TIP: toggling between open windows of one application

[tuqqer]

This is a tip that I've been doing so long that I didn't realize was a hidden tip until someone looking over my shoulders just said, "Ohmygod, what did you just do there to move so quickly between open windows?!!!"

The trick is this: while in any Apple program (such as Safari or Mail) (and in fact it works with some non-Apple apps as well), in which you have multiple windows open, hold down the Command key and then toggle/tap the the tilde key (the key to the left of the number 1 key, and looks like this: ~ ). This will toggle you through all of the open windows of that particular program.

This is very handy if you happen to be, for instance, working on an email but then need to get back to your main Mail message viewer window. Just hit Command-~ and you will be taken through all open Mail windows. I do this with multiple open Pages docs, Safari windows, and even Excel spreadsheets.

[hal]

That was an addition in 10.5 I think - a very welcome one...

[olnacl]

Didn't know that. Thanks - will be very useful in Mail when the message I'm composing always winds up behind the main window after switching to another app temporarily.

[raz]

I could be wrong, but I think Command+` goes back to System 7 or so. I use it often.

[kj4btkljv]

If you refuse to use Tabs in Safari, or just simply don't use them, this is a really handy keyboard shortcut in that app for switching between open windows.

Jeff

[Fred_Also]

raz wrote:
I could be wrong, but I think Command+` goes back to System 7 or so. I use it often.

Wow, I didn't realize my Intel system will run System 7.

Thanks,

Fred
:wiggle:

[mstudio]

It's making me dizzy, thanks.

[The UnDoug]

There are still plenty of people who have no idea how to use *tabs*!!!!

[tuqqer]

The UnDoug wrote:
There are still plenty of people who have no idea how to use *tabs*!!!!

A couple months ago, I saw a high-end web designer surf the net. He would click on a link, read the site, then click the back button to get back to the page, then see another link he liked, clicked it, waited for the page to load, read it, then back to the back button.

When I showed him Command-clicking in order to create 30 links simultaneously, it was as if the skies opened up to him.

[Blankity Blank]

Some people are wedded to the idea that they are not 'computer people' and without intensive mentoring will not learn even the simplest tasks.

I deal with a user regularly who has been using computers daily for years; she's on her third Mac. Still uses a one button mouse, but doesn't know how to shift, command or control click, only has a shaky grasp on dragging things and for the most part just guesses whether to single or double click in any given situation. Doesn't know how to create a new folder, saves everything to her desktop because she has no idea how to navigate open or save dialog box.

All of the above has been explained to her slowly, patiently, multiple times, in multiple ways. She's been given a copy of "The Little Mac Book". But she's convinced she's "not a computer person".

I just shake my head and take aspirin before and after dealing with her. :biggrin: