Mac Mail Close Open Message

[marc11]

Either I am just blind or Apple doesn't use the products they create because I cannot figure this out. Let's say in Mail I open a message to read it, there is no way to close it. No buttons, no cancel, nothing. The only way I have found is by chosing reply or forward then hitting cancel.

Is this right? Has Apple really left such a basic action out or am I over looking it?

[wgnoyes]

Originally Posted by marc11

Either I am just blind or Apple doesn't use the products they create because I cannot figure this out. Let's say in Mail I open a message to read it, there is no way to close it. No buttons, no cancel, nothing. The only way I have found is by chosing reply or forward then hitting cancel.

Is this right? Has Apple really left such a basic action out or am I over looking it?

Hit the red traffic light button in the upper left hand corner, or press command-W.

[marc11]

Originally Posted by wgnoyes

Hit the red traffic light button in the upper left hand corner, or press command-W.

That is just it, that button is not showing; could it just be my machine? I will try command-w thanks!

[wgnoyes]

Are you in full-screen mode. (which I never use, by the way -- 27" monitor, who needs full-screen for that?) If so, the traffic light goes away in that mode, but is replaced by a "done" cmdbutton.

If not fullscreen, sounds like something you might find in general system preferences, or maybe local mail app preferences. Bn

[marc11]

Originally Posted by wgnoyes

Are you in full-screen mode. (which I never use, by the way -- 27" monitor, who needs full-screen for that?) If so, the traffic light goes away in that mode, but is replaced by a "done" cmdbutton.

If not fullscreen, sounds like something you might find in general system preferences, or maybe local mail app preferences. Bn

Yep, full screen mode. Old eyes and a 15 inch laptop requires it! Appreciate the help. I do not recall seeing a done option, but let me look again and or try cmd-w.

[marc11]

So I confirmed it; while in full screen mode, double click a message to open it, there is no way (at least on my computer) to close the message. No red/yellow/green buttons, no done button, nothing. Command-W works, but that is not intuative at all. In regualr screen mode it works as normal.

So before I go off on a rant about how could Apple over look such a basic function and how recently an ever increasing number of features or functions are missing, do not work or only work part way, which seems to me to be a sign of laziness and lack of quality work; is this unique to me, or are others seeing this same problem in full screen mode of mail?

[SnowLeopard2008]

You could always just use the menu bar at the top. File > Close?

[marc11]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard2008

You could always just use the menu bar at the top. File > Close?

Nope when a message is open in full screen the menu barn is not available. You cannot do anything except replying or forward. Its like Apple forgot people may want to close an open message.

[SnowLeopard2008]

Originally Posted by marc11

Nope when a message is open in full screen the menu barn is not available. You cannot do anything except replying or forward. Its like Apple forgot people may want to close an open message.

Is the menu bar hidden or just completely inaccessible? I just tried it and I'm able to get the menu bar...

[marc11]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard2008

Is the menu bar hidden or just completely inaccessible? I just tried it and I'm able to get the menu bar...

Really? How? So you have a list if messages in full screen mode. You double click one and it opens in a window, behind it you can see the mail app and you can access the menu bar?

[SnowLeopard2008]

Originally Posted by marc11

Really? How? So you have a list if messages in full screen mode. You double click one and it opens in a window, behind it you can see the mail app and you can access the menu bar?

I think so, I'm at work atm and I remember I was in fullscreen mode in Mail earlier this morning and I opened up a message in my inbox and I didn't use any keyboard shortcuts to close it. I used the menu bar. Once I get off work, I'll reproduce it and screenshot or screencast it.

[marc11]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard2008

I think so, I'm at work atm and I remember I was in fullscreen mode in Mail earlier this morning and I opened up a message in my inbox and I didn't use any keyboard shortcuts to close it. I used the menu bar. Once I get off work, I'll reproduce it and screenshot or screencast it.

Thanks, I really appreciate your help.

[SnowLeopard2008]

Originally Posted by marc11

Thanks, I really appreciate your help.

Screenshots as promised.

[marc11]

Blowing my mind, I have nothing like that.

[Pharmscott]

In full screen mode, I have both: a Done button and access to the File menu if I hover the cursor at the top of the screen. What version of Mail do you have? Mine is 6.2 and I'm running ML.

[SnowLeopard2008]

Originally Posted by marc11

Blowing my mind, I have nothing like that.

What version of Mac OS X are you running? I'm on Mountain Lion, things may be different on Lion.

[marc11]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard2008

What version of Mac OS X are you running? I'm on Mountain Lion, things may be different on Lion.

I'm on ML as well.