Become the Master of Multiple Windows in OSX Part I
December 26th, 2007 at 5:26 pmOne of OSX greatest power is being able to have lots and lots of programs open at once, but desktops often become very cluttered with windows. Today I will be releasing 1 of 3 tips to becoming the multiple window master in OSX.
This first lesson will be a beginners course, I recommend to use for a full day or so until you get the hang of it.
Open Application Display
Command + Tab - Opens The Open Application Display like the picture below, this will display a Icon bar of applications currently open ordered from currently used to last used.
While the heads up display is open (by keeping the ⌘ Clover key down) and you can do a few things
- Tab or Right Arrow Key- To go right with the selector
- ~ (the key above tab) or Left Arrow Key - To go left with the selector
- Release Command - To bring the selected program to the front
- Q - To quit the current selected program
Now that you know how to bring programs to the front, lets learn how to hide.
Useful Commands While in a Program
Option + Command + H - Hides all programs/windows except for the one your using (My favorite command)
Command + H - Hides current program/window
Command + ~ - Switches between multiple windows of the same program, example multiple web browser windows of the current program.
Command + Q - Quits the Current Program
With this the combination of hiding & using the open application display, you are one step closer to becoming the master of multiple windows.
Once you master this, check out Become the Master of Multiple Windows in OSX Part II
Don’t forget to leaves comments for an ez chance to win our current iTunes Gift card giveaway.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Remember that, if you want to switch windows within one program, you can use Command + ` (the key with ~ on it). I didn’t think this existed in OS X till a short time ago, and it’s been infinitely useful since I realized you could do it.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I had my 1st mac for 4 months before somenone showed me this tip. i use it to close apps before i close my macbook or shut down
December 28th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Command tab is a great tool. Ever sense 10.5 came out I’ve become a big fan of Spaces to manage all the open windows that tend to be open.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I’m working on part 2 and 3 right now Spaces, Command ‘ will be in those
Just putting the basics out first. My wife got into a small accident yesterday and didn’t have time to put out the other parts.I’ll hopefully have part 2 up tonight. I had to start slow, you be amazed how many people don’t even know alt-tab exist.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:54 am
Sweet. I knew them all but Option + ⌘ Clover + H - definitely useful. Love the new site… will stay tuned.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Just curious, since when has the Command / Apple key been referred to as the “Clover” key?
December 28th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Cmd ~ moves between windows in an application, not to the left in the app switcher.
to move left in the app switcher, use cmd space tab
what’s with using “⌘ Clover” for the cmd key? isn’t that a little redundant?
criticisms aside, it’s something every user should know.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Ken
There is no key labeled “command” on laptops or later keyboards, thats why I say this
Cmd ~ or Clover ~ moves app switcher selector to the left for me on my mac book pro. I’ll check it at home on my new iMac to verify. If this is a mistake, thanks for pointing this out, ill change it once I check it out on my 24″ iMac with the new keyboard.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:16 am
i’m using leopard and camino, other apps may give different results. also a MBP.
correct on there being no key called “Command” however, once told, most people can remember, at least after the first few times.
i still maintain that “⌘ Clover” is redundant!
did the key ever say “Cmd” or “Command”? i remember it always being “Apple Propeller”
interesting history behind the propellor symbol, btw. perhaps a topic for a future bogging?
December 28th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Clover is the only key that stays the same throughout all the keyboard designs. Notice the apple symbol is off the new keyboards too
The new keyboards replaced the apple symbol with command and kept the clover (on the same key)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspender/1108407390/
December 28th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I’m using an Icelandic keyboard and in Safari 3 alt+cmd+H only hides the address bar.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:52 am
To me, Expose would be a logical next step for window management concepts over Spaces. While Spaces has made some progress towards simplifying the virtual desktop concept, it is still something that is liable to confuse more than aid beginning to intermediate users. Expose is more straight forward - a sort of visual Command + ~ that is intuitive (and an also be used in conjunction with Spaces).
December 28th, 2007 at 11:11 am
ok, on cmd ~ it turns out we’re both right!
if you just hit cmd ~ while in a app with multiple windows it switches between them, if you hit cmd tab first, it reverses the order between apps.
win win, as they used to say
December 28th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
it’s not built-in, but using a multi-button mouse like the mighty mouse introduces new options for switching applications. in system prefs, i’ve modified the “squeeze” feature to launch the app switcher, and it’s a great way to use the switcher while in my usual “one-hand-on-mouse, one-hand-on-keyboard” pose.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Wow…I really need to read up more on Apple commands!
I’ve had my MacBook for about three months now and this is really helpful. Especially being able to quit applications with Q. Thanks for the guide 50 Leaves! Look forward to the next parts!
Travis
December 28th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I would add that Cmd - Tabbing to an application and pressing h hides that application, which is really useful when you want to clean up quickly.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I do use the Cmd-Tab option quite a bit, usually to see what’s running (obviously I can see that in the Dock!!) and quickly close them all with the “Q”. A very quick way to end everything in a hurry.
But for going from app to app … I think Expose is faster for that one. I have the middle (scroll) button on my mouse set to “All Windows”. That way I can see everything that’s on screen and just click where I want to go. (Never been a real multiple-desktop person, don’t like it in Linux and don’t use Spaces on Leopard either.) But I use Expose all the time.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:43 am
I use the Cmd+Q command quite a lot, It comes in handy because you don’t even have to open the program window to close the program.
I also remember that there was a way to hit Cmd+Tab and switch programs by hitting the left and right arrows. But I can’t remember what it was.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Changed this a little. I did added
cmd *cough cough* clover + ~ Thanks Ken and also
Cmd+Q Thanks Joe
I was going to add clover + ~ in part II, but it feels more right in part 1
Cmd + Q slipped my mind for some reason.
Thanks guys
December 30th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Ken you win, im changing all clovers to command
I need to come out with a standard, and command seems pretty standard.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:43 pm
it’s the one i see most often, including from apple
thanks for listening!
thanks for writing this blog, too!