Ask TUAW: Text manipulation, Networking, Managing the Trash, multiple iPhoto libaries and more
This week's Ask TUAW takes us into questions about text manipulation (converting to Title Case), networking problems, managing the Trash, using multiple iPhoto libraries, and streaming media from a Xbox 360 . Remember new Mac users and Switchers who are enjoying our Mac 101 series should feel very welcome to post questions for Ask TUAW; we're happy to take questions from all levels. As always, please submit your questions by commenting to this post or using our tip form.
Nicholas asks
Hi there. I have a little issue that's been bugging me for quite a while, and I was hoping you guys could help me out. I almost never USE ALL UPPERCASE, as the Caps Lock enables you to do, while I Use Title Case Almost Every Day. Now, not being the greatest typer in the world I find it a real pain having to go to the Shift key for every word in a sentence. Is there a way to modify the Caps Lock to switch to Title Case rather than UPPERCASE? Or make it possible to cycle through all three options? I have a widget that can convert pasted text to title case, but keyboard is always best! Thanks guys,
Basically, no, this is not possible using the Caps Lock key. There are, however, some better ways of doing this than the widget you mention. If you're running a PPC Mac, then the Word Service (free)from Devon Technologies will do the trick. It allows you to select some text and then invoke the service to change the case to Title Case. Unfortunately, however, it is not an Universal Binary, so it won't work on an Intel machine in an Intel application.
The next best option is probably text manipulation. PTHPasteboard Pro ($19.95) is a multiple clipboard manager that allows you to run filters on selected text. These filters can be quite complicated, but one of the most basic is a Capitalize filter that will do what you want. Spell Catcher X ($39.95), which we've recommended before, also offers this Title Case text manipulation.
Jeff asks
I am a long time Windows user who just started using a Mac. Is it possible to delete just one item from the recycling bin? I have looked around, and it looks like you can only empty the whole bin, not individual files. Is this possible?
Unfortunately, you'll need a third party Trash manager to do this (on the Mac, despite Uncle Steve's recent green manifesto, we trash, not recycle). I have used neither of these utilities myself, but I think Smart Trash ($10) or Compost ($8.95) should help you do what you want.
afeld asks
I have a Belkin Pre-N router in my house, and, of course, my PC's wireless card is not compatible with Vista Business. I have been trying to share the internet (airport) connection via ethernet through my powerbook to that PC, with no success. I have gotten the PC to recognize my powerbook in its "workgroup", but still no internet. I tried using a static IP on both machines, as well as the automatic DHCP. Any suggestions?
jvbauer7000 asks
Okay so heres the deal, im getting signal from an airport, i want to share that connection with my 360 through a wired ethernet port from my mac to the 360 to acces xbox live, any help on how to do this would be greatly appreciated :)
Both of you check out our guide to using your Mac as router. Afeld, I can't really say much more without seeing your setup, but in all likelihood you'll need to specify the IP addresses, including the gateway/router address on the Vista machine. The guide should help you get started.
Jvbauer, you'll just need to follow the guide and change which ports is sharing in the Internet tab of the Sharing Preference Pane. In the guide I was sharing from one ethernet port to a second ethernet port. You'll just need to share from Airport to "Built-in Ethernet." You, too, will have to set the static IP addresses as described in the guide. Finally, you'll also want to see our TUAW Guide to Xbox 360 and Mac to properly set up your firewall.
To both of you: you may just need to play around with the settings somewhat. Networking on Windows machines in particular often seems like voodoo. Nonetheless, if you keep at it and follow the directions above you'll probably be able to get it working. You should also check out the links in those posts to more networking hints.
Jason asks
I recently bought a new G5 Mac with OS X Tiger. One feature I absolutely love is Front Row, but I haven't figured out how to modify its settings, if that can be done. For instance, I have my movies organized into categorical folders in the Finder directory (i.e. comedies, documentaries, home movies, short files, etc.). Although Front Row recognizes these folders and allow me to access movies through these folders, it also still lists the individual movies in the top movie directory on Front Row. Is there a way for Front Row to just recognize the folders I have created, thereby allowing me to access the movies only from those folders?
Yes, you just need to put the folders somewhere else and then place aliases to those folders in your ~/Movies folder. So, for instance, create a directory somewhere called Videos. Now place all your folders in the Videos directory, and create an alias to each one by right clicking and selecting "Make Alias." Now drag and drop those aliases back into ~/Movies. Now when you select "Movies" in Front Row it should present you with the folders.
Sara asks
I have many photos in iPhoto, all tagged and in special albums. Some of these pics are on my HD, some on an external HD. Now my question: I'm going on a big trip in the summer, and for space and backup reasons I am taking a rugged HD with me to put the pics on it. I would like to organize my pics in iPhoto during the trip (they'll be on my internal HD or rugged HD) and after the trip I would like to move them to the external HD at home. But I suspect iPhoto will just flip, and not be able to find my pics. Since I expect close to 5000 pics, manually pointing to the new location for each pic is not an option. Do you have any tips? All I thought of was to name the rugged HD the same as the external HD and thus fool iPhoto.
It sounds like you just need to use a separate iPhoto library on the "rugged HD." The newest version of iPhoto has multiple library support. So if you launch iPhoto while holding down the option key it will allow you to chose which library you want to run. So if I were you I'd create a new Library for the trip and just keep that after I got back (once you get back you can copy over the entire Library to your external HD with the Finder). Personally, I wouldn't merge the trip library back into my main library because iPhoto will bog down if the libraries are too large. Nonetheless, if you really want to do so, the iPhoto Library Manager ($20) will allow you to do so. If you have a second Mac and you're only using JPEGs you can merge the libraries with photo sharing by following this tip.
Seth asks
With the new update, 360 now supports all my favorite formats. What's the best way to create a home media server with a mac and a 360? I don't mind getting a dedicated hard drive, what's the best way to connect? Airport extreme? Please let me know, I'm looking forward to creating a centralized device for all my content without having to pay 300 dollars for an apple tv, considering 360 now supports 720p AND 1080p.
In principle it should just work with Connect360, though many folks are reporting problems. I'd suggest trying it out and seeing if it works for you. In any case, it would be much better to connect by ethernet cable than trying to use Airport.
Okay that'll do it for this week. Keep those questions and comments coming!
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