Mac OS X windows, applications and workflows...

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Hi,

I switched, this past year, to the Mac. I love it! But, I have some fundamental confusion regarding switching between windows, apps, etc! Coming from windows I want (I think) to use command-tab to take me to the next window in the command-tab list. But this never seems to work the way I want it to. sometimes I'll notice that the App switches, but the next window doesn't appear. I've tried using command~ as I've seen this as an alternative, but nothing seems to happen! Can someone, please explain to me how this is supposed to work? I'm assuming my confusion stems from my M$ windows background, but I guess I also don't understand the Mac Workflow correctly
 
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I just tried this, I found if you do the "command-tab", then hold command down, you can tab through the list. Let go of command, when you get to the app you want.

Edit: I am using Mojave, but it shouldn't matter.
 
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I just tried this, I found if you do the "command-tab", then hold command down, you can tab through the list. Let go of command, when you get to the app you want.

Edit: I am using Mojave, but it shouldn't matter.

Thanks for your reply. I'm also on Mojave. Nice trick!

But when I use it, sometimes the APP I chose comes up and to the front. sometimes not????? Not sure if its working as designed, but I'm still n to grokking it...

IMO stopping on an add should bing that one to the foreground. Otherwise, what's the point????
 
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When I retried it this time, I noticed if some apps are minimized, the window does not appear. Are you using different desktops for all open apps, or just the basic window? Also, are the apps native macOS apps, or are they third party apps?
 

Slydude

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Assuming that the app you want is still running and hasn't been closed, it sounds like you have an app open with no active window open. In other words the Mac has shifted to the app you want but there is no window open with content to display. Here's an experiment to try and see if this mimics the problem you are having:

1. Open two or three origrams and make sure each one has some displayed in its window.
2. Use the cpommand tab key combination to cycle through the windows and make sure that content is being displayed in the window
3. Close the window for one of the programs Use command w to close the window not command q which quits the program.
4. Use command tab to cycle through the windows again. If the window you closed suddenly doesn't show anything you'll know there isn't an open document to show and that i the soource of the problem.

Thanks for that reminder Bob. The behavior I described will also occur if the window has been minimized. I fogot about that.
 
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Thanks for your reply. I'm also on Mojave. Nice trick!

But when I use it, sometimes the APP I chose comes up and to the front. sometimes not????? Not sure if its working as designed, but I'm still n to grokking it...

IMO stopping on an add should bing that one to the foreground. Otherwise, what's the point????



Something just a little bit different, but the end result may be what you want, and I just thought I would mention the utility app SimpleKeys.app

Basically you can use whatever key(s) or keyboard key-combination shortcuts you want to launch or change/switch the applications you want to use. Even f keys can be utilized for single key application launch or switch.

It can also be used for expanding often use text, phrases etc. and many other things. Almost like a mini, but easy to use Automator.app builder.

I just thought I would mention it and it sure saves me a lot of time:
https://www.pidog.com/SimpleKeys/
or
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/8999/simplekeys





- Patrick
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Assuming that the app you want is still running and hasn't been closed, it sounds like you have an app open with no active window open. In other words the Mac has shifted to the app you want but there is no window open with content to display.
...
The behavior I described will also occur if the window has been minimized. I fogot about that.
Yep, that's probably it; because I was thinking the same thing. GMTA :)
 

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