Comments on: Overview of the Application Switcher http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/ Insanely Simple Tutorials for the First Time Macintosh User Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:14:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Joao Carlos de Pinho http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-4023 Joao Carlos de Pinho Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:34:34 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-4023 I completely agree with Joachim: the inverted behavior of the scroll wheel in Leopard's application switcher is annoying. There should be at least a hidden preference to change that. I completely agree with Joachim: the inverted behavior of the scroll wheel in Leopard’s application switcher is annoying. There should be at least a hidden preference to change that.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-3652 Scott Haneda Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:15:01 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-3652 @james, most use Butler: http://www.manytricks.com/butler/ it is free, and will do what you want, I use Keyboard Maestro: http://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/ And while it is a paid software, the support and Peter, the guy who will answer your support issues, is top notch. @james, most use Butler: http://www.manytricks.com/butler/
it is free, and will do what you want, I use Keyboard Maestro: http://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/ And while it is a paid software, the support and Peter, the guy who will answer your support issues, is top notch.

]]> By: Ralph http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-3592 Ralph Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:39:28 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-3592 Thanks very much for this info. I had been using Lite Switch X and wanted to be fair by paying but $15 was too much. Then found apple-tab, now know apple-tilde & apple-q. Very simple, works well. Thanks very much for this info. I had been using Lite Switch X and wanted to be fair by paying but $15 was too much. Then found apple-tab, now know apple-tilde & apple-q. Very simple, works well.

]]> By: james p. nalley http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-3264 james p. nalley Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:09:27 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-3264 How do you set up opening an application with a keystroke command? How do you set up opening an application with a keystroke command?

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-2298 Scott Haneda Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:47:50 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-2298 @Joachim. I never used the scrool wheel. I will be honest, I do not use the Apple Application Switcher. I use <a href="http://www.proteron.com/liteswitchx/" rel="nofollow">LiteSwitch X</a>, which I find has a ton more features and is a little smaller and more flexible. Test out the demo and see if it works to your needs. @Joachim. I never used the scrool wheel. I will be honest, I do not use the Apple Application Switcher. I use LiteSwitch X, which I find has a ton more features and is a little smaller and more flexible.

Test out the demo and see if it works to your needs.

]]> By: Joachim http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-2228 Joachim Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:10:30 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-2228 First I'd just want to point out that the scrollwheel feature existed in Tiger as well. And that was a feature I grew to like - *a lot*. Now with Leopard I personally think Apple has done a terrible job. Scroll directions have changed, scrolling down in Tiger moved the selection box to the right, now in Leopard a scroll down moves to the left, but most frustrating feature to be removed is that scrolling can't loop around the list anymore!!! When you get to the point where you have like 30 (or more) open applications it was a quick way to get from your most resent (leftmost) application to the one used longest ago (rightmost). Really *hate* the changes brought on by the Leopard application switcher vs. the one in Tiger. :( First I’d just want to point out that the scrollwheel feature existed in Tiger as well. And that was a feature I grew to like - *a lot*.

Now with Leopard I personally think Apple has done a terrible job. Scroll directions have changed, scrolling down in Tiger moved the selection box to the right, now in Leopard a scroll down moves to the left, but most frustrating feature to be removed is that scrolling can’t loop around the list anymore!!!
When you get to the point where you have like 30 (or more) open applications it was a quick way to get from your most resent (leftmost) application to the one used longest ago (rightmost). Really *hate* the changes brought on by the Leopard application switcher vs. the one in Tiger. :(

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1148 Scott Haneda Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:41:36 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1148 @Jim, glad you got it worked out. It can be a bit confusing at times. There is an app called <a href="http://www.proteron.com/liteswitchx/" rel="nofollow">LiteSwitch X</a rel="nofollow"> that I use. This gives me much more control over how an app is brought forward, and can force it to happen in some cases. As for the Finder, I am not sure what you want to come forward, there is really nothing to come forward. I am guessing you want your open folders and finder windows to come forward, but they are obscured by other apps. Correct on that one, you are stuck in that regard. LiteSwitch, I believe, can bring one forward, and tell all others to hide, though I do not use that feature. Application switching is best when you need to toggle two applications all the time. For example, I move from typing this, to mail.app, then back to typing this, and back to mail.app, and I can do that all with no mouse at all. This is, in my opinion, where the Application Switcher really shines. @Jim, glad you got it worked out. It can be a bit confusing at times. There is an app called LiteSwitch X that I use. This gives me much more control over how an app is brought forward, and can force it to happen in some cases.

As for the Finder, I am not sure what you want to come forward, there is really nothing to come forward. I am guessing you want your open folders and finder windows to come forward, but they are obscured by other apps. Correct on that one, you are stuck in that regard. LiteSwitch, I believe, can bring one forward, and tell all others to hide, though I do not use that feature.

Application switching is best when you need to toggle two applications all the time. For example, I move from typing this, to mail.app, then back to typing this, and back to mail.app, and I can do that all with no mouse at all. This is, in my opinion, where the Application Switcher really shines.

]]> By: Jim Hamm http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1136 Jim Hamm Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:31:33 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1136 Okay, I finally got it!...Duh!...The window must be open and not minimized, then one can cycle through Cmd + Tab to put the focus on an open app that has not been minimized. Doesn't work on Finder, though— too bad. However, after trying it a few times I like Expose better. with my Mighty Mouse, I merely push the button, then click on the app I want. Quicker for me. Thanks, Scott, for bringing this tip to us. I've enjoyed, and learned, from all your tutorials. Thanks, again, for bringing them to us...Jim Okay, I finally got it!…Duh!…The window must be open and not minimized, then one can cycle through Cmd + Tab to put the focus on an open app that has not been minimized. Doesn’t work on Finder, though— too bad. However, after trying it a few times I like Expose better. with my Mighty Mouse, I merely push the button, then click on the app I want. Quicker for me. Thanks, Scott, for bringing this tip to us. I’ve enjoyed, and learned, from all your tutorials. Thanks, again, for bringing them to us…Jim

]]> By: todd http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1086 todd Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:27:04 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1086 @Scott Yeah, how to bring up an app that's minimized to the dock in the alt-tab sequence. My contention is that minimized apps should automatically be brought out of the dock and given focus. You can access the dock with ctrl-F3, but it seems silly to have to switch to another key command once I realize the app I want is minimized. OK, I know I can cmd-h to hide windows and then they'll appear in an alt-tab sequence, but sometimes minimizing is more convenient to get a window out of the way. @Scott Yeah, how to bring up an app that’s minimized to the dock in the alt-tab sequence. My contention is that minimized apps should automatically be brought out of the dock and given focus. You can access the dock with ctrl-F3, but it seems silly to have to switch to another key command once I realize the app I want is minimized.

OK, I know I can cmd-h to hide windows and then they’ll appear in an alt-tab sequence, but sometimes minimizing is more convenient to get a window out of the way.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1085 Scott Haneda Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:13:46 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1085 <blockquote>So how to bring up an app that’s in the dock?</blockquote> @Todd, If you mean what I think you mean, you just click on the item in the dock with your mouse. If you mean an item that has been minimized to the Dock, I would like to know that myself :-) If I am off base here, reply with more detail about what your specific question is.

So how to bring up an app that’s in the dock?

@Todd, If you mean what I think you mean, you just click on the item in the dock with your mouse. If you mean an item that has been minimized to the Dock, I would like to know that myself :-)

If I am off base here, reply with more detail about what your specific question is.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1084 Scott Haneda Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:10:50 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1084 @Lauren, Apple is moving away from calling it the Apple Key, and even removing said branding from the key, so from this point on, more and more will know it as the command key. @Lauren, Apple is moving away from calling it the Apple Key, and even removing said branding from the key, so from this point on, more and more will know it as the command key.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1083 Scott Haneda Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:09:41 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1083 @Jim, in the case of Address Book, are you sure you have the main Address Book window open? If it is closed, it will bring the Application forward, but not the window. As for the Finder, the Finder does not have much to bring forward, there is no real window to bring forward. I would suspect that Address Book is just open, but the data window is closed. Go to the Window menu in Address Book and down to "Address Book", this should show you your entire address book, then you can use command-tab to move to Safari, and back to Address Book. @Jim, in the case of Address Book, are you sure you have the main Address Book window open? If it is closed, it will bring the Application forward, but not the window. As for the Finder, the Finder does not have much to bring forward, there is no real window to bring forward.

I would suspect that Address Book is just open, but the data window is closed. Go to the Window menu in Address Book and down to “Address Book”, this should show you your entire address book, then you can use command-tab to move to Safari, and back to Address Book.

]]> By: Lauren http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1063 Lauren Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:44:04 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1063 Thanks Drakfyre. I just always called it my "Apple" key. Thanks Drakfyre. I just always called it my “Apple” key.

]]> By: Drakfyre http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1061 Drakfyre Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:26:38 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1061 Hey Lauren, the Command key is the key with a apple logo and a little squiggly celtic-knot on it, to the left of the spacebar. More info here: http://osxhelp.com/primer-on-macintosh-os-x-keyboard-shortcuts/ Hey Lauren, the Command key is the key with a apple logo and a little squiggly celtic-knot on it, to the left of the spacebar. More info here:

http://osxhelp.com/primer-on-macintosh-os-x-keyboard-shortcuts/

]]> By: Lauren http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1060 Lauren Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:01:58 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1060 O.K. you guys....I don't see a "command" key on my keyboard?? O.K. you guys….I don’t see a “command” key on my keyboard??

]]> By: todd http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1042 todd Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:51:00 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1042 So how to bring up an app that's in the dock? So how to bring up an app that’s in the dock?

]]> By: Jim Hamm http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1038 Jim Hamm Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:07:56 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-1038 Again, this doesn't seem to work for me. It shows four apps (Safari, Mail, Address Book and Finder) when I hold the Command Key and then press the Tab key. When I then tap the Tab Key to cycle through the apps, it will only bring Safari or Mail to the front, when I release the Command key, not Finder or Address Book. I use a MacBook Pro with Leopard...What am I missing here?....Jim Again, this doesn’t seem to work for me. It shows four apps (Safari, Mail, Address Book and Finder) when I hold the Command Key and then press the Tab key. When I then tap the Tab Key to cycle through the apps, it will only bring Safari or Mail to the front, when I release the Command key, not Finder or Address Book. I use a MacBook Pro with Leopard…What am I missing here?….Jim

]]> By: JimB http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-962 JimB Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:43:02 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-962 I never knew about app switcher. I have a hot corner for "expose" and another hot corner for "all windows" so between those I get everything shown, BUT it I didn't have any open windows I'd still have to head to the dock for an open app. And the "Q" quit will be a great way to shut them all off. Thanks for the tip ;) I never knew about app switcher. I have a hot corner for “expose” and another hot corner for “all windows” so between those I get everything shown, BUT it I didn’t have any open windows I’d still have to head to the dock for an open app.

And the “Q” quit will be a great way to shut them all off.

Thanks for the tip ;)

]]> By: Scott Thiessen http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-954 Scott Thiessen Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:37:47 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-954 A nice way to quit multiple applications is to open the App Switcher with Command+Tab, and while the Command key is down, type Q. The selected application quits and the App Switcher stays open, so you can quit of a bunch of applications very quickly. A nice way to quit multiple applications is to open the App Switcher with Command+Tab, and while the Command key is down, type Q. The selected application quits and the App Switcher stays open, so you can quit of a bunch of applications very quickly.

]]> By: Michael http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-942 Michael Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:16:45 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-942 @ David I believe that that is Expose. It's a great piece of software to do a very similar thing, especially when you have multiple windows for the same program. Instead of Command+Tabbing to the program and then Command+' ing to the window you want, you bring up Expose and it shows all your windows. Then select the one you want. @ David
I believe that that is Expose. It’s a great piece of software to do a very similar thing, especially when you have multiple windows for the same program. Instead of Command+Tabbing to the program and then Command+’ ing to the window you want, you bring up Expose and it shows all your windows. Then select the one you want.

]]> By: Dan Mosqueda http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-935 Dan Mosqueda Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:36:10 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-935 Wow - another eye-opener. Thanks so much! Wow - another eye-opener. Thanks so much!

]]> By: David http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-931 David Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:17:03 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/overview-of-the-application-switcher/#comment-931 Another fairly new Mac user here... One way I was shown to see all open applications is to press the "fn" key and then the "F7" key. You still have to then mouse over to the app you want on top, but it's handy sometimes to see them all that way. Another fairly new Mac user here… One way I was shown to see all open applications is to press the “fn” key and then the “F7″ key. You still have to then mouse over to the app you want on top, but it’s handy sometimes to see them all that way.

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