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Managing open windows on main screen

J

jinxednuance

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 6, 2011
146
0
I am having problems managing windows that are open.

In Windows, for example, you have the taskbar that shows all open files and folders, however since that is not available in Mac how can I keep track of the what windows I have?

I know I can use the 4-finger down on the trackpad, but is there any other way to see and manage open windows?
 
Well, you can always do 4 fingers down on the trackpad. :D

If you don't have a trackpad or don't like that option, you can set a hotkey to show all open windows of your current application. Or just click and hold on the app icon. You can also use spaces and organize your windows that way. Go to system preferences -> Spaces & Exposé. Using workspaces really does increase your productivity if you have a lot of windows open.

If you actually like the Windows XP taskbar, there isn't much I can do for you as far as emulating that "functionality" goes. If you just want to see all of the windows you have open, I don't see what's wrong with exposé (4 fingers down). The taskbar is practically useless when you have more than 4 apps and 6 windows open, whereas exposé actually encourages multitasking.
 
Danekero said:
Well, you can always do 4 fingers down on the trackpad. :D

If you don't have a trackpad or don't like that option, you can set a hotkey to show all open windows of your current application. Or just click and hold on the app icon. You can also use spaces and organize your windows that way. Go to system preferences -> Spaces & Exposé. Using workspaces really does increase your productivity if you have a lot of windows open.

If you actually like the Windows XP taskbar, there isn't much I can do for you as far as emulating that "functionality" goes. If you just want to see all of the windows you have open, I don't see what's wrong with exposé (4 fingers down). The taskbar is practically useless when you have more than 4 apps and 6 windows open, whereas exposé actually encourages multitasking.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I never thought of using the expose feature. I will give it a try.

In my reference to the Windows taskbar, the only advantage I believe it has over Mac is that you can close all windows immediately, instead of having to use the expose every time... not sure if I made that clear or even more confusing, but thank you :)
 
You could look into "Fantasktik" an app for mac which sort of does the windows taskbar thing.
 
Expose is genius.

I have mine set to top right cursor hotspot for reveal desktop and top left to all windows.

I just can't do with out it!
 
Another vote for Exposé. Just make sure you've got Snow Leopard. Previous OS X versions do not include the windows/files you minimised to the Dock, which is rather annoying.

I've got Exposé on my middle mouse button and use it all the time. Can get a little choppy with loads of open windows/files, though.
 
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