Location of FCP help file at DVinfo.net

Pat Chaney · August 18th, 2004, 04:20 PM

I'm trying to locate the "Final Cut Pro Help" PDF file as it opens in Adobe Reader and I'd like to change to use Preview. I know the file is here as I can open it from within FCP (HD version) but a search across my hard drive doesn't find it. I've tried including invisible files in the search.

Anyone have any thoughts on where it might be hidden?

Jeff Donald · August 18th, 2004, 07:34 PM

The help only works right if it opens in Acrobat. You will lose much of the functionality using Preview.

Control-Click on the Application FCP HD>Show Package Contents>Contents Folder>resources Folder>English.lproj Folder>Final Cut Pro Help Folder>Control-Click Help file>Get Info>Open With>Change to Preview. Repeat for each pdf help file.

Pat Chaney · August 19th, 2004, 11:53 AM

Thanks Jeff. It doesn't sound like I should bother changing though. I had assumed that Preview supported everything that was in a PDF file.

Duane Martin · August 19th, 2004, 06:25 PM

Jeff, what you are saying was true in Jaguar, but not so in Panther.

If you are using Panther (OS X 10.3.x), the Help files work much better in Preview than they do in Adobe Acrobat. For instance, on my oldest system (QS 2002 800mhz), the FCP Help file opens in Preview in 5 seconds. It takes more than 40 seconds to open in Adobe Acrobat. In Adobe Acrobat, even the simpliest searches take a minimum of 30 seconds to start returning results, and most of the time more than a minute. In Preview the search results are as close to instantaneous as is imaginable.

In Jaguar (OS X 10.2.x) there is no doubt that that Preview was crippled. In Panther, however, Preview is a far superior option for opening the Help files. It makes the on-line help actually practical.

Jeff Donald · August 19th, 2004, 06:42 PM

Preview is the default viewer in 10.3.x and Acrobat should not be opening FCP HD help. My comments were based under that assumption and I'm sorry for any confusion.

Duane Martin · August 19th, 2004, 07:03 PM

Ah, very interesting. When I first installed Panther I did not do a clean install but the dreaded upgrade (I love waving my fist at the software deities), thus the evil Acrobat continued to wreck havoc on my Help experience. When I did get around to a clean install, I simply didn't think about it. Good point.

For those following along at home:

Jaguar + Preview = Bad
Panther + Preview = Good
Tiger + Preview(?) = TBD in six to twelve months

Pat Chaney · August 20th, 2004, 12:41 AM

I've been using Panther since it was released, and only installed FCP since then. The default for the FCP help files was Adobe Reader (for some reason), but I have now changed them as per Jeff's original instructions, and it is indeed much faster. Thanks again.

August 18th, 2004, 04:20 PM	#1
Pat Chaney Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 107	Location of FCP help file I'm trying to locate the "Final Cut Pro Help" PDF file as it opens in Adobe Reader and I'd like to change to use Preview. I know the file is here as I can open it from within FCP (HD version) but a search across my hard drive doesn't find it. I've tried including invisible files in the search. Anyone have any thoughts on where it might be hidden?

August 18th, 2004, 07:34 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The help only works right if it opens in Acrobat. You will lose much of the functionality using Preview. Control-Click on the Application FCP HD>Show Package Contents>Contents Folder>resources Folder>English.lproj Folder>Final Cut Pro Help Folder>Control-Click Help file>Get Info>Open With>Change to Preview. Repeat for each pdf help file. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 19th, 2004, 06:25 PM	#4
Duane Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 41	Jeff, what you are saying was true in Jaguar, but not so in Panther. If you are using Panther (OS X 10.3.x), the Help files work much better in Preview than they do in Adobe Acrobat. For instance, on my oldest system (QS 2002 800mhz), the FCP Help file opens in Preview in 5 seconds. It takes more than 40 seconds to open in Adobe Acrobat. In Adobe Acrobat, even the simpliest searches take a minimum of 30 seconds to start returning results, and most of the time more than a minute. In Preview the search results are as close to instantaneous as is imaginable. In Jaguar (OS X 10.2.x) there is no doubt that that Preview was crippled. In Panther, however, Preview is a far superior option for opening the Help files. It makes the on-line help actually practical. __________________ Duane E. Martin Earth to Sky Productions Apple Certified Trainer - FCP

August 19th, 2004, 06:42 PM	#5
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Preview is the default viewer in 10.3.x and Acrobat should not be opening FCP HD help. My comments were based under that assumption and I'm sorry for any confusion. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 19th, 2004, 07:03 PM	#6
Duane Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 41	Ah, very interesting. When I first installed Panther I did not do a clean install but the dreaded upgrade (I love waving my fist at the software deities), thus the evil Acrobat continued to wreck havoc on my Help experience. When I did get around to a clean install, I simply didn't think about it. Good point. For those following along at home: Jaguar + Preview = Bad Panther + Preview = Good Tiger + Preview(?) = TBD in six to twelve months __________________ Duane E. Martin Earth to Sky Productions Apple Certified Trainer - FCP

August 19th, 2004, 11:53 AM	#3
Pat Chaney Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 107	Thanks Jeff. It doesn't sound like I should bother changing though. I had assumed that Preview supported everything that was in a PDF file.

August 20th, 2004, 12:41 AM	#7
Pat Chaney Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 107	I've been using Panther since it was released, and only installed FCP since then. The default for the FCP help files was Adobe Reader (for some reason), but I have now changed them as per Jeff's original instructions, and it is indeed much faster. Thanks again.