installing applications

mith · 05-22-2003, 05:21 AM

Hello all,
being a windows and linux user until a month ago, I still have some problems with the organization of the applications and their files... It's not totally clear how they are installed on the system.

Here are my questions:
When I download an application, such as Safari, it simply creates an icon... Where is the software installed? Where are its files?
I had installed Safari v73, recently I manually downloaded V74... I removed the icon in the Applications folder and moved the newly installed in its place (and had to recreate the link on the dashboard). Now I checked for updates with the automatic software and it says that there's Safari V74 available!! How do I make it understand that I already installed v74? How to clean up the mess I'm generating? =)
And finally, how do I add an application to the StartupItems? Specifically I would like to have Stickies start automatically.

thanks,
mith

yellow · 05-22-2003, 06:35 AM

This applies mostly to GUIfied apps. In many instances, the icon is the binary and associated files as well. Some applications have all their files encapsulated inside them. Right click (or control click if you only have a sinlge button mouse) on Safari and you will see in the submenu "Show Package Contents". Inside there are most of the pieces/parts that Safari uses.

To add an app to start up automatically when you login, go to the System Preferences, go to Login Items, and click the add button. Navigate until you get to the app you want to add, click the choose button. Now next time you login, that app will start up automatically for you.

ericw13 · 05-22-2003, 06:43 AM

Think of the Safari icon as a folder in c:\program files. In fact, what you see really is a folder called Safari.app. If you installed it in /Applications (the default path), you have a bunch of files in /Applications/Safari.app. Any drag-n-drop Mac application is structured in the same way. If you navigate to /Applications in the Finder, then hold down ctrl and click on the icon, you'll get a menu. One entry is Show Package Contents, which will open a new finder window and let you browse through that apps files.

Your dock icon was tied to the package Safari, not the path /Applications/Safari.app. Mac aliases (or whatever the correct term is) are much smarter than Windows and Linux equivalents. The procedure I use is to delete the dock icon, change the name of the app I'm upgrading (ie, rename Safari to Safari-v73), then drop the new version in place. Run it once from the Finder window just to make sure everything works. Then, trash the old version and empty the trash (or compress it in a .dmg) and finally, drag the new version to the dock.

As for Software Update, there is a way to make it ignore a package (which I do with all the ipod updates, not having one myself). Select Safari-v74 (highlight the line, don't check the box) and in the Update menu, select Make Inactive. It won't show up any more.

Lastly, to have Stickies start when you log in, open System Preferences and click on Login Items (top row, 5th from left). Then click the add bottom and select the application you want to start up when you log in. The StartupItems in /Library and /System/Library are analagous to linux daemons that start up at boot.

Eric

mith · 05-22-2003, 07:48 AM

Thanks a lot for your directions guys, adding the app worked (and I'll note it for the future) and now things look clearer... What you told me is what I thought, but I wasn't conviced... I'm prolly too attached to the "windows way", still.... But I'm migrating.

About the software updates, I don't want to ignore it, rather make so that it understands that I already have V74 and make it notify about v75 or whatever it'll be... Know what I mean?

yellow · 05-22-2003, 07:58 AM

About the upgrade: Safari should be installed in /Applications. Next time you reboot, check the software updater. It should see that you have the most recent version. Strange that it didn't.

aixccapt99 · 05-22-2003, 08:01 AM

macfixit.com had instructions on making this go away, but they have expired from the free main page into the "pro" (paid) archive. Maybe someone with a subscription can summarize?

yellow · 05-22-2003, 08:06 AM

Paraphrasing from that article: There are 2 versions of Safari, to defeat the Software Update annoyance, download the one from the Apple website. Run the installer to install the Software Update Safari version. After it's installed, install the one from the download and you won't be pestered anymore.

Personally I don't see the difference in each version so if you want it to go away, just run the Software Updater and let it install and be done with it.

Cheers.

05-22-2003, 05:21 AM	#1
mith Triple-A Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Italy Posts: 182	installing applications Hello all, being a windows and linux user until a month ago, I still have some problems with the organization of the applications and their files... It's not totally clear how they are installed on the system. Here are my questions: When I download an application, such as Safari, it simply creates an icon... Where is the software installed? Where are its files? I had installed Safari v73, recently I manually downloaded V74... I removed the icon in the Applications folder and moved the newly installed in its place (and had to recreate the link on the dashboard). Now I checked for updates with the automatic software and it says that there's Safari V74 available!! How do I make it understand that I already installed v74? How to clean up the mess I'm generating? =) And finally, how do I add an application to the StartupItems? Specifically I would like to have Stickies start automatically. thanks, mith

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05-22-2003, 06:35 AM	#2
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	This applies mostly to GUIfied apps. In many instances, the icon is the binary and associated files as well. Some applications have all their files encapsulated inside them. Right click (or control click if you only have a sinlge button mouse) on Safari and you will see in the submenu "Show Package Contents". Inside there are most of the pieces/parts that Safari uses. To add an app to start up automatically when you login, go to the System Preferences, go to Login Items, and click the add button. Navigate until you get to the app you want to add, click the choose button. Now next time you login, that app will start up automatically for you.

05-22-2003, 06:43 AM	#3
ericw13 Major Leaguer Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 268	Think of the Safari icon as a folder in c:\program files. In fact, what you see really is a folder called Safari.app. If you installed it in /Applications (the default path), you have a bunch of files in /Applications/Safari.app. Any drag-n-drop Mac application is structured in the same way. If you navigate to /Applications in the Finder, then hold down ctrl and click on the icon, you'll get a menu. One entry is Show Package Contents, which will open a new finder window and let you browse through that apps files. Your dock icon was tied to the package Safari, not the path /Applications/Safari.app. Mac aliases (or whatever the correct term is) are much smarter than Windows and Linux equivalents. The procedure I use is to delete the dock icon, change the name of the app I'm upgrading (ie, rename Safari to Safari-v73), then drop the new version in place. Run it once from the Finder window just to make sure everything works. Then, trash the old version and empty the trash (or compress it in a .dmg) and finally, drag the new version to the dock. As for Software Update, there is a way to make it ignore a package (which I do with all the ipod updates, not having one myself). Select Safari-v74 (highlight the line, don't check the box) and in the Update menu, select Make Inactive. It won't show up any more. Lastly, to have Stickies start when you log in, open System Preferences and click on Login Items (top row, 5th from left). Then click the add bottom and select the application you want to start up when you log in. The StartupItems in /Library and /System/Library are analagous to linux daemons that start up at boot. Eric

05-22-2003, 07:48 AM	#4
mith Triple-A Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Italy Posts: 182	Thanks a lot for your directions guys, adding the app worked (and I'll note it for the future) and now things look clearer... What you told me is what I thought, but I wasn't conviced... I'm prolly too attached to the "windows way", still.... But I'm migrating. About the software updates, I don't want to ignore it, rather make so that it understands that I already have V74 and make it notify about v75 or whatever it'll be... Know what I mean?

05-22-2003, 07:58 AM	#5
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	About the upgrade: Safari should be installed in /Applications. Next time you reboot, check the software updater. It should see that you have the most recent version. Strange that it didn't.

05-22-2003, 08:01 AM	#6
aixccapt99 Major Leaguer Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 263	macfixit.com had instructions on making this go away, but they have expired from the free main page into the "pro" (paid) archive. Maybe someone with a subscription can summarize?

05-22-2003, 08:06 AM	#7
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	Paraphrasing from that article: There are 2 versions of Safari, to defeat the Software Update annoyance, download the one from the Apple website. Run the installer to install the Software Update Safari version. After it's installed, install the one from the download and you won't be pestered anymore. Personally I don't see the difference in each version so if you want it to go away, just run the Software Updater and let it install and be done with it. Cheers.