Window Switching in Preview

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Level 1

8 points

Window Switching in Preview

I usually work reading lots of PDFs, and I'd like to have an easy way to switch between windows using my keyboard. Unfortunately, when I am reading files in the Preview.app, the shortcut Cmd-Tilde won't switch between windows.

This thing is driving me crazy! Everytime I need to switch between preview windows I have to use exposé and try to find the right window in the middle of all those windows. Not to mention having to use the mouse 🙂

If anyone knows a solution to this problem, it would be very welcome.

Thanks for you attention.

Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Dec 4, 2010 1:24 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 4, 2010 2:10 PM in response to sig

Could there be an issue with your keyboard?

The Tilde on my MacBook Pro (10.6.5)keyboard is left of the Z key

On my G4 tower (10.5.8), using a Microsoft Wireless Keyboard it is left of the 1 Key on the main keypad area.

However both type ~ and do the job in Preview.
The MS Keyboard is set to switch ALT and CMD and I am not sure if this effects other keys as a result.

10:08 PM Saturday; December 4, 2010

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Answer 2

gustavocms Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 4, 2010 3:00 PM in response to sig

I am running Snow Leopard 10.6.5 on a new MacBook. The Cmd-Tilde works perfectly on most apps. The only problem is when using Preview. I also tried to use Adobe Reader, but the same thing happens, can't switch between their windows.

I was trying it again right now, and noticed that the problem occurs when the window shows a PDF file. The Cmd-Tilde works correctly when a window that shows an image is focused.

Message was edited by: gustavocms

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Answer 3

Dec 5, 2010 10:17 AM in response to gustavocms

Hi,

I checked Keyboard and Mouse (System Preferences).

The Symbol involved does not seem to be a Tilde ( ~ )
It looks more like a backward apostrophe ( ` )

In relation to the different keyboards I use both are on the same key, one is the lower case character or the other (Tilde is the Upper Case).
The Key works for me in Adobe Reader 8 and Preview whether I use the Caps Shift or not

I also have settings for particular apps. They don't involve any of these symbols but is there any chance you have other set that may conflict with the System set ones ?

6:15 PM Sunday; December 5, 2010

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Answer 4

gustavocms Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 5, 2010 12:53 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Yeah, you are right the symbol is actually crasis, but when I mentioned tilde I had the intention to say this, because like you mentioned they are both on the same key.

The only setting I changed is to set Caps Lock as Control. The thing I thing is weird is that it only happens when PDF files are open.

Is there any other thing I could try?

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Answer 5

Dec 5, 2010 1:10 PM in response to gustavocms

Hi,

This Action is a System Wide setting within the System Preferences > Keyboard and Mouse Pane.

You can sometime change or add Keystrokes to existing Menu items that don't have one. (I have done this in Mail for making Active Links)

That was why I was wondering if an Application Specific one had been set up.

9:09 PM Sunday; December 5, 2010

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Answer 6

gustavocms Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 6, 2010 11:18 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I don't know why, but it doesn't seem to be related to these settings. I restored every keyboard and trackpad settings to default and still the same. Also when Preview is showing images it works correctly.

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Answer 7

Dec 6, 2010 12:13 PM in response to gustavocms

I have nothing new on this.

Mine certainly works for PDFs alone, Pic files or a mixture.

I can't think of any reason the Preview or Adobe Reader would consider some PDFs that different that a Keyboard action would not work.

8:13 PM Monday; December 6, 2010

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Answer 8

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Dec 4, 2010 1:58 PM in response to gustavocms

"...the shortcut Cmd-Tilde won't switch between windows."

Works for me.

What Mac are you using? Could there be an issue with your keyboard?

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