I know this may sound like a stupid question but how do i show the desktop when i'm in other apps without closing all the windows. What i'm looking for is a shortcut like the one in windows xp or windows 7 where you click the icon to show the desktop. Thanks in advance!
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Show desktop?
- Thread starter jwm2
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system preferences >> keyboard >> keyboard shortcuts >> Expose & Spaces >> Desktop >> assign an unused key.
shift-command-d is for mac mail send, and when I assigned command-d it still seemed to want to go to desktop instead of sending... so you may have to play around with it.
on my other systems I don't use mac mail and command-d works like a champ...
shift-command-d is for mac mail send, and when I assigned command-d it still seemed to want to go to desktop instead of sending... so you may have to play around with it.
on my other systems I don't use mac mail and command-d works like a champ...
There isn't anything i can click on to do the same thing? I'm not used to all these keyboard shortcuts. I just came from windows 7 and while this is my second stint with macs, this is the first time i've migrated my main pc to mac.
My previous mac was a mac mini of which i had for about 3 months before selling it, it was overkill for what i was using it for and the extra money went to a netbook. So i'm having to relearn most of what i know when using mac osx.
Don't get me wrong i love using my iMac and wouldn't change it for the world, but i'm just used to clicking on something to show the desktop.
My previous mac was a mac mini of which i had for about 3 months before selling it, it was overkill for what i was using it for and the extra money went to a netbook. So i'm having to relearn most of what i know when using mac osx.
Don't get me wrong i love using my iMac and wouldn't change it for the world, but i'm just used to clicking on something to show the desktop.
like this?
oh - I see... just re-read... you want a show desktop ICON or button like in 7....
hmm - apart from a 3rd party program to do that, I think the simplest would be to use a shortcut keyboard combo...
or maybe use hot-corners... although I find them annoying when you use mouse acceleration (always triggering them).
oh - I see... just re-read... you want a show desktop ICON or button like in 7....
hmm - apart from a 3rd party program to do that, I think the simplest would be to use a shortcut keyboard combo...
or maybe use hot-corners... although I find them annoying when you use mouse acceleration (always triggering them).
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Yeah i was looking for a shortcut icon or something similar but i think i've found something easier. I setup my hot corners in mission control to show desktop, so when i mouse into the lower right hand corner it shows the desktop. I also found using Function + F11 and Command + F3 works too. I just put a sticky note on my desktop to remind me of it 
A Mac mini was overkill?? Wow! You must've had some extremely light tasks that you needed to perform at the time.
As far a simple click to Show Desktop, you did the right thing in setting up a hot corner. I understand that you are concerned that this feature is already set up in Windows 7 without any changing of settings but it's actually already set up in Lion as well. Lion is very multitouch-based and if you were using a Magic Trackpad with you iMac or a Macbook then you would just do a 4-finger swipe UP and it would Show Desktop.
Yeah well the problem with it was i had it on my main television so i couldn't watch tv and surf the web at the same time, but as a HTPC it was a little overkill. So instead i just sold it and bought a netbook so i can browse the web and still watch tv. Yes i'm that lazy
Use "Hot corner". I save right-bottom-side to active Show Desktop on Lion. Just need to move mouse to right-bottom side. Faster than using hotkeys so much.
You can also Command+Option click on any visible part of the desktop. It will go to the desktop and hide all the other ones.
I also just came from Win 7 to Mac. Is there a way to show desktop and then open only ONE application window? Say I want to drag something from the desktop into an application but too many windows are open. So I SHOW DESKTOP, then when I right-click the app (in the dock) that was previously on top, and open it, ALL OTHER app windows repopen as well.
Or how do you actually get to a file on the desktop in order to drag it to the app you're currently using?
Thanks in advance!
Or how do you actually get to a file on the desktop in order to drag it to the app you're currently using?
Thanks in advance!
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I have a multi-button mouse that allows me to perform "show desktop". I also have "mission control", "app exposè", and "dashboard" assigned to the buttons on the side of my mouse.
It's a Logitech G700 if anyone wants to know.
I have a multi-button mouse that allows me to perform "show desktop". I also have "mission control", "app exposè", and "dashboard" assigned to the buttons on the side of my mouse.
It's a Logitech G700 if anyone wants to know.
If I'm not missing anything, you would simply 'show desktop' and drag the item to the application's icon in the doc.
There is nothing as good as the show desktop button on PC... That's why i did not migrate to Mac...
If mac put EXACTLY the same thing, i will go to mac. not without it.
Yes it can be done. So go buy a Mac.
Show Desktop - View Desktop
Command + F3 will show the desktop.
For other OS X keyboard shortcuts see also http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1343
"Say I want to drag something from the desktop into an application but too many windows are open."
Open a "New Finder Window":: press [Command N] or Click on the top menu File>New Finder Window. Select "Desktop" as your new finder window. Now you have the desktop in its own window.
You can select how you want to view (4 ways) & arrange (9 ways) the desktop files & folders. You can change the size & move the Desktop Finder Window wherever you want. Leave it open or minimize it into the dock. It contains all the files & folders that are on the desktop. And you can drag things from that Desktop Finder Window into an application.
Show desktop button? Oooooo
You can open any application in another desktop. The same files & folders will be available.
With a Mac you are not limited to one desktop:
I use a track-pad. With a track-pad you can quickly swipe left with three fingers to see new blank Desktops (up to 5 separate desktops). There you can do anything you normally do on any other desktop. You can swipe back and forth between each desktop window without having to close the programs you have opened in each of the 5 desktops. Any changes made to files & directories in one desktop will be applied to all the desktops & those same files will be available in all desktops.
Also swipe up with tree fingers will separate all open programs, finder windows, etc on that desktop.
Then swipe up with two fingers will separate all windows of a specific program. Makes finding things on a desktop easy.
I could go on. Better stop there.
Show Desktop - View Desktop
Command + F3 will show the desktop.
For other OS X keyboard shortcuts see also http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1343
"Say I want to drag something from the desktop into an application but too many windows are open."
Open a "New Finder Window":: press [Command N] or Click on the top menu File>New Finder Window. Select "Desktop" as your new finder window. Now you have the desktop in its own window.
You can select how you want to view (4 ways) & arrange (9 ways) the desktop files & folders. You can change the size & move the Desktop Finder Window wherever you want. Leave it open or minimize it into the dock. It contains all the files & folders that are on the desktop. And you can drag things from that Desktop Finder Window into an application.
Show desktop button? Oooooo
You can open any application in another desktop. The same files & folders will be available.
With a Mac you are not limited to one desktop:
I use a track-pad. With a track-pad you can quickly swipe left with three fingers to see new blank Desktops (up to 5 separate desktops). There you can do anything you normally do on any other desktop. You can swipe back and forth between each desktop window without having to close the programs you have opened in each of the 5 desktops. Any changes made to files & directories in one desktop will be applied to all the desktops & those same files will be available in all desktops.
Also swipe up with tree fingers will separate all open programs, finder windows, etc on that desktop.
Then swipe up with two fingers will separate all windows of a specific program. Makes finding things on a desktop easy.
I could go on. Better stop there.
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