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Switching between apps like in movie

M0esmac

M0esmac

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 25, 2012
749
28
UK
Hi,

This may sound stupid, but maybe some of you seen movie called "The Girl with the Dragon Tatto"?
In that movie, I saw how they switch between applications (with some key command) in Mac OS X, but I think it was Snow Leopard there, but still, I think Lion should have that thing too? There's similar thing in windows too.

Thank you
 
If you hold Command tab you will get a list of open apps you can tab through and select.

If you hold Control tab you can cycle through apps.

Does that help?
 
FamiliaPhoto said:
If you hold Command tab you will get a list of open apps you can tab through and select.

If you hold Control tab you can cycle through apps.

Does that help?
Click to expand...

I would help if it would work.;)

P.S. I'm Lion user, maybe that works on a SL for you there?
 
I'm on Lion and Command+Tab works for me. You are doing Control+Tab if you cycle through the tabs in Safari.
 
LaWally said:
I'm on Lion and Command+Tab works for me. You are doing Control+Tab if you cycle through the tabs in Safari.
Click to expand...

Oh crap yes it works! But it's a bit stupid here, because I can't control where it goes in what app. If I press it, it automatically starts scrolling, it doesn't control with arrows :confused:
+ I doesn't even open an app
 
M0esmac said:
Oh crap yes it works! But it's a bit stupid here, because I can't control where it goes in what app. If I press it, it automatically starts scrolling, it doesn't control with arrows :confused:
+ I doesn't even open an app
Click to expand...

It scrolls only when you press the tab key, if you hold command you will see the menu, then pressing tab scrolls left one app. Continue pressing until you find desired app icon then release both keys and it opens the selected application... not that complicated
 
Dhelsdon said:
It scrolls only when you press the tab key, if you hold command you will see the menu, then pressing tab scrolls left one app. Continue pressing until you find desired app icon then release both keys and it opens the selected application... not that complicated
Click to expand...

Okay, but it still doesn't open. In menu bars for example switching from iTunes to Chrome, in menu bar it shows iTunes, I chose app with that combo, then in Menu bar it shows "Chrome" but still shows iTunes.

EDIT: Even if you press app in that menu with mice pointer, it doesn't open...
 
Actually, just holding the Command key does nothing. You have to press and release the tab key once to get the list. You can then tab through the applications while continuing to hold the Command key.

Also, once the list is open, you can move through the apps and select one using your mouse.
 
LaWally said:
Actually, just holding the Command key does nothing. You have to press and release the tab key once to get the list. You can then tab through the applications while continuing to hold the Command key.

Also, once the list is open, you can move through the apps and select one using your mouse.
Click to expand...

Yeah but it still does the same like in I explained in my post before this one.
 
So are you saying that pressing and holding the Command key (key closest to the space bar on the left or right), and then pressing and releasing the Tab key does not bring up a list of active apps?
 
LaWally said:
So are you saying that pressing and holding the Command key (key closest to the space bar on the left or right), and then pressing and releasing the Tab key does not bring up a list of active apps?
Click to expand...

It does not. Really.
 
Hmm that makes no sense. What happens when you press and hold the Command key and then press and release the space bar? It should behave as if you clicked on the Spotlight icon in the upper right corner of the menu bar.

Also, are you using an Apple keyboard? Wireless or wired?
 
Oh no, IT BRINGS IT, but when I select app to open from the list, it doesn't open it.


I misunderstood you there.

Look:

M0esmac said:
Okay, but it still doesn't open. In menu bars for example switching from iTunes to Chrome, in menu bar it shows iTunes, I chose app with that combo, then in Menu bar it shows "Chrome" but still shows iTunes.

EDIT: Even if you press app in that menu with mice pointer, it doesn't open...
Click to expand...
 
Okay, when you've got the app you want selected in the list, releasing the Command key should give focus to that app.

Also, keep in mind that an application like Chrome or Safari can be active, but not have any windows open. I think that is the behavior you are seeing and why the menu bar is confusing you. Whatever application name you see next to the Apple Menu is the active application, regardless of what is displayed on your screen.
 
Last edited:
LaWally said:
Okay, when you've got the app you want selected in the list, releasing the Command key should give focus to that app.
Click to expand...

Nope, still the same. In menu bar it shows that that is switched, but it doesn't show it. With return and without it. All the same.
 
No. From any app, from just desktop, just doesn't open. Shows in menu, but doesn't open. :mad:
 
M0esmac said:
Nope, still the same. In menu bar it shows that that is switched, but it doesn't show it. With return and without it. All the same.
Click to expand...

Once the menu bar shows that it switched, can you select File -> New Window to open a Chrome window?
 
LaWally said:
Once the menu bar shows that it switched, can you select File -> New Window to open a Chrome window?
Click to expand...
Yes you can. And you can do that with every application, but it NEVER shows that window straight on desktop which is 'active'. :(
 
So if you have a window open in Chrome (as an example) and switch to some other app like iTunes, are you saying that when you switch back to Chrome the previously open Chrome window is not given focus?
 
M0esmac said:
I'm in chrome
I switch with CMD + TAB to iTunes
My chrome goes you know grey (looks like any other application which is active, but focuses on other some window)
In menu bar, it shows iTunes, but it doesn't open iTunes. It doesn't show it.
Click to expand...

And it won't "open" iTunes. It will just take you back to the previous state of iTunes. I just tried the following test to illustrate:

1. Started iTunes. iTunes active with iTunes window open.
2. Closed the iTunes window. iTunes remains active app, but nothing displayed.
3. Switched to a full screen trading app. Trading app now displayed.
4. Switched back to iTunes. iTunes listed as active app next to Apple Logo, but full screen trading app still displayed ... because iTunes had no window open.
5. Click on iTunes in dock and iTunes window "opens".

If you have iTunes active and a window displayed, I cannot explain the behavior you are seeing.
 
LaWally said:
And it won't "open" iTunes. It will just take you back to the previous state of iTunes. I just tried the following test to illustrate:

1. Started iTunes. iTunes active with iTunes window open.
2. Closed the iTunes window. iTunes remains active app, but nothing displayed.
3. Switched to a full screen trading app. Trading app now displayed.
4. Switched back to iTunes. iTunes listed as active app next to Apple Logo, but full screen trading app still displayed ... because iTunes had no window open.
5. Click on iTunes in dock and iTunes window "opens".

If you have iTunes active and a window displayed, I cannot explain the behavior you are seeing.
Click to expand...

I'm dumb. Sorry. I understood now, that all windows have to be open on the screen, they can't be closed but still active. And that's sucs, because there's almost no point of that for me.
If it wouldn't be like that, I could hide dock, but now...
There's no way to do how I want? :D
 
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