There has to be a way...

S

Skiph

Registered
If I click on a document link, I just want the document to open.

I am using open office.

I am new to the mac but not computing. Win/Unix/Mainframe yadda yadda...

Right now if I click on a document link (e.g. dot doc), it opens a new browser window (not withstanding changing this option in Safari preferences), shows my download box, then stops. I "can" double click the icon to open the file, but the download window does NOT go away, and I am still sitting there in a new browser window.

I "do" have the option checked in Safari preferences for no new browser and to open "safe" documents.

I just want to click on the thing and have it open. This possible?

Thanks from a grass green Mac newbie

Skip
Forgot to add:
Brand spanking new MacBook.
 
Since you are using OpenOffice on the Mac, do you have the X11 package installed? You need X11 in order to run OpenOffice for the Mac (at least for now.....they're working on a native OS X version that doesn't require X11, but for now you need it).

The X11 package should be included with your install discs. Just run the installation again and select to Customize the installation and you'll see the option for X11. Select that and only that and it will just install X11 without wiping the Mac with a new System folder and stuff.
 
Let me see if I understand you correctly. You find a Word document on the internet, you click on the link and it downloads the file. Once the file is downloaded, it doesn't automatically open and you need to click on the icon in the download list?

I don't think MS Word files are considered "safe" documents. The text files it refers to in the "safe" documents check box refer to standard text files and rich text files. MS Word files, with their macros, etc can hardly be called safe, can it? I'm afraid you'll have to double click on the icon in the download list.
 
Open office is working fine (considering that X11 is even needed). Yes, I have X11 installed.

It does want to ignore the command-tab combo. I have to minimize everything to be able to get back to its page.

Thank you.

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nixgeek said:
Since you are using OpenOffice on the Mac, do you have the X11 package installed? You need X11 in order to run OpenOffice for the Mac (at least for now.....they're working on a native OS X version that doesn't require X11, but for now you need it).

The X11 package should be included with your install discs. Just run the installation again and select to Customize the installation and you'll see the option for X11. Select that and only that and it will just install X11 without wiping the Mac with a new System folder and stuff.
Click to expand...
 
Could you try to be slightly more condescending? I almost missed that.

In the highly touted "there are no Mac viruses" world, this should not be a problem.

Also, I am downloading from trusted sites.

Also, I should be able to over ride someone else’s opinion on what makes a "safe" file.

Thank you very much,

Skip


Viro said:
Let me see if I understand you correctly. You find a Word document on the internet, you click on the link and it downloads the file. Once the file is downloaded, it doesn't automatically open and you need to click on the icon in the download list?

I don't think MS Word files are considered "safe" documents. The text files it refers to in the "safe" documents check box refer to standard text files and rich text files. MS Word files, with their macros, etc can hardly be called safe, can it? I'm afraid you'll have to double click on the icon in the download list.
Click to expand...
 
I'm sorry if you found the tone condescending. Seeing as nixgeek, a regular, completely misunderstood the point of your post, I felt it was necessary to establish what your question actually was.

There are no "mac viruses" in the wild, not because Mac OS X is some super OS that is inherently virus free. It just practices safe computing, and one of those things were to disable automatic execution of file formats that could potentially harbor one. Word documents are notorious for having such viruses, and just because one hasn't been found in the wild that affects Mac OS X, doesn't mean that one will never be found.

There are files that don't get automatically opened. These include package files, application files, and sadly, Word documents. There could be ways to override this, I'm sure but they aren't common knowledge.
 
"I" apologize. Seems as if everyone has been stepping on my tail lately, about one thing and another, and it is getting rather tender and bedraggled.

My wife has gotten a Mac on my recommendation. Which is a good trick as I had never touched one before hers was delivered by UPS.

So, I am still trying to show her how the Mac is better than Windoz.

I have been able to figure out (with the help of our son, our daughter (Mac users) and "Mac OS X for Dummies" and/or a significant amount flailing) most things that she has had questions about.

Downloaded Evolution for the Mac (that was a disaster) because she was a big Outlook (not Express) user. Think I have now convinced he that iCal and Mail will do what she wants.

I am trying not to throw in the towel and get MS office for the Mac. And what the hell is "Entourage" anyway? Rhetorical, sarcastic question.

This is the first Mac forum I have joined and I am planning to suck up as much knowledge (from kind people like you and nixgeek) as I can.

Thanks for the response, and I will try to convince the lady wife that there are going to be some things that are just going to have to be done differently.

I do have ulterior motives; If I can wean her away from her win box, it will become my first home Unix server.

Later,

Skip


Viro said:
I'm sorry if you found the tone condescending. Seeing as nixgeek, a regular, completely misunderstood the point of your post, I felt it was necessary to establish what your question actually was.

There are no "mac viruses" in the wild, not because Mac OS X is some super OS that is inherently virus free. It just practices safe computing, and one of those things were to disable automatic execution of file formats that could potentially harbor one. Word documents are notorious for having such viruses, and just because one hasn't been found in the wild that affects Mac OS X, doesn't mean that one will never be found.

There are files that don't get automatically opened. These include package files, application files, and sadly, Word documents. There could be ways to override this, I'm sure but they aren't common knowledge.
Click to expand...
 
No worries, we all have bad days :)

Outlook support is one of the banes of non-Windows machines. It's borderline criminal, how Microsoft Entourage doesn't support Outlook's calendaring features. Evolution sorta works, I have that up and running on my PC at the office. Probably Microsoft's last attempt at holding on to whatever foothold they have in the office space.

A good book for learning about Mac OS X is the Mac OS X: The Missing Manual by David Pogue. It's a good book that caters to pretty much any audience. You read the "dummies" series and you thought I was sounding condescending? :rolleyes: :)
 
You can try NeoOffice instead of OpenOffice. NeoOffice does not need X11.

SafariStand is a plugin for Safari that automatically cleans and closes the download window on succesful download.

Hope this helps.
 
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