Alt Tab and Minimized Apps

Question

Level 2

230 points

Alt Tab and Minimized Apps

Ok... need some help.

My desktop gets cluttered on my little 13in screen.
So... I minimize apps and was going to plan on using alt tab to get access back to the programs I need.
The problem is I alt tab select the app and the menu bar changes to that program but the thing is still down on the dock. Is there a kb shorcut to maximize a program?

I am a little frustrated.
Thanks.

MacBook (White) 2.0 w 1gig ram 80gigHD, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Linux Boxes and Laptops around the house and ipods

Posted on Jul 2, 2007 11:53 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 2, 2007 12:18 PM in response to T Slap

Hi T slap,

Try this. With more then one application running, press Command + Tab. A pane will appear with the icons of the currently running programs. Just click on the one you want to use.

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

Jul 2, 2007 12:46 PM in response to T Slap

There's no keyboard shortcut to maximize (well, technically you can use universal access to control EVERYthing with the keyboard, but you would need >10 keystrokes to highlight the dock and work down to the minimized item).

However, if your reason for minimizing is to get the window out of your way, use the Hide command (Apple-H in most apps) instead. Then use Apple-Tab to bring it back up. Also, Apple-` (the key just below esc) will rotate between open windows within an application.

Hope this helps...

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Answer 3

T Slap Author

Level 2

230 points

Jul 2, 2007 12:50 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks C.

I get that part... but if they are not "on the screen" but rather down in the dock I select the program I want... but the screen does not pop up ... rather the menu bar changes to the program I selected but the "window" is still down on the dock. How do I get the window to pop up?

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

Jul 2, 2007 12:52 PM in response to T Slap

When you minimize, you can only get the window to pop back up by clicking on it in the dock. Thus, you are better off hiding than minimizing, IMHO. When you hide, the app (and all it's open windows) go away, and come back with Apple-Tab.

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