Closing Applications with red X prevents restarting of applications

Hi,

first of all, I switched from PC to Mac just 2 days ago, so forgive my lack of common iKnownledge of macLingo.

My system is OS X 10.5.6 running on the latest MacBook (standard model).
I performed the software update.

As former windows user (and every other OS user, btw.) I assumed that clicking on the red X button closes the application, which it apparently doesn't. I found out the pressing the button with the swirly symbol + Q is the way to go.
Anyway, sometimes I just want to close an application with a click, so I push the X button and restart the closed application later, although - as I understand it - the application is still loaded (which is indicated by the small white dot in the dock). Just to be clear: Closing e.g. Safari with the red X closes the window but doesn't minimize it to the dock.

However, every so often a red-X-closed application remains white-dot-active but can't be restarted or maximised again, unless I first go to the dock and close it manually by use of the context menu.

This is an eminently stupid behaviour of OS-X if that was intended.

So, ist there a fix for this ? Or a way to tell the red X to close an application for good ?

What's the use of three colored window control buttons anyway, if two of them just basically minimize an application ?

Thanks for the help.

PS: Maybe I should mention that this behaviour is not reliably reproducable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It happens way too often to ignore, though.

Message was edited by: arotto

MacBook (the new one), Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 25, 2009 6:49 AM

Reply
9 replies

Jan 25, 2009 7:55 AM in response to Barney-15E

Ok, now that I'm back on the Mac (instead of my iPod), I've found that Safari should open a new window when you click on the Dock icon (if there is no other Safari window open).

As mentioned, your Dock may not be functioning correctly. Try logging out and back in to restart the Dock. If it doesn't open a new Finder window, or new Safari window when all are closed and you click on the Dock icon, there may be more issues than we thought.

Jan 25, 2009 7:27 AM in response to arotto

That's dependant upon the app. If you didn't before you'll find that it's a good opportunity to get used to keyboard shortcuts.
Remember the dock is just an app, so it too can suffer from errant behaviour. I suspect though now that you understand it's workings more you'll suffer less problems with it. You'll enjoy the Mac sooner than you think.
Message was edited by: gumsie
Saw Barneys response so removed some of mine.

Jan 25, 2009 7:12 AM in response to arotto

I was hoping you'd say that. It is as it's supposed to do in that particular case at least.
Now just so you know, (though I suspect you already have some idea). That red cross will as a general rule close just that window. In some cases, (usually where the app only ever has that one window), clicking the X will close the app down, otherwise the app will still run in the background. This is normal. To close the program down you need to Quit it, ⌘Q.
You are right that it can't be maximised again, +that's because you didn't minimize the window you closed it.+ To minimize you need to press ⌘M, or click the minus symbol.
Strictly speaking the buttons do not both minimise, one maximises.
I think the minus button is there to put the window in the dock.
I think the plus button is there to alternate between minimum and maximum window sizes while that particular window is active on the desktop.

I think once you understand how it works you should find it consistent. Give it a shot and let us know.

Message was edited by: gumsie

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Closing Applications with red X prevents restarting of applications

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