Setting the Screen Saver

To protect your display, a screen saver automatically starts when you are not using it. The screen saver normally starts if you do not press a key or move the mouse for 30 minutes. You can change this delay or even turn off the screen saver completely, as shown in Figure 16-1 on page 16-2.

1. Start Preferences and click on the button for Display Preferences.

2. Use the Automatic Screen Saver slider to set the delay for the screen saver.

Figure 16-1

You can set a delay from 5 to 59 minutes. You can turn off the screen saver completely by dragging the slider all the way to the right. The new setting takes effect immediately.

Changing the Background Color of the Display

You can choose the background color of your workspace, as shown in Figure 16-2 on page 16-3. It may be a color from the Sun color list, a color that you pick from the screen, or a color that you choose from one of three color models.

If you work on both a color display and a monochrome display, you set the background colors separately for each display.

1. Start Preferences and click on the button for Display Preferences.

2. Click on the Colors button.

3. Select a color from the Colors panel.

4. Drag the color from the Colors panel to the Background Color well.

Figure 16-2

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Note - If you want to save the current background color while you experiment with new colors, you can click in the color well and drag a color swatch to the row of swatches at the bottom of the Colors panel.

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Choosing System Beeps and Warnings

The OpenStep^(TM) applications have several ways to alert you when something requires your attention. A system beep may sound when you make a mistake typing. A panel may alert you to a problem or request additional information. You can tailor these system beeps and warnings to your needs, as shown in Figure 16-3.

1. Start Preferences and click on the button for General Preferences.

2. Click on Audio for a sound beep or Visual for a warning flash.

3. If you clicked on Audio, select a type of system beep from the list.

4. Click on Use Voice Alerts if you want spoken notices and warnings.

Figure 16-3

Some applications have spoken versions of some panels. If you prefer to hear these messages rather than read them, you can check Use Voice Alerts to hear the spoken versions.

If you click on Visual, the Sun icon at the top of the application dock flashes whenever something needs your attention. No beeps sound.

These choices take effect immediately.

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Note - You can add your own sounds to the list of possible system beeps by adding a sound (.snd) or (.au) file to the /Library/Sounds folder in your home folder.

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Note - You can use voice alerts or a custom system beep only if your computer can play sounds.

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Adjusting Sound Volume

You can adjust the volume of your system beeps and warnings in the Display Preferences panel, as shown in Figure 16-4.

1. Start Preferences and click on the button for Display Preferences.

2. Use the Volume slider to set the sound volume of your system.

Figure 16-4

To turn off the speaker on your system, drag the slider all the way to the left.

The volume setting takes effect immediately.

Setting the Rate for Repeating Characters

Sometimes you need to repeat characters in a long string. Typical repeating characters are periods and asterisks, but you can repeat any character on the keyboard by holding the key down. The Back Space and Tab keys also repeat, as does the space bar.

You do not want the characters to begin repeating too quickly when you press a key, or will have double and triple characters scattered throughout your text. You may also want to control how quickly the character repeats (see Figure 16-5).

1. Start Preferences and click on the button for Keyboard Preferences.

2. Click on a setting for the initial key repeat.

3. Click on a setting for the key repeat rate.

4. Test your settings by pressing any character key.

Figure 16-5

Choosing a Keyboard Arrangement

The standard arrangement of keys on keyboards differs from country to country. If you are accustomed to working on a particular type of keyboard, you can choose its arrangement regardless of which keyboard you are actually using, as shown in Figure 16-6.

1. Start Preferences and click on the button for Localization Preferences.

2. Select a type of keyboard from the list.

Figure 16-6

The new keyboard arrangement takes effect immediately.

Changing the Responsiveness of the Mouse

You can make the mouse more responsive to your movements in two ways. FIrst, you can change the mouse speed--which is how fast and how far the pointer moves when you move the mouse. Second, you can change the double-click delay--the setting that determines when the system responds to two clicks as a double-click as opposed to two distinct clicks. See Figure 16-7 on page 16-9.

1. Start Preferences and click on the button for Mouse Preferences.

2. Click on the mouse speed you want.

3. Click on the double-click delay you want.

4. Test the delay by double-clicking in the Test field.

Figure 16-7

You should choose the shortest double-click delay that works for you. You can test it by double-clicking on the word Test. Double-click at your normal speed. If Test is highlighted, you are double-clicking fast enough for the delay you have chosen.

The new mouse settings take effect immediately.