Overview

Modding Mac OS X isn't about cutting up your Power Mac's case with a saws-all; it's about modifying Mac OS X's user interface and unlocking secrets and dispelling your fears of the Unix command line so you can take command of your Mac. Modding Mac OS X starts out with the very basics of showing you how to configure your Mac and do simple things like change Finder views, use an image from iPhoto's library on your desktop, and how to find and use screen savers. From there, Modding Mac OS X shows you how to: Find hidden features in your favorite applications; Dive inside application bundles to find hidden resources; Change application and system-wide keyboard shortcuts; Work with the Property List Editor to read and edit property list files; Wrap your head around the defaults command to tweak an application's settings; Hack on NIB files to change an application's interface; Control an application with AppleScript, even if it isn't scriptable. Each Modding example includes detailed step-by-step instructions that even a novice Mac user can follow, while also providing the necessary detail to satisfy the experienced hacker. The knowledge you gain from tweaking one application can be easily applied to the next. So go on, empower your inner Mac geek. You know you want to. ""

Full Product Details

Author:   Erica Sadun
Publisher:   O'Reilly Media
Imprint:   O'Reilly Media
Dimensions:   Width: 20.30cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 24.50cm
Weight:   0.685kg
ISBN:  

9780596007096

ISBN 10:   0596007094
Pages:   280
Publication Date:   02 November 2004
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

Preface 1. Transforming Your Mac Desktops Screensavers Altering the Dock Changing the Look of Finder Windows Customizing Standard Icons Custom Themes Changing the Boot Panel Final Thoughts 2. Diving into Applications Application Bundles Understanding Bundle Structure Building Bundles Exploring the Resources Folder Understanding Localizations Plug-ins Property Lists Shrinking Applications Final Thoughts 3. Application Dumpster Diving Preparing to Dive The Xcode Tools Finding Goodies Changing Sounds Searching Through Alternate Locations Finding and Changing Images Peeking at (and Playing with) String Files Final Thoughts 4. Changing Icons Mac OS X Icon Files Viewing Icons Creating Custom Icons Changing Icons Creating a Pseudo-Application Final Thoughts 5. Preferences Files Preferences Files Managing Property Lists Real-World Preferences Files Discovering Undocumented Preferences Final Thoughts 6. Discovering Domains and Support Files. Folders Libraries and the Applications That Use Them Preference Domains Recovering Preferences Settings by Domain Final Thoughts 7. Changing Interface Elements Making Alterations Getting Ready to Hack Meeting Interface Builder Changing Window Styles Adding a Tool Tip Adding an Item to the Contextual Menu Adding a New Button Adding a Custom Drawer Adding Objects from Another NIB File Changing Object Classes Restoring the Terminal Application Final Thoughts 8. Altering Keyboard Shortcuts Philosophy of Keyboard Shortcuts Panther's New Keyboard Shortcuts Preferences Pane Changing the Keyboard Shortcuts Adding Application Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard Shortcut Equivalents New Ways to Define Keyboard Shortcuts Speakable Items Viewing Keyboard Shortcuts Final Thoughts 9. Basic Application Scripting Discovering Scriptable Applications Getting Ready to Script Talking to Applications User Interface Scripting General Application Scripting Final Thoughts 10. Scripting the Unscriptable Activating Application Scriptability Expanding Suite Possibilities Updating the Core Suite Reverting to the Original NSCoreSuite Files Final Thoughts

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Author Information

Erica Sadun is the bestselling author of iMovie 3 Solutions, DVD Studio Pro 2 Solutions, Digital Video Essentials: Shoot, Transfer, Edit, Share and Digital Photography Essentials: Point, Shoot; Transfer, Share. In addition, she is a contributor to O'Reilly's Missing Manual series. Erica has a Ph. D. in Computer Science from Georgia Tech's Graphics, Visualization and Usability Center. A geek, a programmer, and an author, she's never met a gadget she didn't love.

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