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Question Profile
| DATE | Nov 13, 2007 |
| TICKET | #334993 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | Cascading windows: how to stop? |
| CAT | Computers, Operating Systems, Applications or Connected Devices |
| TYPE | Operating System Features, Bugs and Problems |
| DESC | Apple |
| DESC | 10.4.X (Tiger) |
| PLATFORM | Apple Macintosh (PowerPC G3,G4,G5) |
| MODEL | Mini |
| PROC | 1.25 ghz |
| RAM | 1024 mb |
| DRIVE | 250 gb IDE |
| NAME | Robin |
| USERNAME | RobinS |
| TECHNICAL | Little Experience |
| ISSUE | Lots of Troubleshooting |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Cascading windows: how to stop?
RobinS - Nov 13, 2007 - 10:53 am
This is unbelievably irritating: in the Finder, Word and many other programs additional windows that are opened are cascaded so part of the window sinks below the monitor's viewing area. To reposition and maximize the window you'd think a quick maximize keyboard shortcut would be created. But no: this is Apple control. Why they don't do this is just impossible to fathom. Its like when an Apple software designer opens a magazine they only peel back a 1/4 of a page at a time. And even if it only needs to be 1/4 screen on the outset, in 2 seconds I'm going to be exploring its content and need the whole screen.
To correct this foul behavior one needs to first drag the top of the window up and into the upper left hand corner, THEN drag the bottom right corner so its maximized.
Is there any 3rd party app that can stop this labotomized cascading of windows in OS X? And does Leopard address this painfully frustrating irritant?
Did I mention I don't like cascading windows?
Oh for the Alt_Spacebar_X maximize command from Windows! But it would prudent for Apple to have, in their system wide Preferences a simple question: Cascading ON or OFF.
To correct this foul behavior one needs to first drag the top of the window up and into the upper left hand corner, THEN drag the bottom right corner so its maximized.
Is there any 3rd party app that can stop this labotomized cascading of windows in OS X? And does Leopard address this painfully frustrating irritant?
Did I mention I don't like cascading windows?
Oh for the Alt_Spacebar_X maximize command from Windows! But it would prudent for Apple to have, in their system wide Preferences a simple question: Cascading ON or OFF.
earthsaver - Nov 13, 2007 - 3:25 pm
I recall addressing this issue with you a couple years ago, Robin. Mac OS hasn't changed since Leopard, but there remains the Zoom/Zoom Window command in the Window menu, which maximizes those windows that warrant the behavior due to their content. Also, various applications have methods of saving a default new window size. If maximize you must, set a default.
For the rest, either set a keyboard shortcut for the Zoom command, get used to clicking the Zoom window widget, or create an AppleScript that tells the active application to maximize its frontmost window to the size of your display (less menu bar height). I, for one, will continue to never understand how people can bear to fill their screens with only one window at a time with no other background visible. What happened to the benefits of multitasking?!
- Ben
For the rest, either set a keyboard shortcut for the Zoom command, get used to clicking the Zoom window widget, or create an AppleScript that tells the active application to maximize its frontmost window to the size of your display (less menu bar height). I, for one, will continue to never understand how people can bear to fill their screens with only one window at a time with no other background visible. What happened to the benefits of multitasking?!
- Ben
RobinS - Nov 13, 2007 - 7:47 pm
Wow - your memory is outstanding.
That sure is sad news about Leopard.
The Zoom (green button) often does not maximize the window unfortunately. It changes its size and sometimes maximizes, but not always.
The default method works some of the time. Better than nothing.
How to set a keyboard shortcut for the zoom command?
When you mention the "Zoom window widget", does that mean the green button?
How to create an Applescript? That sounds like a great solution. I've never used Applescript before. Would it be very involved for such a simple (hopefully!) task?
As for why.....my vision is not good. I like big fonts and almost always need the full screen of my 19" 1280 x 1024 LCD to work in. Switching between programs or windows is effortless (Alt_Tab or Alt_`) and instantaneous with the correct keyboard shortcut.
I've got a 22" (1680 x 1050) but haven't set it up yet with the new Intel Mini and Leopard. It should improve things. I'm keeping my eye out in Ebay for a 30" or 2 x 24" but I'll not be able to use stuff like that with the Mini - only a Hackintosh or some barbaric creation on Windows.....shudder. Another cheaper option would be 3 x 22" because of their cheap prices right now. Its kind of cool when they envelope you. If I was into gaming I'd have them already. But ideally, I'd like a large widescreen for most of my work, and a pivoting 1600 x 1200 21" in portrait mode for reading long documents. My PPC 1.25ghz Mini can't even run my 19" in portrait mode (1024 x 1280) without siginificant visual degradation!
Multitasking? Always - wouldn't have it any other way! I almost always have 5-10 things running at once as they are often interrelated.
That sure is sad news about Leopard.
The Zoom (green button) often does not maximize the window unfortunately. It changes its size and sometimes maximizes, but not always.
The default method works some of the time. Better than nothing.
How to set a keyboard shortcut for the zoom command?
When you mention the "Zoom window widget", does that mean the green button?
How to create an Applescript? That sounds like a great solution. I've never used Applescript before. Would it be very involved for such a simple (hopefully!) task?
As for why.....my vision is not good. I like big fonts and almost always need the full screen of my 19" 1280 x 1024 LCD to work in. Switching between programs or windows is effortless (Alt_Tab or Alt_`) and instantaneous with the correct keyboard shortcut.
I've got a 22" (1680 x 1050) but haven't set it up yet with the new Intel Mini and Leopard. It should improve things. I'm keeping my eye out in Ebay for a 30" or 2 x 24" but I'll not be able to use stuff like that with the Mini - only a Hackintosh or some barbaric creation on Windows.....shudder.
Another cheaper option would be 3 x 22" because of their cheap prices right now. Its kind of cool when they envelope you. If I was into gaming I'd have them already. But ideally, I'd like a large widescreen for most of my work, and a pivoting 1600 x 1200 21" in portrait mode for reading long documents. My PPC 1.25ghz Mini can't even run my 19" in portrait mode (1024 x 1280) without siginificant visual degradation!Multitasking? Always - wouldn't have it any other way!
I almost always have 5-10 things running at once as they are often interrelated.
earthsaver - Nov 13, 2007 - 8:29 pm
Not sure off hand what AppleScript commands would work simplest. I'd recommend taking a look and/or requesting help through the MacScripter forum. As for setting keyboard shortcuts, if you never got your hands on MenuMaster, you can create them in Keyboard & Mouse Preferences. Just choose the desired application, enter the exact menu command, and press your desired shortcut, ensuring that it doesn't conflict with another shortcut you also want to use.
Naturally, Zoom doesn't always maximize, because intelligent apps are written to zoom to natural borders of window content. What applications is this relevant to for you? Are you using TextEdit for your writing instead of Word? If so, you can set default window size for TextEdit in its Preferences. What else?
Naturally, Zoom doesn't always maximize, because intelligent apps are written to zoom to natural borders of window content. What applications is this relevant to for you? Are you using TextEdit for your writing instead of Word? If so, you can set default window size for TextEdit in its Preferences. What else?
RobinS - Nov 14, 2007 - 1:48 pm
I use Word, Finder, Pathfinder, Photoshop, etc
I could go on and on. But the real solution is to simply stop it from happening in the first place. The second window should open on top of the first window. Most people that don't like this tend to switch between programs by clicking with the mouse on the program window they want the focus in. Well by the time they have reached for the mouse, my keyboard shortcut has already been performed. Then they have to move the mouse cursor and click, then return to the keyboard. Its just a totally inefficient, ponderous system all because of a lack of keyboard proficiency. I do hope that makes sense. The mouse is a crutch, an enabler that helps us until we navigate by keyboard. But for any program used frequently, its mostly needless. Anybody that thinks that mouse navigation is quicker than keyboard navigation has never thought that out. Even if the hand is already on the mouse, the keyboard shortcut is quicker! Show me someone that can move the cursor anywhere on the screen and click something in 1/2 a second and I'll eat my computer. But most people, if they are typing, have to first move from the keyboard to the mouse, move the cursor, click the mouse, then hop back to the keyboard. So its far more time consuming. I'm a pianist - maybe that helps.
Your suggestion for Menumaster is an interesting one. I'll try it. Even if it doesn't solve this problem, it sounds like a program made just for the likes of me!
I could go on and on. But the real solution is to simply stop it from happening in the first place. The second window should open on top of the first window. Most people that don't like this tend to switch between programs by clicking with the mouse on the program window they want the focus in. Well by the time they have reached for the mouse, my keyboard shortcut has already been performed. Then they have to move the mouse cursor and click, then return to the keyboard. Its just a totally inefficient, ponderous system all because of a lack of keyboard proficiency. I do hope that makes sense. The mouse is a crutch, an enabler that helps us until we navigate by keyboard. But for any program used frequently, its mostly needless. Anybody that thinks that mouse navigation is quicker than keyboard navigation has never thought that out. Even if the hand is already on the mouse, the keyboard shortcut is quicker! Show me someone that can move the cursor anywhere on the screen and click something in 1/2 a second and I'll eat my computer. But most people, if they are typing, have to first move from the keyboard to the mouse, move the cursor, click the mouse, then hop back to the keyboard. So its far more time consuming. I'm a pianist - maybe that helps.
Your suggestion for Menumaster is an interesting one. I'll try it. Even if it doesn't solve this problem, it sounds like a program made just for the likes of me!
earthsaver - Nov 14, 2007 - 10:15 pm
When we had our last chat about this subject, Robin, you'll recall I wholeheartedly agreed with you about the effectiveness of keyboard shortcuts compared to mousing. I can't show you the contrary. Anyway, I can't solve your issue the way you want because I know not of a way to turn off system-wide cascading.
Two things I can do:
1. I can recommend Menu Master again or that you create Zoom window shortcuts for various applications. This won't be of much use in Photoshop, e.g. unless your images are zoomed in enough to warrant a full screen view.
2. I can encourage you not to open more than one window of an application at a time. I've come to love the single-window nature of many applications, but I guess I also don't normally work on more than one file in a productivity app, e.g.
3. I can suddenly discover a possible answer to your dreams: spooky.
Two things I can do:
1. I can recommend Menu Master again or that you create Zoom window shortcuts for various applications. This won't be of much use in Photoshop, e.g. unless your images are zoomed in enough to warrant a full screen view.
2. I can encourage you not to open more than one window of an application at a time. I've come to love the single-window nature of many applications, but I guess I also don't normally work on more than one file in a productivity app, e.g.
3. I can suddenly discover a possible answer to your dreams: spooky.
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