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Invoke Exposé and Open Files From the App Switcher

If you press the up or down arrow keys with an icon highlighted in the App Switcher overlay, Exposé will be activated for the selected app, which causes all of its windows to fan out across the screen. (Pressing the 1 key achieves the same result.)

Just discovered this doesn't work if you're currently looking at an app in full-screen view.
 
You’re missing the all time classic how to bring back a minimized app! Command tab to it. Hold down tab and move the finger from command to option. Let go of tab. Profit!

I was about to post this god-send of a tip too, but I noticed you already did! Although you've got the keys the wrong way around.

The correct way is to Cmd+Tab, hold down CMD and then move your finger from tab to option (alt), then let go of CMD. My all time favourite use of the application switcher.

This I didn't know about – thanks! Not that I minimize windows very often, but good to know there's a way to get hold of them from the App Switcher. But I see it only deals with one window for each app – if I minimize more than one window the others can't be un-minimized(?).

Is it me or does this trick not work with the calculator minimized?
 
Works for me, so just you I guess. :)
Are you saying it works for you with other apps, but not with the Calculator?

Correct. I first tried with the calculator, and was frustrated that I couldn't get it to work. Then I switched to other apps "just in case" and got it work. I still can't get it to trigger on the calculator, however.
 
Wow, another really useful thing I'd never found since the dawn of OS X. Quitting apps like that is way easier than mucking around in the dock.
 
I am having a very unusual problem with the Mac Application Switcher. It has suddenly started hiding all but the active window. As I often drag and drop between several open applications, this has become a real headache. I have searched to see if others have had this problem, but no luck. Does anyone have an idea of what might be going on? The only thing I have thought of was a conflict with Keyboard Maestro, but I checked this out and it does not appear to be the case. Maybe a corruption somewhere, but where should I look in the system? Thanks for any thoughts...
 
I am having a very unusual problem with the Mac Application Switcher. It has suddenly started hiding all but the active window. As I often drag and drop between several open applications, this has become a real headache. I have searched to see if others have had this problem, but no luck. Does anyone have an idea of what might be going on? The only thing I have thought of was a conflict with Keyboard Maestro, but I checked this out and it does not appear to be the case. Maybe a corruption somewhere, but where should I look in the system? Thanks for any thoughts...

What version of MacOS?

So when you switch to an app using the app switcher all other apps gets hidden?
 
The MacOS is 10.6.8

And yes, that's it exactly. Instead of just switching the active window (as it always has done), the app now switches and hides the other open application window.

Is that a typo? 10.6.8? If not, I think it's time to upgrade. Your OS is 8 years old, and at least 6 years out of security updates.
 
The MacOS is 10.6.8

And yes, that's it exactly. Instead of just switching the active window (as it always has done), the app now switches and hides the other open application window.

So it's always like this, even after a restart?

If I remember correctly the App Switcher is a part of the Dock.app process.

To narrow things down a bit I would start by creating a temporary ”test” user account (System Preferences -> Users & Group) and see if the app switcher behaves the same in that – yes or no?
 
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So it's always like this, even after a restart?

If I remember correctly the App Switcher is a part of the Dock.app process.

To narrow things down a but I would start by creating a temporary ”test” user account (System Preferences -> Users & Group) and see if the app switcher behaves the same in that – yes or no?

First of all, thank you very much for that piece of advice. It started me along a process that ended with resolution of the problem!

First, I did as you suggested, and made a new test user. And discovered that the problem did not exist for the new account. Then I thought that the resolution might be to replace the dock.plist and .db files in my user preferences. Which unfortunately had no effect. Thus suggesting that the problem was not connected with the dock per se.

This started me thinking again about possible glitches or incompatibilities between Keyboard Maestro’s Program Switcher feature and the Mac’s Application Switcher. I use both in different situations, precisely because the Program Switcher hides the inactive windows, while the Application Switcher does not.

I looked again in the preferences of Keyboard Maestro, and unchecked “Always Hide Other Applications” under the General tab, which seems a bit contradictory. Miracle of miracles, things started working properly! So it appears that the problem was due to Keyboard Maestro after all and not the Mac App Switcher.

Everything is now working properly. Thanks once again for your time and advice!
 
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