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Request for Mac OS X developers: put an alias for Applications in your install image

I really like the way that the developers of Adium, a Mac OS X instant messaging application, put an alias to the Applications folder right in the install disk image:

Adium Install Image

The result is that all I need to do when installing the application is drag it into the alias; otherwise (and much more commonly with OS X applications), I need to open up another Finder window, position it so that I can drag and drop from the Adium install window, and then drag Adium into Applications in the second window.

It would be nice if all OS X developers did what the Adium developers do.

In the meantime, something that can make application installing a little faster is to drag the Applications folder into the documents section of the OS X “dock,” so that you end up like this:

Applications Alias on the Dock

Now installing apps is as simple as draging them from the install image onto this icon on the dock.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 6:06pm
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Comments

Steven Garrity's picture
Steven Garrity on January 25, 2006
While this is probably good and handy trick for Adium to do, and maybe others should follow, this really seems like something that Apple should solve once for all software “installs”.
Mark Wubben's picture
Mark Wubben on January 25, 2006
Or, if you’re a Quicksilver addict: 1a) Navigate to the disk image file b) Open it 2a) Navigate to the disk image b) Move the .app to /Applications 3) Open the app
paul's picture
paul on January 25, 2006
Doesn’t everyone have an Applications alias in the Dock? Seriously, I worked on someone else’s machine a week or two back and was nonplussed not to find it there: I thought for a moment they have removed it. I have had that set up since the Public Beta or so and can’t imagine not having it, especially on a 12” laptop.
Andrew Chisholm's picture
Andrew Chisholm on January 26, 2006
Until September I had never used OSX. The one feature I was impressed with was uninstalling an applacation, simply drag it’s icon to the trash and poof, it’s gone… And they included the poof animation to make it all the better.
Will Pate's picture
Will Pate on January 26, 2006
+1: Developers should make it easier for people to install their software. +1: Apple should have a setting for “Always Show Sidebar in Finder Windows” that is by default set to ON.
John's picture
John on January 26, 2006
You are making far too big a fuss over this. The solution is very simple. Look at the illustration, see the lengthwise silver button at the right side of the window’s titlebar? If you click on it, the window will be expanded to include the “usual suspects” column of Applications, Home, etc. Works in every window, works on every install DMG or CD.
Peter Rukavina's picture
Peter Rukavina on January 26, 2006
Thanks, John, for pointing that out — who knew?

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