Good Way to Organize Applications Folder?

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Level 1

50 points

Good Way to Organize Applications Folder?

I use the dock for the most important applications and a couple key folders, including my applications folders, but I'm prone to migraines and I'm clumsy so I'm not going to use it for more than 16-20 items.

I use Custom Menu for the most important folders and an app switcher, including my applications folders.

I group applications by type, but it requires a password to move applications around, even from the applications folders to each other or to their subfolders.

One suggestion is to flatten the applications folder, and create a nested set of aliases.

I tried using Launchpad for a while, but with my sensory and coordination issues, it isn't practical.

MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Dec 23, 2015 3:16 PM

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Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Dec 24, 2015 5:33 PM in response to Marja E

Yes, well you didn't tell me about other disabilities, just that it was difficult for you to type.

I think I can create a folder called "Apps" in my user/home folder, put aliases in there, organize the aliases, put that folder in my Dock and Custom Menu, and remove the original applications folders from the Dock and CM.

Yes, you can create a folder called "apps" and do exactly that. All applications and folders in the Dock should be aliases anyway.

Good luck I hope this fix makes it all easier for you.

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Dec 23, 2015 9:54 PM in response to Marja E

Don't take out or reorganize anything in your /Applications folder. The OS X installer won't know where to look for them on your next update. Rather, create aliases and arrange them any way you like. Stacks in the Dock work nicely too.

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Answer 3

Marja E Author

Level 1

50 points

Dec 24, 2015 7:54 AM in response to macjack

I've been taking things out and reorganizing things for years, so what now?

Some went in one apps folder, some on the other, and I had trouble finding them that way, so I moved most to the main apps folder, and I don't know which started in the other apps folder.

If this is a problem, what can I do about the problem???

And there's not enough space in the dock. I've been having trouble meaning to select one thing, slipping, and accidentally selecting another here and there and don't want trouble with that there.

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Answer 4

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Dec 24, 2015 8:54 AM in response to Marja E

If your apps have been updating and the other folder is an Application folder within your Home folder, updates may be finding them. Check to be sure they are the latest updates.

It sounds like the easiest solution would be to just consolidate all apps back into your Mac HD/Applications and then drag that folder to the Dock and get rid of the rest of the clutter in the Dock. Then you can quickly scroll to any app you want.

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Answer 5

Marja E Author

Level 1

50 points

Dec 24, 2015 10:29 AM in response to macjack

Thanks. How do I find out which ones are updating or not?

I already have both Apps folders in my Dock and in my Custom Menu. I can't reach the right apps without subfolders, which is why I started this thread. Should I flatten the arrangement in the Apps folders [except for the first Utilities folder]? If so, I'll need an organized arrangement in aliases.

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Answer 6

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Dec 24, 2015 3:39 PM in response to Marja E

Marja E wrote:

Thanks. How do I find out which ones are updating or not?

I already have both Apps folders in my Dock and in my Custom Menu. I can't reach the right apps without subfolders, which is why I started this thread. Should I flatten the arrangement in the Apps folders [except for the first Utilities folder]? If so, I'll need an organized arrangement in aliases.

To find which are updating choose them and "Get Info". That will tell you the version and the date last modified.

Do not puts apps into folders. Apple puts no apps into folders in El Capitan on a default stem. The only folder in /Applications should be Utilities.

So, the only apps that belong in folders are any third party ones that came in folders. The reason I stress this is that updates need to be able to find the apps they need to update, in the place they expect to find them.

My suggestion again, is to put all your apps in your /Applications folder and drag it down to the Dock. It should be very easy to scroll through your apps in either icon or list view without any use of keyboard.

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Answer 7

Marja E Author

Level 1

50 points

Dec 24, 2015 4:03 PM in response to macjack

Well, before I started this thread, nobody told me not to organize my apps.

"My suggestion again, is to put all your apps in your /Applications folder and drag it down to the Dock."

I've done that, but I need some kind of organization, such as the suggestion to use aliases instead, to reach my apps.

"It should be very easy to scroll through your apps in either icon or list view without any use of keyboard."

A lot of things should be easy and aren't, especially with disabilities. I have sensory and coordination issues, as well as rsi. It should be easy to scroll, and to enable wider scrollbars, but it isn't. If I'm using the external keyboard and external mouse, I have to rely on the page up and page down buttons on my mouse, or reach for the very narrow scrollbars. If I could enable half-page up and half-page down it'd really help. If I'm using the laptop keyboard, I can use two-finger scrolling, but I had to disable all the complex gestures to avoid accidentally triggering them. It should be easy to disable all the complex gestures, but I had to stick something in front of the screen to avoid the animation in the preferences panel.

I think I can create a folder called "Apps" in my user/home folder, put aliases in there, organize the aliases, put that folder in my Dock and Custom Menu, and remove the original applications folders from the Dock and CM.

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Answer 8

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,146 points

Dec 23, 2015 3:19 PM in response to Marja E

Don't. Use Spotlight or search. It's more simple.

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Answer 9

Marja E Author

Level 1

50 points

Dec 23, 2015 4:04 PM in response to Yer_Man

I am trying to find an easier way to organize and open applications. For me, typing hurts, and less typing would help.

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