In Mac Terminal How To Set Permanent Shortcut For App

Today's technology has come a long way in closing the divide between Windows and Mac applications, especially in the enterprise. However, a gap still exists for some and requires a bridge to move between computing environments.

In Mac Terminal How To Set Permanent Shortcut For Application

The Touch Bar on MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) and later and MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) and later replaces the function keys at the top of your keyboard and gives you quick access to commands on your Mac. You may need to set (or change the value of) your TERM environment variable. Perhaps your Debian host doesn't recognize what you have it set to. Try changing it to xterm-256color, xterm-color, xterm, ansi, or vt100, and run /usr/bin/reset. A Terminal alias is a name or shortcut for one or multiple commands. Using an easy to remember alias, we can turn the above four step process into just one. An alias can be made temporarily (just for the use of one terminal session) or permanently.

For Mac users, the stalwart tool has been the Microsoft Remote Desktop connection. Available now through the Mac App store, it allows users to remotely connect to a Windows desktop to access local files, applications, and network resources.

Note: If you want to access Microsoft Remote Desktop on a newer Mac running macOS Sierra, check out this article instead.

In order to get started with Microsoft Remote Desktop, you must begin by downloading it from the Mac App Store. Click the blue 'App Store' icon in your dock. Or, you can download it from our sister site Download.com here.

Once you've accessed the Mac App Store, use the search bar at the top right of the screen to search for 'Microsoft Remote Desktop.' The first search result should be what you're looking for. To begin the download, click the blue 'Get' button. This app is free, so no price will be listed.

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Next, open the application by clicking through the grey 'Launchpad' icon and clicking on the Remote Desktop app icon. Or, you can use the searchlight feature by clicking the looking glass at the top right of your home screen, or by using the shortcut Command + Space Bar, and searching for 'Microsoft Remote Desktop.' Opening the app should look like this:

If you think you'll be frequently using this remote desktop connection, now would be a good time to set it in your dock. Right click (control + click) on the icon, mouse over 'Options,' and click 'Keep in Dock.' This will keep you from having to look for the icon every time you need to use it.

At this point you'll need to enable remote access on your target PC. For a Windows 8 machine, the fastest way to get this done is to search for 'Allow remote access to your computer' and click on that when it comes up. You may need an administrator password to complete this step. Under the 'System Properties' box you should see 'Remote Desktop' and the button labeled 'Allow remote connections to this computer' should be selected.

Next, you'll need to select the users who will be able to be accessed through the remote desktop connection. Now, search for 'System' and click it when it appears. Turn off hibernation and sleep settings for the target PC, as you won't be able to access it remotely if it falls asleep.

SEE: Software usage policy (Tech Pro Research)

While still in 'System,' it's a good time to go ahead and get your full PC name if you don't already have it, as you'll need it to set up the connection. Click on 'Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings' to find the full PC name and write it down. Enabling a Windows 7 computer is a little different, but you can find out how to do that here.

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Head back to your Mac and click the 'New' button at the top left of the Microsoft Remote Desktop screen. You'll be prompted to fill in quite a few fields.

The first thing you'll need to input is the connection name. This is simply what you want to call the connection and it has no real bearing on the connection itself. For example, you could call it 'John's work computer,' or 'Jennifer's PC.'

Next, you'll need to input the PC name (the one you wrote down from earlier), or the IP address so your Mac knows where to find your PC. The next line down allows you to configure a Gateway, which would let you connect to virtual desktops or session-based desktops that are on your company's network. Check with your network administrator to see if there is a gateway you are to use.

Credentials is where you will type in the domain, username, and password for the target PC so you can log in through the remote connection. Resolution, colors, and full screen mode are all personal preferences for how you want the remote desktop to launch on your machine. If you're not sure, start with the standard settings and go from there.

If you want to configure peripheral devices for your remote desktop, you can find options for that under the middle tab, 'Session.'

The first choice is a drop-down menu for sound. You can disable sound, have it play on the remote PC, or have it play on your Mac. If you want to connect to an administrator session on a Windows server, click the box next to 'Connect to admin session.'

The next option to 'Forward printing devices' will make your local printers available during your remote desktop session. 'Swap mouse buttons' will allow you to use left click commands with a right-click Mac mouse.

The last tab at the top of the window is 'Redirection.' This is where you would choose a local folder you wanted to be available during your remote session. Click the '+' button, choose a name for the folder, and input the folder's path to have it available.

When you are finished configuring your remote desktop, click the red close button at the top left of the dialog box and your new remote desktop will be added. To start a session with that desktop, simply double-click it to begin.

If you want to edit, duplicate, export, or delete that remote connection, right-click (control + click) on the desktop name to access those options.

If you don't think Microsoft Remote Desktop is the option for you, here are some other options available at Download.com:

What do you think?

Is there a better way to access your Windows applications? Tell us in the comments.

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It happens to the best of them; an application simply stops responding to input. You may not be able to access the application's menus or the application just seems frozen. Sometimes you will even see the SPOD (Spinning Pinwheel of Death), an indication that the application is frozen, or at least hung up waiting for something to happen.

When all else fails, you can use the Force Quit option to terminate a rogue application and return control to your Mac.

How to Force Quit an Application

There are multiple ways to Force Quit an application. We will list just the two easiest methods here because one or the other will almost always work.

Force Quit From the Dock

Each Dock icon has the ability to display contextual menus that you can use to control or gain information about the application or files the icon represents. You can view contextual menus by right-clickingon aDock icon.

When an application has stopped responding to user input, a Force Quit option will be available in its Dock icon's contextual menu. Simply right-click on the application's icon in the Dock, and select Force Quit from the pop-up menu.

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Force Quit From the Apple Menu

The Apple Menu also has a Force Quit option. Unlike the Dock method, the Force Quit option available from the Apple menu opens a window that lists all running user applications. We say 'user applications' because you won't see background applications that the system runs on its own in this list.

To Force Quit an application using the Apple menu:

  1. Select Force Quit from the Apple menu.
  2. Click to select the application you wish to Force Quit from the list of running applications.
  3. Click Force Quit.
  4. You will be asked if you really, truly want to Force Quit the application. Click Force Quit.

That should cause the selected application to stop running and close.

Updated: 4/17/2015