Take the pain out of dealing with files and folders Version 2.0, updated May 23, 2023 Your Apple devices contain an overwhelming number of files and folders, and as these items accumulate, they create more work for you. Does your file management system involve throwing everything on the desktop and then pawing through it laboriously when you need to find something? Do you even have a system? There’s a better way. This book helps you organize, search, and clean up the files on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, providing practical steps and realistic strategies to save time, reduce clutter, and decrease stress.n Apple users have fantastic tools at their disposal for using, creating, and editing files of all kinds, but few of us have any real strategy for naming, organizing, or tagging those files—making them increasingly difficult to find later on. In this book, veteran technology author Jeff Carlson helps you make sense of what could be millions of files on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad so that you can spend less time hunting for things and more time doing useful work (or having fun). Jeff starts by helping you set appropriate file management goals and develop overall strategies that fit your needs and preferences. Then he gets into the details of how to use the Finder (on a Mac), the Files app (in iOS and iPadOS), and third-party tools to make sense of your files and folders and easily find what you're looking for. This book covers topics such as: • How to keep important items in sync among your devices • Choosing when to use internal storage vs. external storage (such as an external hard drive, a NAS, or the cloud) • Whether and how to use iCloud Drive to sync your files, including Desktop and Documents folders • How to create shortcuts to your favorite files and folders • Understanding how the macOS folder hierarchy works • The best ways to use the desktop • What you should consider when creating a folder hierarchy • Why and how to use tags to categorize files • How you can automatically sort, rename, and file items on your Mac • Ways you can collaborate with others on the same files and folders • When to consider third-party information management apps (such as DEVONthink) • How to find files and folders with Spotlight in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS • Alternative search tools you might want to consider • How to work your way through a long backlog of unsorted (or poorly sorted) files • Techniques for encrypting sensitive files (and other data) • Ways to free up storage space If you're struggling with file management, this book will help you get a grip on the process—and get your devices to do more of the hard work for you.

Preserve your data for posterity! Version 2.0.1, updated February 2, 2024 How do you want to be remembered? A will takes care of your physical possessions, but what about your digital life—photos, email, files, online accounts, and so on? If you want to pass your electronic ephemera on as part of your digital legacy, turn to tech expert Joe Kissell for advice on dealing with large quantities of data, file formats, media types, the need for a “digital executor,” and more.n We all have digital data that's important to us now, but a lot of it could also be important to our children, friends, and relatives long after we're gone. But you have to take concrete steps now to make sure that data is preserved in the right way and handled according to your wishes. It’s not all about posterity either, since following Joe’s advice will also help loved ones access your key accounts and important info if you’re temporarily incapacitated, which can happen at any time. The book will help you with these essential tasks: • Identify your key digital assets: online accounts, photos, audio files, videos, passwords, documents, email, and more. • Plan for each type of digital asset based on your priorities for today, for shortly after you are no longer around, and for posterity. Joe explains the ideal file formats to use, how to deal with social media sites, the best ways to digitize paper documents and photos, and strategies for sharing passwords with family members, among much else. • Communicate your wishes in a “digital will” and designate someone to be its “digital executor.” The book includes a template document that you can develop into a personalized digital will. • Preserve your data for the future. You’ll consider types of archival storage media, cloud-based storage services, backups, and what instructions to provide about maintaining your data as file formats and storage media types evolve. Whether you just want to ensure that your heirs get copies of your favorite family photos and a few key documents or you want to catalog and preserve tens of thousands of digital items, this book helps you make smart decisions about your digital legacy. Questions answered include: • What strategies can I use for sorting and preserving email and instant messages? • How can I ensure that my email account(s) will be available to those wrapping up my estate? • What if I have digital data that should be destroyed when I die? • What should I do with my huge photo collection (both digital and paper)? • How should I pass on control of my Apple, Google, and Microsoft accounts? • How can I make my passwords and passkeys available to those who will need them—but keep them private for now? • What should I think about when handing down purchased audio and video files? • What should happen to my Facebook account when I’m no longer around? • What choices are available for keeping my digital archive available and backed up? • How long should I expect archival media to last? • Should I write an autobituary? • Are online digital legacy services any good? • How will organizing all this stuff benefit me while I’m alive?

The Mac user’s guide to mass storage Version 2.3, updated July 7, 2023 This book demystifies storage on the Mac, from mechanical hard drives to solid-state disks, and covering topics such as network-attached storage (NAS), cloud storage, repairing and managing disks, encryption, filesystems (including APFS), and managing data. As the amount of data we store continues to grow, figuring out where to put it and how to access it becomes more complicated. It’s not just that we need to find space for our increasingly large collections of photos, videos, music, and apps—we want it to be available whenever we need it, and be sure that it’s safe from hackers and thieves. Every Mac includes internal storage in the form of a hard drive, SSD, or Fusion drive. But you may also have one or more external devices (such as hard drives, flash drives, SD cards, or RAID devices), not to mention network-attached storage (NAS) devices or cloud storage (like Dropbox or iCloud Drive). Making sense of all your options, managing your stored data, choosing new devices or services when you're running out of space, or even just figuring out what's where can drive anyone to distraction. Fortunately, Jeff Carlson has a book with all the answers! After decades of working with Macs and accumulating massive collections of photos and videos, Jeff has pulled together a wide-ranging book about Mac storage that contains just the help you're looking for. Among many other topics, this book covers: • How to choose a new (internal or external) hard drive, SSD, or hybrid drive • Determining how much storage space you need • What you need to know about APFS, Apple’s new filesystem • How to use APFS snapshots (a.k.a. Time Machine local snapshots) • Formatting and partitioning disks using Disk Utility • How to repair a misbehaving disk • RAIDs: what they are and how different types compare • How to tell when a hard drive is about to fail, and what to do about it • What to do with a hard drive when it has outlived its usefulness • When to use a flash drive or SD card • How to create and use disk images • Deciding among local, network, and cloud storage for various types of files • What a personal cloud is and why you might consider using one • Strategies for freeing up extra disk space NAS devices get special coverage, including: • Why you might want a NAS • How to choose a NAS—and when it's a better idea than an external hard drive • Using a NAS with your Mac for a wide variety of purposes • Special considerations when using a NAS for digital photos Jeff also digs into details about numerous storage-related technologies: • How to tell if your third-party SSD needs to have TRIM enabled (and what to do if the answer is yes) • How to create a software RAID using Disk Utility or SoftRAID • What you need to know about filesystems—and how to choose among APFS, Mac OS Extended, FAT, and ExFAT • Why and how to encrypt a disk using FileVault or the Finder • Using iCloud Drive's Optimized Mac Storage feature If you've ever been stumped at the difference between a volume and a partition, need help figuring out whether to buy a big external hard drive or a NAS for extra storage, or wonder whether Apple's new APFS filesystem is right for your needs, this book will tell you what you need to know.

Automate your iPhone, iPad, or Mac! Version 2.1, updated January 30, 2023 Automation is no longer just for advanced computer users! Apple's Shortcuts app lets anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac automate day-to-day tasks, from the simple to the complex. This book is a complete introduction to Shortcuts, covering every aspect of building, installing, debugging, running, syncing, and sharing shortcuts. It also includes step-by-step recipes for creating numerous useful shortcuts yourself. Apple's Shortcuts app brings extensive automation capabilities to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, using a drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blanks interface much like Automator—but much more powerful. It lets you perform sequences of tasks, including ones that span various apps, with just a tap, a click, or a voice command—or even automatically when certain conditions are met. Shortcuts can save you time and effort, help you accomplish previously complicated tasks, and let you customize your device to better meet your needs. Apple finally brought Shortcuts to the Mac in macOS 12 Monterey. (The book now includes coverage of macOS Ventura, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16.) But for all its utility, Shortcuts is not self-explanatory, so it can be challenging to figure out its quirks and create effective, time-saving automations. That's where Take Control of Shortcuts comes in. Written by automation expert Rosemary Orchard, this book opens the world of automation to users at every level. With Rosemary's help, you'll learn how to: • Navigate the Shortcuts app: Understand the user interface (on each platform) and terminology, then install and run your first shortcut. • Run shortcuts: Discover many different ways to run a shortcut, from tapping or clicking an icon to using Personal or Home automations, Siri, and Apple Watch. • Build shortcuts: Start with simple, one-step shortcuts and work your way up to complex shortcuts with input, output, variables, conditionals, loops, and more. Debugging advice is also included. • Install and sync shortcuts: Download and install shortcuts others have written, sync your shortcuts across your devices, and share them with other people. Then, to both illustrate the main principles you've learned and give you practical tools to get you started, Rosemary walks you step by step through the creation of 25 sample shortcuts, most which you can also download and install using links in the book. Examples include: • Event templates • A daily overview • Converting and sharing images • Adding a song to a playlist • Logging expenses • Turning on lights automatically when you get home • Disabling rotation lock just for YouTube on an iPhone • Reminding you about upcoming deadlines 15 minutes after you arrive home • Automatically setting seasonal scenes for HomeKit lights The book also discusses how Shortcuts can use REST APIs to talk to various web services (with detailed examples), and numerous complementary apps that work in conjunction with Shortcuts. Whether you're completely new to automation or already have significant programming experience, you'll find plenty of useful information in this friendly, practical guide.

Find sound advice for recording anything on your Mac! Version 2.0, updated March 31, 2022 Most of this book discusses Audio Hijack, a handy utility from Rogue Amoeba that can record and enhance any sound your Mac can play. There’s also a chapter about using Fission, also from Rogue Amoeba, to edit sound recordings.n Learn how to use Rogue Amoeba’s Audio Hijack version 4 to capture and enhance any audio playing on a Mac. Audio expert Kirk McElhearn provides instructions for setting up common scenarios—recording audio playing in Safari, capturing Zoom and FaceTime calls, digitizing your old LPs, extracting audio from concert DVDs, and working with mics and mixers, and much more. Kirk also helps you edit recordings in Rogue Amoeba’s Fission audio editor. You’ll learn how to pipe sound through Audio Hijack to enhance its quality without recording. For example, by boosting the volume or tweaking the bass—movies on Netflix never sounded better! You’ll also discover special features such as reusable sessions, recording to more than one file (and format) at once, scheduling recordings, time shifting during live playback, effects like ducking and panning, adding automatic metadata before recording, and more. And you'll learn how to use Audio Hijack as a powerful tool for live streaming or broadcasting. The Fission chapter has directions for trimming, cropping, adding, replacing, splitting, and fading audio. It also explains how to turn an audio file into a ringtone and—podcasters and educators take note!—how to make a chapterized AAC file. As far as recording goes, you’ll find help with: • Recording literally any audio played on your Mac. • Setting up reusable sessions with Audio Hijack’s Audio Grid interface. • Scheduling when your Mac should record something automatically. • Recording from a mic. Or two mics. Or a mixer. Or a food processor. • Capturing a chat from Zoom, FaceTime, and other voice-over-IP apps. • Checking volume levels before you record. • Ducking one audio source when a second source kicks in. • Digitizing an LP or cassette, while reducing hiss and noise. • Breaking a digitized album into separate songs. • Recording to multiple files and formats. • Using Audio Hijack to live stream to Twitch or YouTube Live, or to broadcast a streaming radio station. • Finding your recordings in Audio Hijack and the Finder. • Use Audio Hijack's new scripting feature to add automations to your sessions, and even integrate them with Apple’s Shortcuts app. If you’re interested in enhancing your aural experience, you’ll find help with: • Enhancing audio while you listen to it. For example, your little laptop’s speakers might not provide enough oomph for an action thriller’s soundtrack, but with Audio Hijack you can boost that sound and enjoy the flick. • Time-shifting live audio while you listen. You can pause and resume live audio you’re listening to, or go back a few seconds or jump ahead (if there’s anything to jump ahead to). Lastly, you’ll learn how to use Fission to polish your recordings. You can: • Trim unwanted bits. • Insert one audio file into another. • Fade in or out from silence. • Adjust a recording’s volume. • Create a ringtone or alert tone. • Make a chapterized AAC file. • Convert nearly any audio file to MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, or WAV format.

Create your own podcast on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad Version 2.0, updated September 04, 2024 Start podcasting or take your podcast to the next level with start-to-finish guidance from Andy Affleck. You'll learn tricks of the trade as you assemble your hardware and software, make recordings, edit and mix the audio, and encode and publish your shows. This book covers all the steps needed to make a podcast using a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.n Create your own podcast—or improve an existing podcast—using your Mac, iPhone, or iPad! This book walks you through every step of the process, from choosing equipment and software through recording, editing, mixing, and polishing. Once your audio is in the can, you'll find real-world advice and steps for encoding and publishing your episodes. The book includes more than a dozen sound samples from various combinations of mics, positions, filters, and processing, so that you can hear the differences before you buy any special gear. Take Control of Podcasting provides the help you need for creating podcasts on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad: • Plan your podcast. Decide on a topic and format, decide on a production schedule, and learn common terms and techniques. • Choose the right mic, headphones, and other equipment. Pick out audio gear while considering your budget and studio (or mobile!) needs. Plus, you'll learn whether you should buy additional audio hardware, like a breakout box or mixer, and find an explanation (with photos) of the main cable types you'll come across. • Pick audio software. Use the right apps to record, edit, and mix your podcast, explore audio and video calling software for interviews and remote recording, and learn about various web-based podcasting platforms. • Learn key recording tips. Find advice about how to prepare for and conduct a successful interview, plus get a few essential tips for using a mic well. • Record in the studio or the field. Get step-by-step recording directions for GarageBand for Mac and iOS/iPadOS, as well as Audacity, Ferrite Recording Studio, Voice Record Pro, and Audio Hijack. • Record online interviews. Follow the book's steps for recording an interview online through services such as Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime. • Edit and mix your audio. Find directions for removing unwanted noises and pauses, adding professional polish, and generally editing and mixing a recording. • Encode your podcast files. Before you send your podcast episode out on the internet, you'll want to save it in the right format and add tags. • Get syndicated with RSS. Understand what should be in a podcast's RSS feed. • Be a publisher! Get ideas for blog services that can host your podcast and related blog posts, and find directions for publishing your podcast. • Monetize your podcast. Learn how to use advertising, sponsorships, donations, and paid subscriptions to earn money from your podcast. • What do other podcasters do? Find out about the gear and techniques used by podcasters Chuck Joiner (MacVoices), Jason Snell (The Incomparable), and Kirk McElhearn (The Committed).

Everything you need to take charge of your divorce and get what you deserve Divorce is overwhelming enough without having to deal with the financial, personal, and legal minutia. The Divorce Organizer and Planner equips you with dozens of worksheets, logs, and checklists, as well as expert advice and explanations, to help you create a complete, accessible record of absolutely everything you'll need to confidently tackle the legal, emotional, and financial aspects of divorce. These organizational tools and interactive forms are available for download from the accompanying CD-ROM and online. This second edition has been updated for our connected world, with advice on social media, smartphone usage, electronic filing, and more. You'll discover how to: Find and work with an attorney who's right for you and who will give you the biggest bang for your legal buck Keep clear records of alimony, child support, and children's expenses Use social media wisely and protect your online privacy Manage a child’s contact with a spouse through the Internet and on the phone Develop a personal property inventory, a budget, and a wish list for property division Successfully negotiate with your spouse and keep stress to a minimum Navigate through the legal system so you're fully prepared Learn about the various settlement options, such as mediation and arbitration Plan for the tasks that arise once the divorce is final The Divorce Organizer and Planner empowers you with the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your divorce.

Everyone gets angry. And in a turbulent economy where finances are stretched, property prices waver and unemployment booms, blowing a fuse is par for the course. But you don't have to take it out on others! Anger Management For Dummies, UK Edition shows you how to work through feelings of rage, emerge from the red mist, and lead a healthier, happier and more positive life. This fully adapted UK edition guides you through ways to recognise and deal with the underlying causes of anger at work, in relationships and in your personal life - and teaches you how to stay positive in spite of all the stresses and strains life throws your way. From letting go of resentments, preventing new rage and dealing with the anger of others, to improving self-expression, honing spiritual calm and getting a good night's sleep, this user-friendly guide tackles the latest anger-busting exercises and therapies (including CBT) and demonstrates how to deal with anger constructively.

Become a life coach-for yourself and others-with this practical, informative guide If you're interested in doing away with negative beliefs, making a significant change in your life, and, finally, create-and live-the life you want, life coaching is the key. In this practical introduction, you will learn the empowering techniques essential to life coaching-including putting together an action plan, getting your priorities straight, staying focused, defining true success, overcoming common obstacles, and coaching yourself to happiness. With more information than ever before, this new updated edition includes material on emotional intelligence and active listening With insights on what to expect from life coaching and how to develop your own life coaching techniques, the book offers sound advice on what it takes to become a professional life coach. If you simply want to create more balance in your life, become more productive, and enjoy a more fulfilling existence, Life Coaching For Dummies holds the answer.

English Grammar Workbook For Dummies, UK Edition is grammar First Aid for anyone wanting to perfect their English and develop the practical skills needed to write and speak correctly. Each chapter focuses on key grammatical principles, with easy-to-follow theory and examples as well as practice questions and explanations. From verbs, prepositions and tenses, to style, expressions and tricky word traps, this hands-on workbook is essential for both beginners looking to learn and practise the basics of English grammar, and those who want to brush up skills they already have - quickly, easily, and with confidence. English Grammar Workbook For Dummies, UK Edition covers: Part I: Laying the Groundwork: Grammar Basics Chapter 1: Placing the Proper Verb in the Proper Place Chapter 2: Matchmaker, Make Me a Match: Pairing Subjects and Verbs Correctly Chapter 3: Who Is She, and What Is It? The Lowdown on Pronouns Chapter 4: Finishing What You Start: Writing Complete Sentences Part II: Mastering Mechanics Chapter 5: Exercising Comma Sense Chapter 6: Made You Look! Punctuation Marks That Demand Attention Chapter 7: One Small Mark, a Whole New Meaning: Apostrophes Chapter 8: "Let Me Speak!" Quotation Marks Chapter 9: Hitting the Big Time: Capital Letters Part III: The Pickier Points of Correct Verb and Pronoun Use Chapter 10: The Case of It (And Other Pronouns) Chapter 11: Choosing the Best Pronoun for a Tricky Sentence Chapter 12: Travelling in Time: Tricky Verb-Tense Situations Chapter 13: Are You and Your Verbs in the Right Mood? Part IV: All You Need to Know about Descriptions and Comparisons Chapter 14: Writing Good or Well: Adjectives and Adverbs Chapter 15: Going on Location: Placing Descriptions Correctly Chapter 16: For Better or Worse: Forming Comparisons Chapter 17: Apples and Oranges: Improper Comparisons Part V: Writing with Style Chapter 18: Keeping Your Balance Chapter 19: Spicing Up and Trimming Down Your Sentences Chapter 20: Steering Clear of Tricky Word Traps Part VI: The Part of Tens Chapter 21: Ten Over-corrections Chapter 22: Ten Errors to Avoid at All Cost