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Level 1

0 points

APPLE - TAB - switching between programs

Hi

I'm having issues more and more with the 'finder' in that switching between programs doesn't actually switch properly.

For instance, I would tab out of a program, hit apple-Q and the program that I tabbed out of would close.

I have the same issue when clicking on different windows - for instance I click on a abrobat window and start making changes, but the menu bar at the top of the screen is still stuck with InDesign.

I have the same issue when using multiple programs at random, I just had a notepad open and couldn't switch back to adobe to copy text back in - no amount of tabbing or selecting the program would actually take me back to acrobat.

Any ideas? Is this just one of the joys of working on a Mac or do I have some kind of virus?

Many thanks!

Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Mar 22, 2010 10:17 AM

37 replies

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Mar 23, 2010 8:50 AM in response to op_timus

You can set up Expose (in systems prefs) to display all windows..
I have it so I move the mouse to the bottom right corner of the screen and all open windows are dispayed. Click on the one you want to go to.

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 24, 2010 5:10 AM in response to Chris CA

Thanks for the tip - unfortunately I still have the issue occasionally even when using expose to switch between windows - not sure exactly how to replicate the issue, it appears to be random.

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 6, 2010 4:56 AM in response to op_timus

Damnit this is getting ridiculous - I just got locked out of Adobe Professional. No matter where I clicked it would not change the menu bar back to AP, I didn't even tab out of it in the first place.

Am I the only one to suffer with this issue?

Xlevco

Level 1

4 points

Apr 13, 2010 10:40 AM in response to op_timus

Yes I'm having the same problem, my iMac has become utterly unpreductable in whether the app. switcher, Command-tab or clicking in windows or the desktop will activate the correct & desired application or Finder, and change the menu bar to match. If you keep changing the sequence of applications windows or the desktop in which you click (or otherwise switch) you eventually get to where you want. I do have a Magic Mouse, but it's the same if I use a wired mouse or Mighty Mouse. It didn't always do this, but I didn't notice what I might have changed or added or exactly when it first arose...

I think it may affect cross-application copy/paste too... I thought it was just me, so I'm releived to see anther with this... will try combined updater approach first.

Xlevco

Level 1

4 points

Apr 13, 2010 12:42 PM in response to op_timus

BTW it's not normal at all - been with Macs since year one. I have another weird recent issue with having to Force Quit to kill iPhoto... for all I know they are related. But I don't care why so much as that I fix these annoyances. Will post after I've tried the Combo Updater (and check spelling & typos in my future emails...)

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 14, 2010 1:25 AM in response to Xlevco

And it gets worse still, now having to force-quit out of Adobe professional to change values in the print settings window. Same problem occurs at random when launching menus in other applications, even without alt-tabbing first...

The menu bar is correctly set to Adobe Pro yet when I print up the print menu I am locked to only clicking on cancel or print, I cannot tab through the menu options.

Damnit why does the design industry insist on using such a clunky OS? This is seriously impacting on the speed at which I can get jobs out!

Xlevco

Level 1

4 points

Apr 14, 2010 11:09 AM in response to op_timus

op_timus, don't despair, the issues we are experiencing are not normal. The design industry isn't forcing you to use a "clunky" interface - your OS, like mine, has become discombobulated. Apparently this is quite rare, as the community doesn't appear to be reporting issues like those we are having, or we'd likely see a fix posted already. In my 25 years with Macs such things are pretty rare... especially since OS X. Using a modern Mac is generally best characterized by the word "slick" - so you would be correct to expect to experience that yourself. I'm doing either the 1.5.8 combo update or going to Snow Leopard which is already at 10.6.3, probably over the weekend.

Xlevco

Level 1

4 points

Apr 14, 2010 12:30 PM in response to Xlevco

On a wild hair, I just used my iMac Mac OS X Install DVD (v. 10.5.6), booted from it and ran Disk Utility, then repaired the boot disk, then repaired Permissions, then repaired the disk again, restarted and so far with eight apps (plus Finder) open and some serious cross-app thrashing, the issue has not reappeared...

Will still go to Snow Leopard this weekend though...

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 15, 2010 1:41 AM in response to Xlevco

Snow Leopard has too many issues with our print hardware / other software to go into, it was installed on 1 machine to test and it has been nothing but trouble, so sadly that isn't a route I'll be going down anytime soon. I've repaired disk permissions and run disk utility - I don't really think I'm going to be allowed to do a full reinstall. Looks like this is another annoyance I'll have to get used to - sadly my 4 years in the design industry has left me with a bitter hatred for Apple's OS and macs in general : )

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2010 9:17 AM in response to op_timus

Just lost more work because of this fault. Starting to get very angry with my mac now!

Any more suggestions?

May 22, 2010 3:05 AM in response to op_timus

hello op_timus, and welcome 2 apple discussions!

i'm sorry dat u dont like macs, becoz i find dem fantastic for all my design needs.

anywayz, i am starting 2 think that da Adobe programs hav bin doin dis. am i wrong? does it do it without de Adobe programs running? i hope i'm right, coz then u wud be happy again!

iBen&iLoveApple

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 6, 2010 5:01 AM in response to iBenandiLoveApple__

Can't use apple-w or apple-q anymore incase I quit the wrong application - the menu bar at the top of the screen suddenly decides it has no relation to what program I'm actually running. This is slowing down my workflow and is extremely annoying.

This is not a problem with Adobe software, it happens at random with all software, including the mighty textedit.

I might just start bringing my PC to work : )

Jul 6, 2010 5:20 AM in response to op_timus

I'd suggest creating a new user account and seeing if the same issues appear there. If this is the machine you use at work - there must be someone who can change your permissions to allow you to do this, or create a second account for you?

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 6, 2010 7:20 AM in response to JohnOliver77

The problem is evident on both user accounts on this machine, also less so on a colleague's laptop probably because she doesn't use nearly as many programs as I do. I'm not totally convinced making a 3rd account will solve the problem, but might give it a go when I get some time.

op_timus Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 12, 2010 5:42 AM in response to op_timus

Still the same problem on new user account.

I give up.

Macs suck.

APPLE - TAB - switching between programs