Multiple windows in the dock
david
-
Anonymous user -
Anonymous user -
Hello,
As a "historical" user of Windows XP, I decided to switch to MacOS, in its latest version (10.6).
Overall, I like the software and I'm slowly adapting to it.
However, I am very irritated by the behavior of the dock, which is nothing like the taskbar of Windows XP.
Let me explain: under XP, I am used to having the list of open applications in the taskbar, and I switch from one to another with a click. In particular, if I have multiple windows of the same application (like Outlook, Explorer, or the browser), I have direct access to each of them.
This is a behavior I do not find in MacOS. True, open applications appear with a small blue light under their icon, but when I have multiple windows of the same application, they are all grouped under the application icon, and clicking on the icon only displays the last window of that application.
To navigate between the different windows of the application I’m interested in, I have to right-click on that application’s icon in the dock and then select the desired window. I can also use Exposé, the equivalent of ctrl tab.
This is very bothersome, and it slows me down in my work (especially actions like copying and pasting from one folder to another, or navigating from one email to another).
Hence my question: how can I tell MacOS not to group different windows of the same application under its dock icon so that I can access either one with a click?
Thank you in advance for your responses.
David
As a "historical" user of Windows XP, I decided to switch to MacOS, in its latest version (10.6).
Overall, I like the software and I'm slowly adapting to it.
However, I am very irritated by the behavior of the dock, which is nothing like the taskbar of Windows XP.
Let me explain: under XP, I am used to having the list of open applications in the taskbar, and I switch from one to another with a click. In particular, if I have multiple windows of the same application (like Outlook, Explorer, or the browser), I have direct access to each of them.
This is a behavior I do not find in MacOS. True, open applications appear with a small blue light under their icon, but when I have multiple windows of the same application, they are all grouped under the application icon, and clicking on the icon only displays the last window of that application.
To navigate between the different windows of the application I’m interested in, I have to right-click on that application’s icon in the dock and then select the desired window. I can also use Exposé, the equivalent of ctrl tab.
This is very bothersome, and it slows me down in my work (especially actions like copying and pasting from one folder to another, or navigating from one email to another).
Hence my question: how can I tell MacOS not to group different windows of the same application under its dock icon so that I can access either one with a click?
Thank you in advance for your responses.
David
9 answers
Hello, I have 10.5 and 10.6, so I'll be able to help you, it's perfectly customizable, after that the windows will appear next to the trash. Here's how to do it:
1) Open System Preferences
2) Click on Dock (in the System Preferences window)
3) Uncheck "Minimize windows into application icon"
As _Ritchi_ told you, there is also the Exposé function (which I often use even under Snow Leopard...)
Goodbye and see you soon!
--
Trevör A.
1) Open System Preferences
2) Click on Dock (in the System Preferences window)
3) Uncheck "Minimize windows into application icon"
As _Ritchi_ told you, there is also the Exposé function (which I often use even under Snow Leopard...)
Goodbye and see you soon!
--
Trevör A.
Hello everyone,
Thank you for these additional responses and the link, I will check it out.
Also, thank you for the tip about clicking with the ALT key, it works :)
Is it possible to set up the system so that this action is performed by default when I click the yellow button?
Regarding Exposé, I bought an iMac with MacOS 10.6, supplied with the new wireless keyboards and mouse.
Therefore, I cannot use the trackpad trick (which doesn't exist), nor the F9 keys and others for Exposé (on my keyboard, these function keys are assigned to multimedia options).
Nevertheless, I have enabled the active screen corners option, and it is interesting.
Upon rereading my additional question from last night (the bolded part), I realize that I was not very clear, I will rephrase it.
In Windows XP, every time I click on an application icon, it opens a new instance of that application. Thus, every click on the Word icon opens a new blank document. The same goes for Excel or the file explorer.
=> Is this configurable under MacOS?
Have a very nice day everyone,
David
Thank you for these additional responses and the link, I will check it out.
Also, thank you for the tip about clicking with the ALT key, it works :)
Is it possible to set up the system so that this action is performed by default when I click the yellow button?
Regarding Exposé, I bought an iMac with MacOS 10.6, supplied with the new wireless keyboards and mouse.
Therefore, I cannot use the trackpad trick (which doesn't exist), nor the F9 keys and others for Exposé (on my keyboard, these function keys are assigned to multimedia options).
Nevertheless, I have enabled the active screen corners option, and it is interesting.
Upon rereading my additional question from last night (the bolded part), I realize that I was not very clear, I will rephrase it.
In Windows XP, every time I click on an application icon, it opens a new instance of that application. Thus, every click on the Word icon opens a new blank document. The same goes for Excel or the file explorer.
=> Is this configurable under MacOS?
Have a very nice day everyone,
David
Hello
Switching from one application to another is very simple. Just hold down the cmd key and press the tab key several times to select your open application.
Alternatively, you can install a program called a-dock (paid) that adds a dock to your Mac, keeping only the open applications.
Switching from one application to another is very simple. Just hold down the cmd key and press the tab key several times to select your open application.
Alternatively, you can install a program called a-dock (paid) that adds a dock to your Mac, keeping only the open applications.
Hello,
To use the multimedia keys as function keys, simply press the fn key (fn for "function") while also pressing the multimedia function key. This key then becomes a function key.
It is also possible to change the default assignments from System Preferences / Keyboard / Keyboard Shortcuts..
You cannot have multiple "instances" of the same application on a Mac. Windows' functionality is actually akin to simply having multiple windows or multiple documents of the same application. On this point, the way Windows operates is personally, particularly appalling to me, because when I want to quit an application, I have to do it for each "instance", thus having to go through them all. I have never been able to get used to it. When I decide to quit an application on Mac OS, all the windows of the application close, possibly with a confirmation request if changes have not been saved. I much prefer this mode of operation... but as they say, there's no accounting for taste ;-)
--
Francis Sanspseudo - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version!
I cannot use the trackpad trick (which doesn't exist), nor the F9 and other Exposé keys (on my keyboard, these function keys are assigned to multimedia options).
To use the multimedia keys as function keys, simply press the fn key (fn for "function") while also pressing the multimedia function key. This key then becomes a function key.
It is also possible to change the default assignments from System Preferences / Keyboard / Keyboard Shortcuts..
You cannot have multiple "instances" of the same application on a Mac. Windows' functionality is actually akin to simply having multiple windows or multiple documents of the same application. On this point, the way Windows operates is personally, particularly appalling to me, because when I want to quit an application, I have to do it for each "instance", thus having to go through them all. I have never been able to get used to it. When I decide to quit an application on Mac OS, all the windows of the application close, possibly with a confirmation request if changes have not been saved. I much prefer this mode of operation... but as they say, there's no accounting for taste ;-)
--
Francis Sanspseudo - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version!
Hello,
I don't have Snow Leopard (10.6) so I can't tell you how to get there.
What I can say is that with Leopard (10.5), each minimized window from the same application is displayed individually in the dock. Hovering over these windows with the mouse allows me to visually locate the one I'm interested in.
Here's an article about the Dock.
Do you know the Exposé application that's bundled with Mac OS X?
By pressing a function key, Exposé allows you to display all the windows related to that application in a burst, show only the desktop, or display all open windows across all applications.
You can configure your choice of function keys from “Apple -> System Preferences... -> Exposé and Spaces -> Exposé”
Hoping to have reconciled you with the Dock,
Ritchi
I don't have Snow Leopard (10.6) so I can't tell you how to get there.
What I can say is that with Leopard (10.5), each minimized window from the same application is displayed individually in the dock. Hovering over these windows with the mouse allows me to visually locate the one I'm interested in.
Here's an article about the Dock.
Do you know the Exposé application that's bundled with Mac OS X?
By pressing a function key, Exposé allows you to display all the windows related to that application in a burst, show only the desktop, or display all open windows across all applications.
You can configure your choice of function keys from “Apple -> System Preferences... -> Exposé and Spaces -> Exposé”
Hoping to have reconciled you with the Dock,
Ritchi
Good evening,
Thank you both, and especially you Dr. Trevör for the explanation of this manipulation which is quite simple, but that needed to be known :)
I now have my different email windows indeed next to the trash.
However, it seems to me that this only works if I click on the yellow minimize button: if I switch from one window to another without minimizing the first one beforehand, that one does not get minimized and I find myself with my initial problem. Can you confirm that this is a "normal" behavior?
Furthermore, to stay on the dock, how can I open multiple new windows of the same application, simply by clicking on its icon again, like in Windows XP, for example for Firefox or Explorer?
While I found a "hacky" solution for Finder (right-click on the icon then "new Finder window") or Safari (right-click then "new window"), this solution is not pleasant to use at all and, in any case, does not work with many applications, like for example Firefox or Word.
Is there again a setting to change?
Thanks in advance and... good night!
David
Thank you both, and especially you Dr. Trevör for the explanation of this manipulation which is quite simple, but that needed to be known :)
I now have my different email windows indeed next to the trash.
However, it seems to me that this only works if I click on the yellow minimize button: if I switch from one window to another without minimizing the first one beforehand, that one does not get minimized and I find myself with my initial problem. Can you confirm that this is a "normal" behavior?
Furthermore, to stay on the dock, how can I open multiple new windows of the same application, simply by clicking on its icon again, like in Windows XP, for example for Firefox or Explorer?
While I found a "hacky" solution for Finder (right-click on the icon then "new Finder window") or Safari (right-click then "new window"), this solution is not pleasant to use at all and, in any case, does not work with many applications, like for example Firefox or Word.
Is there again a setting to change?
Thanks in advance and... good night!
David
Good evening,
To minimize or maximize (or close) all windows of an application with a single click, just hold down the alt key while clicking.
For Safari or Firefox, why not use tabs instead of new windows? You can set these programs to always show the tab bar, and to open links in a new tab with a click, rather than a new window.
You also have the option to "air out" your workspace by using Spaces, which you can enable from the system preferences.
Links to get to know the Mac better:
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-17423406-probleme-sur-mac#2
Have a good evening..
--
Francis Sanspseudo - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version!
To minimize or maximize (or close) all windows of an application with a single click, just hold down the alt key while clicking.
For Safari or Firefox, why not use tabs instead of new windows? You can set these programs to always show the tab bar, and to open links in a new tab with a click, rather than a new window.
You also have the option to "air out" your workspace by using Spaces, which you can enable from the system preferences.
Links to get to know the Mac better:
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-17423406-probleme-sur-mac#2
Have a good evening..
--
Francis Sanspseudo - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version!
Hello,
You are indeed trying to replicate a Windows behavior on MacOS. This is generally not the right solution. MacOS is a very ergonomic system overall, and despite my significant experience with Microsoft's OS, I've always been faster on MacOS. The Exposé feature, mentioned several times, is indeed very handy. If you have a recent MacBook or a MacBook Pro, swiping four fingers up or down on the trackpad allows you to activate it very quickly. If you have the Magic Mouse, this feature is also configurable.
Personally, I use a software called JiTouch that allows me to add shortcuts to the trackpad, an option that has now become indispensable for me.
Good luck
--
In computing, anything is possible.
In computing, even the smallest thing takes an enormous amount of time.
You are indeed trying to replicate a Windows behavior on MacOS. This is generally not the right solution. MacOS is a very ergonomic system overall, and despite my significant experience with Microsoft's OS, I've always been faster on MacOS. The Exposé feature, mentioned several times, is indeed very handy. If you have a recent MacBook or a MacBook Pro, swiping four fingers up or down on the trackpad allows you to activate it very quickly. If you have the Magic Mouse, this feature is also configurable.
Personally, I use a software called JiTouch that allows me to add shortcuts to the trackpad, an option that has now become indispensable for me.
Good luck
--
In computing, anything is possible.
In computing, even the smallest thing takes an enormous amount of time.
As I mentioned in the comment, we can very well use Spaces, it's a feature that allows you to use virtual desktops (the number of virtual desktops, how to access them... everything is configurable in System Preferences).
There is also Exposé (in theory you can use Exposé by pressing F3), to use Exposé for a specific application (a feature that exists only on Mac OS Snow Leopard 10.6.x) you just need to click on the icon of the desired application when Exposé is "active" (open, if you prefer...).
But as Trustor may have told you, it's not necessarily the best idea to want to replicate Windows behavior on a Mac, you just need to get used to it!
Goodbye and see you soon!
--
Trevör A.
There is also Exposé (in theory you can use Exposé by pressing F3), to use Exposé for a specific application (a feature that exists only on Mac OS Snow Leopard 10.6.x) you just need to click on the icon of the desired application when Exposé is "active" (open, if you prefer...).
But as Trustor may have told you, it's not necessarily the best idea to want to replicate Windows behavior on a Mac, you just need to get used to it!
Goodbye and see you soon!
--
Trevör A.