Setting OSX to quit programs by pressing X

Is there a way of setting osx so that when you click the red X box hat it actually quits the program instead of leaving it open?

Macbook Pro 15" vers3, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 14, 2008 1:52 PM

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13 replies

Jan 14, 2008 6:28 PM in response to Fats1973

It is really simple to do it the mac way. To quit an app, simply press command q

see. q the letter that goes with quit, command tells the computer that it is a command.

most mac users have reason to not quit an app simply because they want to close one of its windows.

learn to use many windows, many apps at once, called multi-tasking, called the mac way.

Jan 15, 2008 2:37 PM in response to Fats1973

If you want to use windoze methods, then use windows. Since you bought an MBP, we must assume that you wanted to use MACOSX. Therefore, you might bother to learn the shortcuts which make life and computing so much easier on a mac. You should even learn to enjoy the ease of use of the MBP and system.

Multi-tasking is easy on a mac, memory management is great so we do not close apps each time we wish to do something else immediately. We can close a window and come back and use the app more easily than your windows can do it. Most apps use multiple windows; most mac users use multiple apps at the same time. Look at Spaces and Expose which were built to ensure easy usage of multiple windows and multiple apps.

We don't need to restart frequently and our system facilitates easy multi-tasking.

Learn to use the advantages of the modern mac os and join us in the current century and decade.

Message was edited by: Rhyd

Jan 14, 2008 3:23 PM in response to simon1963

If you want to close a program without closing it surely thats what minimize is for so why the redundant button.
Heres an idea if theres anyone working for apple how about a forth button that quits the application. Current users will be so used to not using it they will have time to get used to it.
More than one click to do a constant task is one click too many

Jan 15, 2008 1:40 AM in response to Rhyd

My word you sound like an old man saying that’s the way it's always been and we're ****** if we are going to change.
I have a word for you it's called progress.
None of these solutions are quicker than clicking one button.
The Pc way is just about everything you do is customizable. That way things run the way you want. After all is it better things work the way someone else wants it to work or the way you want it to work.
OS is a very good operating system but what lets it down is there is very little room for customization. If I want to set the x button to quit an application why not give me the user the ability.
It's all about control. Big companies want you to do it their way so it's too difficult to move elsewhere. Multitasking should not create more work to clean up, it should streamline a workflow. It's like pulling out a load of folders from a filling cabinet thinking, I'll have a lot of tidying to do when this is done. Or I wish I could move on to this big task but I have to tidy up before I start that.
Since getting involve in apple products I have come to realize that Apple is the new Microsoft. That’s one of the reasons we are going to see more viruses for the mac, cause programmers hate controllers.
DRM I rest my case.

Jan 15, 2008 1:57 AM in response to Fats1973

Here's a tip: you can always use Windows on your Mac, you know. Or heavens, even go and buy a Windows box.

Also: can you set Windows to NOT close an application when the last window closes?

And sorry,  -q is a whole lot faster than reaching for the mouse and dragging it to the top left hand corner of the window and clicking.

Regards

TD

Jan 16, 2008 4:19 AM in response to Rhyd

I have come to realize a lot of Mac users are people with nothing better to do with their time than trawl forums being unhelpful. Have you nothing better to do with your time. The point of this forum is to help each other with problems not waste peoples time making stupid diggs. How about I use my macbook to do what I want.
I work in IT and bought the MBP to learn a bit more about OS as every now and again a business has a Mac in the office they want added to the network. As it stands I have grown to quite like OSX so I'd like to know more. As for how it compares to Windows well Microsoft has a massive problem that the mac doesn't have to deal with - Viruses. Computing on either OS would be child's play if security did not have to be such a big factor so windows has a lot more to do. This is why OSX is so streamlined and relaxed. In a number of years this will change and you will see your precious evolve into an armored tank that is cumbersome. This is due to the fact OS is selling more so the hackers will eventually see it as a worthwhile project. Each new version of windows brings a higher level of required security and thats what the majority of MS programmers spend their time working on. Not flashy streamlining.
I have things I love and hate about both Operating systems but neither is far from perfect. So I would like to have the option of customization, hence I wasted my time asking you fine people.
Lastly i do a lot of music. So the requirements I have from the system in line with how long is a piece string so the less apps drawing on system resources the more tracks/instruments I can add to a song so you can't just state we don't need to close apps as the memory management is sooooo good.
Anyway who is this 'we' you keep referring to like you are a single entity. Don't use the word we unless saying I am a wee bit irritating.
Anyone out there want help your help would be appreciated.

Jan 14, 2008 2:20 PM in response to Fats1973

Fats1973

It's one of those little differences between the OSes that can take a little getting used to. The theory on the Mac side goes: just because I close a window doesn't mean I'm finished with the application. For instance, I can close a window in Word, but that means I would have to launch it again to write my next letter. Some apps - in particular ones that you cannot use without a window such as iPhoto - do quit on the red button, but the rule of thumb is to not do it.

There is no way to change the behaviour of the red button.

An alternative is to use the  - q command, which will Quit the app (and close the Window too).  -w will just close the window and leave the app running.

Regards

TD

Jan 14, 2008 2:51 PM in response to Fats1973

A long time ago, (in a galaxy far away)! No seriously, in system 7 days (showing my age now) I had a system extension which I think was called quitit. I did just what the originator of this post wants. i.e quits an application when closing the window but only if it was the last open window in an app. The only problem with it was it applied to all apps indiscriminately. I'm sure there's some clever programmer out there that could do something similar in Leopard and better still make it with a list of apps to include or exclude from the standard behaviour.

Jan 15, 2008 6:32 AM in response to Yer_Man

I really think the obsession with starting and stopping apps all the time comes from the windows side because for a while windows was so unstable that people were scared to keep apps open. This may still be the case today I have no idea though. I say this because I am reflecting back on my windows days. I must admit it did freak me out when I first started using macs and would end up with all these apps running. But then you realize that it does not adversely effect operations and you even find it useful. For instance, a running app in the dock "launches" a lot faster than "starting" an app.

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Setting OSX to quit programs by pressing X

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