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Ancestral Quest for Mac Frequently Asked Questions
Access the AQ PDF Report files
Once you have created the report as a PDF file, you will want to be able to access the PDF file to view it, print it or share it. We will show how to access the folder containing the PDF reports, as well as explain how you can create an alias to that folder and place it on your Mac Desktop for easy access to the PDF reports you create from Ancestral Quest.
Access the Folder containing your PDF Reports
Step 1
Launch the Finder app.
Step 2
Once the Finder app opens, go up to the menu bar and click Go, then Computer.
Step 3
Double-click on the Hard Drive icon or otherwise open up the Hard drive window.
Step 4
Within the Hard Drive, double-click on the Users folder.
Step 5
Double click on the Shared folder.
Step 6
Double click on the PDFwriter folder.
Step 7
Double click on the folder that appears; it will likely have your own name.
Step 8
Inside this folder is where you will find the PDF files of your reports generated by PDFwriter.
Tip: You may wish to create an Alias for this folder and place the Alias in a more easily accessible location so you can quickly get to future PDF reports that you create from Ancestral Quest.
Step 9
You are welcome to rename any of the report files, as you wish.
You can also move these PDF files to where you need them.
Note
If the above steps do not work on your system -- you do not see the folders we describe or do not see the PDF files -- then you can try this method:
- In your Finder, click on Macintosh HD
- Click on the folder labeled Private. If you do not see it, then use the keystroke Command + Shift + . (period) to make the hidden files appear. Then open the Private folder.
- Click on the var folder.
- Click on the Spool folder.
- Click the PDFwriter folder.
- Click the folder with your mac username.
You should see your PDF files inside that folder.
Create an alias to easily access your PDF Reports
Instead of having to remember how to get to the folder containing your PDF reports each time you want to access them, we can create an Alias on your Mac Desktop or on your Dock that will take you right to those PDF files. Here are the steps to do that.
Step 10
Return to the folder we saw in Step 7: The folder with your name that is inside the pdfwriter folder.
Click on the folder, once, to select it. It will become highlighted.
Step 11
Go up to the menu bar and select File, then Make Alias.
Step 12
The Alias appears -- it can be identified as an alias because it has an arrow pointing to its icon.
The Alias is most likely highlighted and ready to be renamed (the text is highlighted and you should see a blinking cursor).
Type in the name you wish to use for this Alias. You will probably want to name it something like AQ PDF Files. Press Return on your keyboard to save the new name.
Step 13
Using your mouse, click and drag the Alias onto your Desktop. You can place it anywhere on your Desktop as you wish. Or, you can place it on your Dock, instead, if your prefer.
Now, whenever you want to see the PDF files you made of AQ Reports, just access that Alias to get to them.