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Alt-Tab?

Sweener88

Sweener88

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 27, 2006
426
1
Im EVERYWHERE!
how do i do something like the windows alt-tab to change open programs? im a brand new one week mac user sorry for the newbiness.
 
Use the Command (Apple) key + Tab :)

Or hit the F9 key for Exposé, which shows you all open windows at once.

Or you can click on the relevant program icon in the Dock, which will bring that window to the foreground.
 
The command dietcokevanilla mentioned works great for switching between open applications. For switching between open windows within the same application, use Command + Tilde (right above Tab).

Also, if you click-and-hold any open icon in your dock, a pop-up menu will appear letting you select which window within that application you want to bring to front.
 
And the other thing that many Mac users eventually become obsessed with ;) is to go to System Prefs -> Dashboard & Exposé and define the Active Corners to trigger Exposé. Then, when you flick the mouse to a corner of the screen, you'll trigger the aspect of Exposé that is set to that corner. It's amazing. *drools*

Ahh, it's a lovefest. :)
 
Not only does Command-Tab work, but Command-Shift-Tab works in the opposite direction and once you're in the application switcher, you can also use the mouse to select an application quickly.
 
Sweener88 said:
when i press my F9 key it dims the light on the keyboard, nutting happens with the windows
Click to expand...

If you're on a laptop, you'll need to hit the fn key to get to your F9 functionality. The fn key is the one just to the left of ctrl on the left hand side.

Welcome to Macs :)
 
Wow, ive learnt things I didnt know. Especially that command-tilde function.

As gouchogolfer said, welcome to Macs! There is a world of functionality out there! :)
 
You can also click the "Window" menu to go directly to a specific window in a program. It's most useful when a program has a lot of windows open and cycling through all of them would take awhile.
 
bousozoku said:
Not only does Command-Tab work, but Command-Shift-Tab works in the opposite direction and once you're in the application switcher, you can also use the mouse to select an application quickly.
Click to expand...

Command + Tilde also goes backwards through the open applications list after you press Command + Tab.
 
peterparker said:
Command + Tilde also goes backwards through the open applications list after you press Command + Tab.
Click to expand...

Huh, I wonder why they have 2 key commands that do the same thing. I use apple-shift-tab which does the same thing and makes more logical sense to me as shift is often used as a "reverse" modifier, for example apple-shift-z does a redo after you just did an undo.
 
Also, apple-shift-tab is the better alternative since you can go backwards immediately rather than having to cycle forward once just to start going backwards.
 
motulist said:
Also, apple-shift-tab is the better alternative since you can go backwards immediately rather than having to cycle forward once just to start going backwards.
Click to expand...

Fewer keys switched, for certain. I still like the combination of command-(shift)-tab with the left hand and mouse with the right to navigate a lot of running applications.
 
motulist said:
Also, apple-shift-tab is the better alternative since you can go backwards immediately rather than having to cycle forward once just to start going backwards.
Click to expand...

Two things that you can do... at least one of which is different from Windows, are:

After you press Apple-Tab (or Apple-Shift-Tab), you can use the right/left arrow keys to navigate between applications in the list that pops up, and you can also mouse over the list to select an app. Mostly no great reason to do this, but occasionally useful. :)
 
motulist said:
Also, apple-shift-tab is the better alternative since you can go backwards immediately rather than having to cycle forward once just to start going backwards.
Click to expand...

Not for me. Perhaps if I knew ahead of time what the order of applications in the list was I could go with that. I'll take the simpler option with the fewer keys. I honestly didn't like it the first time I tried it. But it is quite simple now.
 
mkrishnan said:
Two things that you can do... at least one of which is different from Windows, are:

After you press Apple-Tab (or Apple-Shift-Tab), you can use the right/left arrow keys to navigate between applications in the list that pops up, and you can also mouse over the list to select an app. Mostly no great reason to do this, but occasionally useful. :)
Click to expand...

Yes, gotta love that. Always get frustrated on Windoze at work when I try to do it...
 
And oh yeah, apple-shift-tilde cycles backwards through windows just like it cycles backwards through apps.
 
Ooo, that's a disorienting but fun one. Do it to the beat of a fast song and you got yourself a personalized Mac music video. It should be an iPod + Mac commercial! ;)
 
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