Simplify System Prefs dialog/window

[Xairbusdriver]

Reading a thread today caused me to visit my System Preferences window. I had adjusted mine long ago to display things alphabetically. It's hard enough to remember the name without having to remember what category something is in, first! For me, anyway. It's a simply access of the "View" menu.

But I was reminded of something I'd read many moons ago that I'm not sure has been discussed here. How many times do you change the settings/prefs for "Language & Text?" How about "Mouse" and/or "Trackpad?" Or "Date & Time?" There are several more that I usually set/adjust when a new version of the OS is installed, but after that, I seldom ever touch them again. So, why leave them in that "Show All" window just cluttering it up (or down as the case may be)?

Well, you don't have to leave them all visible, all the time. Did you take the bait and look at that "View" menu? If you did, did you notice the "Customize..." choice? If you did, did you see where this post is headed?!

OK, all you foot-draggers, open your System Preferences in any way you like and click on the "View->Customize..." option. Well, what did you expect? The ellipsis tells you there will be more choices/options! And the 'choices' are how you enable/disable the display of the various Pref Panels. Just uncheck the ones you may never use or that you use maybe once per OS version. Even more if you are more adventurous! Note: You are not deleting any Panel! You are not removing any Panel! You are simply telling the OS not to display some of the ones you don't need to see every time you look at the group!

After all, to paraphrase that lawyer on TV, "It's your prefs window! Use it the way you want!"

BTW, I'm still able to use MaxMenus, a pref panel that must be close to 10 years old! I have the upper, right-hand screen corner set to display my System Prefs list. So I seldom ever see the entire window, anyway. But as the "Most Interesting Man in the World" would say, "I don't often look at the 'Show All' window, but when I do, I only see what I want to see. Be careful, my friend!" I gotta go now. The commercials are coming on...

[kimmer]

QUOTE

OK, all you foot-draggers, open your System Preferences in any way you like and click on the "View->Customize..." option.

Well, good grief. I've never even looked upwards to see the VIEW menu (or any other menu with that window).  

Thanks for the tip. I saw "Flash Player" in the bottom left corner. I thought I'd erased that thing.    Don't know when it would run as I use Chrome and I don't think I have any games that require it.

[Xairbusdriver]

Menus are there for a purpose. But many of us (especially, my wife) never look at them and yet they wonder how to do something in a new app...

Oh, and then there are the keyboard shortcuts!! Found a family member who kept using the Quit menu item instead of command-Q!!! I think I've seen exactly two apps that don't have that built-in command!!

[daryl66]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Jul 25 2013, 11:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE

OK, all you foot-draggers, open your System Preferences in any way you like and click on the "View->Customize..." option.

Well, good grief. I've never even looked upwards to see the VIEW menu  

Thanks for the tip.

I too resemble that. My thanks also

Daryl

[rgray]

QUOTE(Xhairbrushdiver @ Jul 25 2013, 10:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's hard enough to remember the name

The seeds of the issue with this tip are in this quote.  It is even harder when you can't see it at all.......  because you have hidden it.

A client of mine used this tip to hide pref panes he (thought he) was unlikely to use.  Then promptly forgot he had done so!  According to instructions he made (and tested) a clone backup which of course included the hidden pref panes.

Some time later he called with an issue.  The solution was a 2 click recourse to a particular pref pane.

One of the hidden and forgotten.  (At this point I was unaware he had use this so-called tip.)  Of course he couldn't find the pane as it was hidden.  Rather than have me come over he decided to work on it himself.  He booted from the clone which had the same problem.

Eventually he did a complete reinstall to find the pane again.

So if you are forgetful 'mind how you go'!!

[Xairbusdriver]

Sorry, I have not much sympathy for your client. If he knew enough to hide things, he must have know wher to look to do: The View menu of the System Prefs menu. Using that menu, he had two chances to either correct his previous work or simply select the Panel he wanted:

"Show All Preferences" command-L (a clue that they may to all be displayed? )
Just look at the list below the seven named menu items, there is a complete list of all the Panels, easily selectable with a mouse or the down/up-arrow key
And, failing those two actions, he could have simply used the "Search" item in the menu

I think he needs to decide if he really needs to be a 'client' or learn how to use Menus. You can't use menus if you don't look at them. You can't even know if a menu item exists if you don't take a few minutes and look at them. This is not a foreign concept, it's similar to looking up a number in a phone book! Or using the Yellow Pages. Or, amazing as it may seem, using Google! Looking at the Menus should be the very first thing one does with any app on any computer device. It's like the table of contents! What's the point of having a manual or a tool, if you don't know where to look for how to use it?

Oh well, it's people like that that help pay for your services! Next time this problem occurs, I expect a  check for 10% of your fee! Canadian dollars are fine!

I'm just glad that I never forget what I ... uhmn... I'll get back to you on that.

[rgray]

I didn't say I had a lot of sympathy either.  I try to teach my clients to be self sufficient with their Macs. Occasionally this means letting them fly solo when they are not really ready.

This guy could have saved himself a lot of trouble by slowing down and asking himself pertinent questions.

Well he learned somethings!

[Xairbusdriver]

Most of what I've learned has been from my mizteaks!