My Video Problems

Greg · Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Guildford

I have some newbie Mac questions. Say I'm in photoshop and I want to save a file. I go to File, save as and a little dialogue window comes up that says file name and destination. File name is simple enough. Destination however is a little more complex it seems. It's a drop down menu when has a load of options as to where to put the file you're saving, but it doesn't seem to recognised subfolders. At the moment I'm having to save files into a main directory and then physically drag each one into a subfolder within that main folder. A ridiculous situation which I assume has an easy solution. This is not just how Mac's are is it?

Also I dragged my pictures folder from the main Mac HD side bar onto the dock thinking it would create a shortcut. It dissapeared in a theatrical cloud of smoke. It's now gone. Can't find it.

While I'm at it, does anyone here use Sorenson Squeeze compression suite 4.5? I have a whopper question that Tech support can't answer - to me it should be simple for the people who built the software to answer, but obviously they've never touched the actual software! I've had a bad two days. Rolling Eyes

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Intel Mac Pro Dual core 3.0GHZ : 3GB Ram, Avid Xpress Pro HD 5.7 and Windows based P4 2GB Ram with Avid Xpress DV 4.3 ; Sony PD170 and Sony A1E HDV backup camera ; Glidecam 2000 pro

Colin · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Milton Keynes, UK

Although I'm pleased to see yet another user jumping over to the Apple Mac ship (you know it makes sense!!) I can't see what your "Save As..." problem is, and having just replicated it now (in order to see what you mean) I don't have any problems. To me, file management on MacOSX is easier than in Windows, which means it has to be really easy!

You have two ways of Saving As... on the Mac. In the "List View" mode (indicated by the first of the two buttons showing the view mode top left of the Save As dialogue, once you've selected the drop-down option to Save As in the toolbar menu, you're automatically given the option to enter the filename in the horizontal bar. Beside it is an arrow which, when clicked, gives you the complete folder cascade structure. Simply work through this cascade from left to right until you get to the last folder in the sequence. Alternatively, when you arrive at the folder where you want to save the file, click on it and the file can be saved into it.

If, of course, you need to create a New Folder, then click the bottom at the bottom left of the window - but make sure you select the host folder into which that one should reside. If you get it wrong, just drag and drop it to where you want it.

If you click the second View option button, you'll get a more detailed Cascade view from left to right. At the very right-hand limit (the last folder contents in the stack) you'll get a picture view of the file - so if it's an image you'll see a thubnail. If it's a Quicktime movie, you'll be able to click the Preview and play it. Same for Word docs, web pages, etc. Easy!

If all that fails you, then simply select the Desktop option. "Save As" to desktop and drag to the appropriate location. If you're in Folder View option, the folder will pop open if you hover over it for more than a split second and you can simply drop it in.

As a note of interest, the soon-to-be-released OSX Leopard has radically improved on this even further - and file management has to be seen to believed. It's much like browsing through album art in iTunes. Amazing, in other words. Doubtless "Vista 3" will catch up in 5 years! Smile

Colin
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Look out for some great digital video-making features in "Digital Video" (Issue 0232), "Computer Buyer" (Issue 195) and "Computer Shopper" (Issue 235) magazines. And others I can't remember!!!

Greg · Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Guildford

Ah...you know what it is. So the Save as options come up and there is

SAVE AS:

and

WHERE:

Logically I assumed the "Where" drop down menu would be where I would choose to save the file...silly me. Actually I need to click on the drop down menu on the SAVE AS section to choose the folder which is then reflected in the WHERE drop down menu. A bit backwards if you ask me but there you go. Very Happy

Don't get me wrong, I think the MACs are amazing, but moving over from PC after 20 years it's not all smooth sailing and immediately intuitive. Sometimes it feels as if it's different just for the sake of being different. For instance, closing windows down is on the left as opposed to the right. This is counter-intuitive. Does the brain not reach for the right hand side more easily, like turning pages of a book? Or is this just because I'm right handed Wink

The Apple key should be where the CTRL key is because hitting the apple key and another key (for isnstance APPLE+S to save) contorts your hand unnaturally. Having it where the CTRL button is means your fingers can still spread over the keyboard making reaching things much faster.

Closing an application down, I close the window and then a few minutes later notice it's still open, so have to QUIT the program. Fair enough, it just takes getting used to. And the last thing I can think of is the see through to the desktop approach. I'm getting used to it, but for programs like Photoshop it's helpful to have that plain grey background instead of having all the other windows open in the background and then you mis-click and the top menu bar becomes the Finder top menu bar instead of the photoshop menu bar Laughing

Anyway, I'm still getting used to it, and for all it's quirks I love it. Certainly in terms of installing things and compatability, it's fab.
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Intel Mac Pro Dual core 3.0GHZ : 3GB Ram, Avid Xpress Pro HD 5.7 and Windows based P4 2GB Ram with Avid Xpress DV 4.3 ; Sony PD170 and Sony A1E HDV backup camera ; Glidecam 2000 pro

Colin · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Milton Keynes, UK

Arpe · Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 80 Location: New Zealand

Colin · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Milton Keynes, UK

Trouble is that, with Vista, Gates is indeed attempting to ape the GUI of Apple's leading apps - especially stuff like iTunes.

The latest edition of iTunes is superb. There's nothing like it for managing H.264 video files or video podcasts. I'm currently producing a set of AAC Enhanced podcasts and am finding all sorts of fascinating stuff under the hood.

Colin
_________________
Look out for some great digital video-making features in "Digital Video" (Issue 0232), "Computer Buyer" (Issue 195) and "Computer Shopper" (Issue 235) magazines. And others I can't remember!!!