Here ’s a news flash from the Department of Unintended Consequences : window are dandy , but they ’re also a problem . As soon as you have more than a few windows open at once , it ’s clear that those windows are like automobiles , and your monitor is like a Los Angeles freeway — it ’s overcrowded , and no matter how much you extend it , it’sstillgoing to be overcrowded . This is peculiarly a problem on an operating scheme like Mac OS X , where the windows of dissimilar program can become blend with one another . Finding the window you require can be like searching , amid the distract red herrings , for the Purloined Letter : you might not be able to see it even if it ’s in plain survey .
To ease the window dealings on your monitor lizard , Apple has cater various equipment for helping you see the windows you desire to see . In 2003 , in Panther , Apple precede Exposé as a way of letting you shift cursorily among all your open windowpane ( or get them all out of the fashion so you could see your background ) . Now Leopard introduces Spaces , a truevirtual desktopsimplementation that let you flip-flop between integral stage set of windows at once . Your task is to decide whether you hold out to employ either or both of these , and to custom-make them with triggers so that you ’ll employ them promptly .
Set Up Exposé
Exposé ’s All Windows mode : all window from all software appear , the Desktop darkens , and vibrate the Spanish pointer over a window colors it and shows its title .
have ’s start with Exposé , and in particular with an overview of how to utilize each of Exposé ’s three way : All Windows , program Windows , and Desktop . Once you understand these three mode , you ’ll be quick to customize Exposé so that you’re able to muster those modes whenever you like . I assume that you have not yet customize Exposé ; the keyboard shortcuts I start out with ( and which you might want to customize ) are the Leopard nonpayment .
All Windows modePress F9 to see Exposé ’s All Windows mode in action . It dilute every open window ofallapplications to a thumbnail . ( By “ a thumbnail ” I mean that the windows appear at a size small enough , and in such a spatial relation , that they all fit on the screen without overlapping ; it ’s quite clever , really . ) you may move from window to window by compact the arrow keys , and pick the one you need by pressing Return ; or use the mouse , hovering over a window to see its name and clicking to select it . To cancel All Windows way , press F9 again or press Esc ( or snap the Desktop ) .
Exposé ’s software Windows mode ; all windows of a single software ( Safari is demonstrate here ) appear at the same time , while those of other applications are darken behind them .
app Windows modePress F10 to evoke Exposé ’s applications programme Windows mode . It scale down every windowpane of thecurrentapplication to a thumbnail ( Figure xx ) . The windows of other coating are darkened behind them . Also , once you ’re in app Windows manner , you’re able to decide to see every window of adifferentapplication ; mechanical press Tab or Command - Tab repeatedly to change which app has the focus . As with All Windows fashion , you could arrow through the windows or click the black eye to find fault one . To set off , compact F10 again or closet Esc ( or press the darkened background ) .
Desktop ModePress F11 to experience Desktop way . It shoves all window outward , revealing almost the entire Desktop . you could now make in the Desktop ( and the Finder ) ordinarily . To change over out of Desktop mode and restore your windows , press F11 again or chatter in the darkened region at an edge of the cover .
Warning!In Desktop mode , be careful not to compact extraneous keys on the keyboard . The ground is that although no windows are seeable , initially you are still “ in ” the window where you were influence when you entered Desktop style , and key presses will be sent to that windowpane . For representative , if you were solve in Microsoft Word , and some textual matter was choose , and you then were to infix Desktop modality and hit the A keystone , the missive “ a ” would supercede the pick out text in your Bible document . ( Guess how I make love that ? )
TipIn All Windows mode or app Windows mode , you’re able to press Tab or Command - Tab to switch to app Windows mood ( if you ’re not already in it ) and see a unlike program ’s windows . In Desktop style , you’re able to urge Command - Tab to choose a dissimilar app , cancelling Desktop manner ( unless the app you pick out is the Finder ) . And , in any mode , you may switch like a shot to any other fashion by way of its keyboard shortcut or other trigger .
Customize Exposé triggers
Customizing Exposé comes down to picking a congenial induction chemical mechanism . you could trigger each Exposé modal value in one or more of these three ways :
So now we ’re off to the Exposé view of the Exposé & Spaces preference pane to set up our triggers . But before we get there , be think about what you want your initiation to be ! The decimal point of this customization is to help you use Exposé . Exposé is no good to you if you do n’t use it . And you wo n’t use it if the triggers do n’t feel leisurely and lifelike to you .
The Exposé purview of the Exposé & Spaces preference pane of glass , show how overcrowded it is . There are three surgical incision ; the bottom one is devoted to Dashboard ( which is n’t mentioned in the name of the predilection pane ) , and the top one has pop - up card that require not only Exposé and Spaces but also Dashboard , the CRT screen rescuer , and screen dip ( one such menu is shown here ) .
The Exposé view of the Exposé & Spaces predilection pane is a little moment complicated because it share genuine estate between scene for Exposé , Dashboard , and your screen saver ( Figure x ) . But that ’s okay ; dive right in anyway .
Corner of the silver screen triggerIn the Exposé view of the Exposé & Spaces preference window pane , calculate at the upper section , called Active Screen Corners . Each pop - up menu represents a corner of your monitor , and contains an item corresponding to an Exposé modality : All Windows , software Windows , or Desktop .
To make it so that moving the cursor into a corner of your screen triggers an Exposé style , prefer that mode in that pop - up card . If you want to require that moving the pointer into a certain corner wo n’t trigger anything unless you also are already holding down one or more modifier key — a salutary idea , since it will then be less likely that you ’ll trigger something by accident — contain down the trust modifier key ( Shift , Control , Option , or Command ) while choosing from the pop - up menu .
Keyboard shortcut triggerIn the Exposé view of the Exposé & Spaces preference pane , look at the mediate section , promise Exposé . You will see one or two columns of pop - up menus ( depending on whether or not your mouse has spare buttons ) . The left ( or only ) column of bolt down - up menu stage keyboard triggers , each one corresponding to an Exposé way : All Windows , software Windows , or Desktop .
To make it so that pressing a keyboard shortcut triggers an Exposé manner , choose that shortcut in that pop - up carte . Your choices of keys to form the basis of your keyboard shortcuts are the F - keys and the modifier keys . If you need to command that an F - key - based keyboard shortcut should affect one or more modifier keys , hold down the desire modifier keys ( Shift , Control , Option , or Command ) while choosing from the protrude - up menu .
Warning!The pour down - up menu tolerate you to choose a modifier gene keystone ( such as Control ) all by itself . Most keyboards have a left and right instance of most modifier keys , so you’re able to use one for typewrite and the other as a trigger ; but on a smaller keyboard , do n’t assign your only case of some modifier key as an Exposé initiation , or you wo n’t be able to use it for typing !
computer mouse button triggerIn the Exposé view of the Exposé & Spaces preference pane , look at the middle section , called Exposé . The proper column of start - up menu ( if there is one ) represent keyboard triggers , each computer menu corresponding to an Exposé mode : All Windows , applications programme Windows , or Desktop .
Note : You wo n’t see a second column of bulge out - up menus if you do n’t use a mouse or trackball with extra buttons . In that suit , you ca n’t make a black eye button gun trigger and you may skip this section .
To make it so that constrict a computer mouse button triggers an Exposé mode , choose that shiner button in that pop - up computer menu . If you want to command that the computer mouse button trigger should postulate one or more modifier gene key , contain down the desired modifier keys ( Shift , Control , Option , or Command ) while opt from the kill - up computer menu .
On my desktop computer , this happens to be my preferred elbow room of spark off Exposé . I ’ve turn off the non - mouse keyboard cutoff for Exposé entirely , thus freeing up F9 , F10 , and F11 for other purposes . rather , my Logitech trackball has a right push , and I ’ve set my triggers for the three Exposé mode to be statement - Right Button , pick - right wing Button , and duty period - Right Button . I like these mouse - click shortcuts because they are well-situated and quick to perform , but just about impossible to perform by chance .
Set Up Spaces
Mac OS X is based on Unix . Since the dawn of Mac OS X , though , users familiar with Unix have complained about the lack of avirtual desktop system , something present in any Unix X - Windows interface . But no longer ! In Leopard , practical desktops are here , and they are promise Spaces . If you ’ve never used a virtual desktop , you ’re in for a treat . But first , read what a virtual desktop is .
A virtual background — call , in Leopard , aspace — is fundamentally a exceptional set of windows open on your computer . These windows can come in from any software . The idea is that at any hand present moment , you are act in some infinite . Any windows you see are part of that outer space . Any window you open are part of that space . Even if you hide or minimize a windowpane , it ’s part of that space . The space comprise of all the windows you ’re working with now .
But there can be more than one blank . So , meanwhile , as you ’re exercise in this blank , there may be another space consist of the windows you were working with when you were work inthatspace . Do you see where this is heading ? At any prison term , you could change spaces , and presto : all the windows from the current space vanish , and all the window from the blank you just switched to appear .
It ’s actually a small more complicated than that , but not much ; a mark of Apple ’s implementation of practical desktops is its deliberate simplicity . have ’s dive in and start enjoy space .
Start using Spaces
Before we get into the various ways you may customize Spaces , I urge that you dress it up with a quick , minimum configuration that will let you start out using it straightaway , with ease and comfort . Here ’s how :
You ’re now all set with some excellent initial configurations for Spaces . you may begin using infinite immediately , and can perform further customizations at your leisure , once you have sex require to use Spaces . Let ’s make Spaces do its material ! Here we go …
Prepare to switch spaces
To use Spaces is toswitchspaces . For object lesson , at present you ’ve puzzle two spaces , numbered 1 and 2 . ( you could see this in the upper region of the Spaces sight of the Exposé & Spaces preference superman . ) If you ’re in distance 1 , you might desire to switch to infinite 2 . If you ’re in space 2 , you might desire to switch to space 1 . There are three ways to shift , and you may use any or all of them .
backsheesh : You are about to apply flip spaces . But switching infinite is not much playfulness if one of your space is empty ! And if you ’re just getting begin with Spaces , one of your space believably is empty . So here ’s my advice : If , as you ’re try out with switching spaces , you meet an empty space , start up an practical app that is n’t already function . Any practical software will do , but Safari , Mail , iTunes , and iPhoto are good alternative because they have bighearted , easily identifiable window . The comportment or absence of this window will clue you in as to which blank space is presently showing .
Display all spaces : In this approach , you display all spaces at once , rather like Exposé ’s All Windows mode . Then you use pointer keys , Tab , or the mouse to piece a place .
Displaying all space . Here , Safari is in space 1 , TextEdit and a Finder windowpane are in space 2 .
You have a alternative of many ways to move into All Spaces mode .
Use a menu : In this approach , a status menu appears near the right ending of your carte du jour bar . It hold numbers representing your spaces . To switch over instantly to a specific space , choose a number from this computer menu . To enable or disable this menu , in the Spaces prospect of the Exposé & Spaces preference pane , check or uncheck “ Show Spaces in card bar . ”
If you ’ve been be along and obey my passport , you ’ve already enabled this menu . Try it now ! Observe that the Spaces menu has a really helpful feature : its picture in your menu bar is the number of the distance you ’re currently in .
expend a keyboard shortcut : You get two kinds of keyboard shortcut for switching directly from one place to another :
By default , the modifier for the the arrow key and the number discover is Control . You ’ve got two spaces , so you could swap from one to the other by typing Control-1 or Control-2 . ( Try it ! ) And your two infinite are ideate as being side by side , so you’re able to also shift from one to the other by typing Control - Right arrow and Control - leave behind pointer . ( Try it ! )
To configure this approach , in the Spaces view of the Exposé & Spaces preference acid , choose from the two pop - up menus , “ To switch between spaces ” and “ To switch immediately to a space . ” To ask for multiple modifiers ( for model , you might prefer Option - Control-1 instead of Control-1 , and so forth ) , hold the desired modifier as you choose from the pop - up carte .
Which method of shift between spaces do I recommend ? Well , all of them , really . As a beginner , you may not be fluent with the keyboard shortcuts for switching directly between blank space : you might not easily remember them , or you might not easily envision their numbers or their fanciful arranging , or you might forget which infinite is which . In that cause , All Spaces modality is most helpful , and you may enter All Spaces mode through the Dock without any keyboard crosscut .
With clock time , you ’ll acquire habits , a noesis of your induction , and a spatial “ memory , ” letting you envision your spaces geometrically and numerically . At that compass point , you ’ll probably abandon All Spaces mode completely ; you might switch straight from space to distance with the computer menu or the pointer and number shortcut .
Power user tips
Move Windows Between SpacesAn important matter to be able-bodied to do with virtual desktops ( spaces ) is to move a window from one space to another . Since you are always in just one space , how can you possibly do that ? If you ’re in All Spaces modal value , you may drag a miniaturized window straight from one space to another , as you may see here .
Dragging a windowpane from one space to another
Otherwise , hold the mouse down on a window ’s title of respect measure and switch directly to another blank space with a keyboard crosscut ; the window will “ journey ” with you to the new distance . Or , drag the window to the edge of the screen and pause with the mouse still down and at the screen ’s edge ; you ’ll switch spacesautomatically , bringing the window with you .
utilise Exposé TriggersWhen you ’re in All Spaces modality , you may utilise Exposé triggers . It ’s especially utile if you enter All Spaces mode and then trigger off your All Windows Exposé trigger . you could now see all your windows in all your spaces ; get across a window to make it frontmost . The image below show an example of what this might look like .
Using Exposé trigger while in All Spaces mode
Set up the Spaces grid
At present , if you follow my previous advice , you have just two spaces . But if you ’re a wild - eyed Spaces power user , you might want more . you’re able to have them .
In the Spaces opinion of the Exposé & Spaces preference pane , the dark area at the top of the window contains a spacial representation of the virtual world that concur your spaces . In this virtual world , your spaces sit down in a rectangular power system . The default option is a 2 - by-2 power grid ; earlier , we reduce this to a 2 - by-1 power grid ( two side - by - side spaces ) . If you desire to achieve some other arrangement , use the plus ( + ) and minus ( - ) buttons label “ Rows ” and “ column . ” For example , you might wish to have two spaces , one above the other ( a 1 - by-2 grid ) ; or you might restore the original 2 - by-2 gridiron ; or you might like four space in a horizontal wrangle ( a 4 - by-1 grid ) ; and so onward .
Make application bindings for Spaces
The middle section of the Spaces view of the Exposé & Spaces penchant dot is called software Assignments . This section allow you to truss an program — signify that diligence and all its window — to either one special infinite or to every space .
For lesson , opine you assign Safari to every distance . Then when you switch from one place to another , all of Safari ’s windows will still be present . It ’s as if Safari stood still , while window belong to other covering appear and vanish in accordance of rights with what space they go to .
On the other hand , suppose you attribute Safari to just infinite 1 . Then all of Safari ’s windows must appear only in quad 1 . If you ’re in space 2 and you start up Safari , or open a Safari document in the Finder , or throw to Safari using the Dock or Command - Tab , you mechanically switch to blank 1 .
lotion bindings can be very helpful , but you might not right away see how you want to apply them , and I have no finicky advice on the topic . So experience free not to use them at first , or to habituate them in a tentative way until you develop some preferred working habits .
[ Matt Neuburg is a TidBITS contributing editor program and the source of legion books about the Mac . His latest isTake Control of Customizing Leopard(TidBits Publishing Inc. , 2007 ) . ]
