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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: Steve_J on September 12, 2014, 08:08:06 PM

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: Steve_J on September 12, 2014, 08:08:06 PM

I just recently noticed some symbols in my toolbar that I had not seen before. for example, A large question mark on the left side and a folder labeled Misc Docs on the far right side. What are these, how did they get there and how do I get rid of them?

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 12, 2014, 10:04:47 PM

Many apps have a set of icons in a "tool bar". They are usually near the top of their windows. What app are you referring to?

Perhaps you mean the "Dock"? Is the "tool bar" visible without any apps windows open? Is it full of icons for apps that are running or that Apple (and you) can install in it?

If you are referring to the Dock, a "?" means the app that was there is now not on your Mac. Probably because you (or something) deleted it.

Again, if you are referring to the Dock, the icons on the right side of it are usually folders. I suspect you have a folder, somewhere, that is either open or has been, recently, called "Mics Docs". You can easily search for it with Spotlight or Finder.

You might want to look at your System Preferences and inspect the one labeled "Dock". There are all kinds of neat features for your Mac in those different panels. "Accessibility" is one of the most useful and least used.

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: krissel on September 13, 2014, 12:16:47 AM

To add to what Jim said...

You can usually control+click on the item in the Dock (if that is where you mean) and have an option of seeing where in the finder that item might be (Show in Finder) or open it. If it is a folder that you open, you can also hold down the Command key and click on the title of the window to see the hierarchy of where it is located. If you no longer want it on the Dock, just click and drag it off and watch it disappear in a cloudy puff. It will still be on the hard drive just no longer on the Dock.

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: Steve_J on September 13, 2014, 10:31:53 AM

Further explanation: It is not the dock I am refering to and efinitely, not an app. Apps don't have these symbol in their toolbars.  So perhaps it's not called a toolbar. For example, If I open the Mac harddrive window, I find the following items at the top (toolbar). Going left to right; forward and back arrows, red, yellow and green buttons, the question mark, four boxes labeled View, three boxes labeled Quick Look, Drop Box, and Action, Search window, a folder labeled Miscellanous Docs, and finally, a minimize button.

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 13, 2014, 11:36:51 AM

Sounds like a Finder window. They can have a toolbar just like any other app, that's really what Finder is, an app. Just like the Dock, you can drag items (apps/folders/images/etc.) into that area. Command and drag an item into the toolbar area and a little green circle with a "+" in it will appear. They act like an alias to the item. But if that item gets deleted (and the Trash is emptied), it should show the "?" telling you whatever it was, it's no longer around. You'll probably have to close all Finder windows and then open one to see the "?". If you click on that "?" you should get a dialog saying something like "What are you looking at?!"    

Since those items are basically an alias, just click on one and you should see it open either the app or the document. If you want to remove the item, do exactly the same thing when removing something from the Dock. You even get the same 'puff-of-smoke' animation!

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: jchuzi on September 13, 2014, 01:08:15 PM

An addendum: To get rid of the item from the toolbar (and that's what it's called in the Finder), Command-drag it out of the Finder window. If you want to restore something that you inadvertently deleted (or add another item), go to View > Customize Toolbar.

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: tacit on September 13, 2014, 01:45:59 PM

QUOTE(Steve_J @ Sep 13 2014, 03:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Further explanation: It is not the dock I am refering to and efinitely, not an app. Apps don't have these symbol in their toolbars.  So perhaps it's not called a toolbar. For example, If I open the Mac harddrive window, I find the following items at the top (toolbar). Going left to right; forward and back arrows, red, yellow and green buttons, the question mark, four boxes labeled View, three boxes labeled Quick Look, Drop Box, and Action, Search window, a folder labeled Miscellanous Docs, and finally, a minimize button.

Yep, that's the Finder toolbar.

You can put anything you want there, though it's not obvious and a lot of folks don't realize it. You put things there by clicking on an icon and dragging it to that part of the Finder window. I've seen many people do this by accident when they try to, for instance, move a file from one folder to another.

The question mark means you put something in the Finder toolbar, then later deleted or moved it.

Title: ToolBar symbols
Post by: Steve_J on September 13, 2014, 04:08:16 PM

Command-drag and poof it's gone! Amazing. I have no idea how they got there but they are gone now and I at least know what to call that area, the finder Toolbar.

Once again Tech survivors to the rescue. Thanks to Krissel, Tacit, Jchuzi, and Xairbusdriver.