating as it can be, this problem for many can be a forehead slap once fixed, and fits perfectly into the Bum Scoop Rescue objective of answering the often asked and rarely answered questions.

So you've just updated something somewhere in OS X and ShapeShifter no longer themes Finder and/or other Apple applications.

If you've started searching you've probably already gone through all kinds of file dumps, though we will go over those steps later, if this simple first step doesn't fix everything.

1. Are you up to date?
Always, always make sure you've started with the simple things first. Make sure that both ShapeShifter and Application Enhancer are up to date. Go ahead and just use google to get to Unsanity's download pages and grab the latest installers for each of these and run them. Restart your computer, and most likely everything will be fine. The problem on this machine occurred after a Quicktime update, and it was found that 2.0.3 of Application Enhancer was installed, and the latest version available was 2.5. Needless to say there was a large gap in fixes that were the key to fixing this problem.

2. Not so easy? Don't worry.
If updating didn't fix the problem, or you were up to date, not to worry, it should still be a simple fix. Bring up the ShapeShifter preference pane and hit restore defaults under the "Apply" tab. This restores the aqua theme, quit system preferences once this is done. Go ahead and open a new finder window or hit CMD-F and start searching for anything containing "shapeshifter" in the name. What we're looking for are any files that end in ".plist". These are preference files and must be deleted to bring ShapeShifter back to it's starting state.
NOTE: This will unregister your copy of ShapeShifter, so make sure you have your password, activation code, and name handy to re-register it once this is done.
Now search for "finder," again looking for a file that ends in ".plist". It should be located in /Users/[YOURUSER]/Library/Preferences, once you find it, delete it. Now restart the computer and see what's what.

3. No luck?
Once you've double checked that all of your Unsanity installations are up to date, and have deleted the preference files, you still have applications that refuse to be themed you're going to have some deeper OS X troubles going on. It also can't hurt to check that you're running the latest version of OS X itself, though that shouldn't usually affect things.