Different app views and apps on different desktops

Question

Level 2

186 points

Different app views and apps on different desktops

I would like to have set up on one desktop a browser showing webpage A, an FTP client app, and a specific email message. This is so I will be all set up to discuss and issue with my ISP when they call.

Desktop would be my normal desktop where I do the rest of my stuff.

Using Mission Control, I set up desktop 1. But when I toggle to desktop 2 and then start using, say Mail, I get the Mail view from desktop 1. Ok I can change it and carry on using Mail but when the call comes in and I toggle back to desktop 1, I see that I have lost my 'view' of Mail.

In other words, I want to be able to toggle between two desktops...the same app in both desktops but with different views. Is there anyway I can do this, please?

I'm on Catalina but could migrate up to a later version but would prefer not to.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 1, 2023 2:21 AM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

130,802 points

Oct 1, 2023 3:28 AM in response to Roger Sinden

Roger Sinden wrote:

In other words, I want to be able to toggle between two desktops...the same app in both desktops but with different views. Is there anyway I can do this, please?

No. Since you are only dealing with one app, no matter on how many Desktops, the view will be the same on all.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

130,802 points

Oct 1, 2023 4:42 AM in response to Roger Sinden

If you have Mail open in Desktop 1, you can open an email and drag that email to Desktop 2, and so on. In other words, you can have one app on a Desktop but have multiple windows of that app on different Desktops.

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Answer 3

Roger Sinden Author

Level 2

186 points

Oct 1, 2023 5:48 AM in response to dialabrain

I tried dragging an email (in Desktop 1) by clicking on it, holding down the Mission Control F3 key to give me access to Desktop 2 but I could see the 'circle with the bar through it' ie not allowed and so I'm doing something wrong.

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

130,802 points

Oct 1, 2023 3:38 AM in response to Roger Sinden

If it helps, in the case of Mail for example, you can have three different emails open and drag each to its own Desktop.

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Answer 5

Roger Sinden Author

Level 2

186 points

Oct 1, 2023 4:05 AM in response to dialabrain

Many thanks for the quick reply and the Mail tip.. Guess I could also run a different browser in the other desktop. And since the FTP is only needed in that other desktop, then I'm good to go!

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Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

130,802 points

Oct 1, 2023 4:06 AM in response to Roger Sinden

You're welcome.

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Answer 7

Roger Sinden Author

Level 2

186 points

Oct 1, 2023 4:30 AM in response to dialabrain

Would I be correct in saying that I still need to have both Mail windows open on both desktops ? That I can't have Mail window 1 in Desktop 1 and vice versa ?

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Answer 8

dialabrain

Level 10

130,802 points

Oct 1, 2023 5:56 AM in response to Roger Sinden

I suppose it's possible you can't in Catalina. I don't have anything older than Monterey so I can't check. I find it hard to believe it's not possible though.