Alias Arrows

[LazyCarrot]

I like to have alias icons for my infrequently used applications organised on my desktop - just so i can remember what I've got! (keeping the dock clear for the frequently used ones), but I just hate those ugly arrows (they look like something from a Windows m/c).
I managed to lose them in Snow Leopard but now i've upgraded to Mountain Lion they have, of course, reappeared.

Now, I'm not at all confident in myself to just go blindly tinkering about in terminal without a word or two from the wise, so would someone mind casting an eye over the following instructions (that i unearthed) to see if they would indeed do the trick?... and if so I'd really appreciate an idiots guide to what each of the instructions actually does - just by way of trying to understand what it is i'm doing

1) open Terminal
2) type cd /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/
-> press enter
3) type sudo mv AliasBadgeIcon.icns AliasBadgeIcon-no.icns
-> press enter -> enter password
4) type killall Finder

Cheers - Phill


Oh and yes, I do know there are lots and lots of reasons why you wouldn't want to remove the arrows - but none of them apply to me, and the one reason for removing them (aesthetics) does

 

[benwiggy]

I like to have alias icons for my infrequently used applications organised on my desktop - just so i can remember what I've got!

Application Stack in Dock
LaunchPad
The Applications Folder itself (Command shift A)
Third-party launchers or menu listings - Xmenu is a good free one.

Having lots of icons on your Desktop can actually impede the performance of your Mac. Each Desktop icon is considered to be a special type of window to the computer. Having lots of desktop icons causes WindowServer to use large CPU and memory resources.

In short: there are many more efficient ways of viewing what apps you have, all of which will avoid the offence of alias arrows, without having to tinker with system files.

2. Change Directory to the filepath given.
3. Move the Alias icon file to a different name (i.e. change its name). Sudo means it's done with root authority, as you don't normally have permission to do that. You will be asked for your password.
4. Quit the Finder. (It will restart.)

 

[LazyCarrot]

Thanks benwiggy - super fast reply!!!

Yep, I'm new to all that Mountain Lion has to offer (so i was just trying to get everything to look like my Snow Leopard set up) - however Launchpad looks like it may be the ideal solution...

A little confused with my first attempts at looking into it though - Wiki says that "Launchpad screen is populated with the computer programs listed in the Applications folder in Mac OS X." This doesn't appear to be the case for me - lots of applications are not showing up... is it just for purchases from the app store? or can i import applications from my applications folder into launchpad manually? - can't figure a way to do that - the screen seems very minimal!

Will dig deeper 'cos if it works with all my apps it would be ideal!
Any pointers would be appreciated though ...

************************************

Take it all back - I found them!!!!
Right swipe and they're on the next screen - like an iPad - which makes sense too!
Thanks - this looks like the bees knees!!!

Cheers

 

[printz]

Who came first with the desktop aliases (or shortcuts) with arrows? Windows 95 or some Macintosh System?