Two solutions for MacOSX "The operation can’t be completed because the item is in use."

I get that error quite often and quickly discovered a "fix" to empty the trash anyway.

The only problem is that I want to understand who is using this file and why it is still using it when there is no apparent task running.

You try to empty your trash, you get an error

"The operation can’t be completed because the item XYZ  is in use."

You check with Command-Tab and there s nothing running except Finder. Who the hell is using this file?

Here comes the dreaded Terminal. Don't be scared it is just another way to control your computer, if you are careful there is no problem.

1. Open Terminal (you can type "Terminal" in SpotLight (Top right magnifier)
2. Type
    lsof | grep   Don't type Enter yet

      lsof  is a command that lists open files 

1. Try to empty the trash again and copy the filename (⌘-C) from the error message
2. Return to Terminal and paste the name of the file using ⌘-V (Command-V)
3. If the filename contains spaces and special characters enclose in quotes as below
   
   lsof | grep "file that cant be deleted.png"   <enter>
   
4. You should see something like this:

MyMac:~ guest $ lsof | grep "Screen shot 12.30.28 PM.png"

Mail 63367 guest ... /Users/guest/.Trash/Screen shot 12.30.28 PM.png

See?  Mail is using the file, that's why I can't delete it. In your case it could be any other application. The name of the application is first on the line.

Now that you know the app that keeps your file opened you can do one of three things:

• You need the file and will have to put it back where it belongs
• You can Close the app using it.
• You don't need the file and want to delete it anyway! Force delete.

Force Delete 

Careful this one is no return.

• Command Right click on your trash
• Select Secure Empty Trash

This should do it. If it doesn't work it is generally caused by Sharing and Permissions on the file

Change Sharing and Permissions on a file

Sometimes, when copying files from external drives, removable USB sticks etc, files are copied with strange permissions, often they are Read-Only or you are not the owner.

To see who owns that file and what permission you have, select the file in the trash or finder
Command-I  or Right Click > Get Info
At the bottom in the Sharing & Permissions you see who owns the file and which rights you have

To delete a file you should have Read-Write privileges

• Unlock the file by clicking on the small closed padlock and entering your password
• Change the file privilege to Read-Write if Read-Only
• If your name is not there add your user name by clicking on + and a selecting your name, then select read write
• Now you should be able to delete the file

Other method (Apple recommended but long)

Using DiskAid and Repair permissions you can fix most of permission issues. This should be done once a month if you move a lot of files to and from external USB drives. 

Check the Apple support document: Troubleshooting permissions issues in Mac OS X 

Mad*

PS: When you run command in Terminal  Control-C will terminate the command and return to the prompt. Don't forget to close Terminal after using it!

XCode4 and Cocos2D - How to build and run the Samples

Running Cocos2d samples in XCode4 is not simple. I see many people complaining that their scheme list is totally cluttered by the dozen projects in Cocos2d and that some are missing.

This is caused by the new XCode4 structure with these "schemes" and "Product". I don't like them! The previous Project and build target were more friendly.

If I load Cocos2d workspace I see three Projects

• cocos2d-mac
• cocos2d-ios
• cocos2d-ios -PerformanceTests.

When you click in the Xcode4 scheme box you don't see any sample there, there is a bunch of MacOS targets ActionTest, ActionEaseTest etc, there are some IOS targets like FontLabel, but no IOS samples.

If you click on the cocos2d-ios project you can see the Project Summary, and verify that the sample targets are there. So how come the don't appear in the "Scheme/Targets" list? From what I can see it, seems the only one visible are the first one in the macos project.

Apple removed the "build target" and "run target" from the Product menu so we are stuck, or maybe not.

The solution is simple.

• Go to the Schemes menu by typing Command - < for Edit Scheme
• in the left column click on Run
• In the info panel you can select debug or release
• Just below in executable you can click on the box and now see all the samples.
• Select the one you want to build
• Return to the scheme button in top left of XCode4 and click
• now you should see all the IOS samples and select Device, Simulator etc

Voilà. If you find this info useful please click on the Google +1 below or post questions.

Don't touch my right click!

I am fuming! What I hate the most is the modifications of my settings by any apps without giving me a choice.

I installed Twitter.app from ... twitter a few days ago, didn't notice anything.

Today while working in XCode I suddenly see that my right-click menu last two lines are modified.

Tweet? Open as Twitter Username?

Hey twitter devs are you mad or what? Can't you warn me that you modified my right click menu?

Anything added to a user environment should be presented to the user before addition. Right click is an important GUI menu and should NEVER be modified without telling us.

In any case, to turn off that crap go to
Settings > Keyboard > Services and uncheck the twit lines.

Cocos2D DocSet integration in XCode4

If you use XCode4 and follow the Cocos2D instructions on how to integrate Cocos2D in XCode you end up with ... nothing visble. Cocos2D doc was not installed in XCode4 DocSets library.

Using XCode4.2 (yeah it is a Beta) the build scripts output showed that the docset was copied from a temp location to it's final location in the user space (the ~ means HOME):


mkdir -p ~/Library/Developer/Shared/Documentation/DocSets
cp -R com.sapusmedia.Cocos2d.docset ~/Library/Developer/Shared/Documentation/DocSets

from the makefile lines:

docset:

mkdir -p $(DOCSET_DOCUMENTS)
cp Nodes.xml $(DOCSET_RESOURCES)

with DESTDIR=~/Library/Developer/Shared/Documentation/DocSets

After a quick look at where the DocSets were placed in XCode4 preferences I decided to copy the docset to  /Library/Developer/Documentation/DocSets and now it worked.

So, Recipe:
After you build the doc (had one error but docset was there)

• open Finder
• type command-Shift-G ~/Library/Developer/Shared/Documentation/DocSets 

You should find the docset as :  com.sapusmedia.Cocos2d.docset

• Right click and copy
• Type command-shift-G  /Library/Developer/Documentation/DocSets
• Paste the docset in XCode4 Docsets folder

You should now see this more or less depending on which IOS libraries you downloaded, but Cocos2D should be here:

• Restart XCode 
• Open Help > Documentation and API Ref
• Click on Doc Sets in the left column and verify that you have coco2d for iPhone installed
• Check the cocs2d docset
• Type a search, example ccsprite
• You should see the cocos2d Doc as below
  

Add a check to the Cocos2D for iPhone docset and you can now search coco2d command directly from inside XCode4 (point 2)

Hope it works for you if not message me.

MadMac

Video Capture on MACOSX

A year ago, we had to create a few videos for our apps and couldn't find a simple way to do it on our Mac. All solutions were expensive and complicated.

Just at this time we posted a bug on Radar, the Apple Bug system, and got a surprising answer from Apple Engineering. They couldn't reproduce the bug and asked us to record a Video of what we were doing using the new QuickTime version. They gave us a link to upgrade QuickTime to a beta version (at the time) and instructions to do the recording.

In short:

• Open QuickTime
• File > New Screen Recording
• A small window pops up with a red "Record" button
• You can select options with the down arrow on the right

• Before doing your recording it is better to remove any desktop background and use a solid color.
• You then click on the red button and confirm by "Start Recording" 

• Start your presentation.
• Stop the recording by click on Stop recording in top bar or Command-Ctrl-Esc

You can then import the video in iMovie, trim to show only the window or part of the screen, add a commentary, titles etc and finally export to the format you need. 

iMovie will help you select the correct one in a table. We found that the best options were not the YouTube but the HD version. iMovie provides tools to crop the video but it will keep a specific ratio depending on the video size you selected and you should plan this before recording. For example recording an iPad demo or an iPhone demo is not the same.

There are other free video capture tools like CaptureMe and Copernicus but they didn't work for me. The hanged in vode mode in Leopard/Lion and seemed designed for old MacOS versions.

And BTW you can grab pictures of the screen using ⌘ 3 and ⌘ 4 

Graphics Apps for Mac

We checked and tested many graphic applications in the last three weeks.


Many MacOS apps available. You can go from the child level drawing app to the 3D level app and find many free apps.


The top level paid applications are always the same:

• 3D Max                   Expensive, complete.
• Autodesk Maya        Never used. But I know it is good
• Toon Boom             Another expensive toy.
• Adobe Flash            Excellent for 2D animation check here

Low cost, Free

2D

• GIMP - The one I love to hate. Very good, some limitations and troubling things like the need to double click all the time to select something. Complicated but complete.
• Pixen - Not bad for a free open source tool. You can do basic animation with it too.

2D Animation

• Creatoon (Windows only which is a bit sad) Full version is now free by running the provided unlock file. Great software for cut-out-animation. Similar to Toon Boom with auto animation between keyframes, sound etc... Very very nice. Outputs a series of PNG, JPGs or an AVI, couldn't add the sound however to the video output.
• Pencil Traditional animation using drawings. You need a Tablet
• STYKZ - Animated stick figure. Hilarious, you have to see the YouTube videos by XiaoXiao!

3D

• Blender                 Definitely one of the best free 3D animation
• DAZ Studio          Not bad either
• Art of Illusion        A bit strange, simple interface not bad for a free app.

Web Animation

• http://www.spritely.net/  interesting

Watch out for those:

I refuse to test or install applications that try to modify my private settings, ask for keychain access, do not work completely, need gigabytes of libraries, python, ruby and other extras, are not at least 30 days or crash at each run.


I also refuse to test apps asking me to fill up a multipage document asking too many questions, address, phone number and the name of my ancestors just to download a demo version.


I refuse to give my credit card to get a demo version, with promise that if I don't like the product I will not be charged. Means I have to take a positive action to not be charge and if I forget I am screwed. This should be illegal. 


Anyway I didn't test the apps below because of this. They could be good they could be bad I don't care. I am ready to pay for software, but if you tell me download a demo, it should be a demo, not a crippled version, or something that will ask me every five second to buy the product, and never ask for my credit card for a demo. 

• Anime Studio  They say download a demo, but want your credit card number. I hate that? It's either a free demo or not. If it is a free demo, YOU DON't need my credit card! Anyway didn't test that one. At 50$ it is not terribly expensive but I will stick to Blender.
• iStopMotion  Ridicule five (5) days demo version. What can you do in 5 days. Just installed and removed in one day. 

Steve Jobs, get Well !

Two weeks ago, Steve Jobs emailed all Apple employees this short un-official Email which sent investors in a spin.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.


Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause — a hormone imbalance that has been "robbing" me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.


The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

The guy is a crazy worker. Recovering from pancreatic cancel and an unknown number of surgical operations he came back and put Apple back on the tracks. With all his millions he could buy himself a motu in Bora bora  and relax all day instead of actively bugging everybody at Apple.

As a side note, his current annual salary is .... 1$, yes ONE dollar. You understand what that means. Compare that to the gazillions of dollars some morons are paying themselves!

As John Dvorak said in his PCMag page Jobs has his flaws, but for me Steve Jobs represent the last generation of real nerds and geeks who started their companies in basements and living rooms.

The new generations has absolutely no idea of what happened in the last 30 years. They are just "appliance users" and don't even know that 20 years ago we had 5Meg drives that looked like large air conditioners, computers that took rooms and rooms, and today a Mac packs more computing power than all NASA had to send a man to the moon. It is because of people like Steve Jobs, and many others that are now completely forgotten. You should find the Triumph of the Nerds and learn something for a change.

Steve Jobs is a young kid at 56 and he obviously needs to take some rest and fix his ... OS.  I am sure there are dozen of excellent and smart people at Apple to continue the good work. Apple will announce soon staggering earnings 78% up and not in trouble at all.

Be well Steve. Hope you come back soon in good health.

MadMax

One of the beat web sites on Steve Jobs is here