Lion Mail full screen composing problem

I agree that there are some bugs in Lion Mail, and some of them are strictly workflow preference issues that hopefully Apple will address eventually.

However, I'm getting a true bug here: When in full-screen mode I occasionally can't reply or compose to messages. The only thing that kicks the functionality back in is clicking out of full-screen mode and then everything's kosher again.

Sure I would like to put my dual-monitors to use, have the ability to scan emails while composing, etc. (it would also be nice if I could attach things to a previously composed email on my iPhone -->!) but I think we've got some real bugs to address before all that...

-Tyler

I have the same problem. Mail goes dead in the water- clicking, arrow keys, keyboard commands- none work. Escape does and as you say it's the only thing that restores functionality. The best thing I can say is that I'm not in a loop where I have to Force Quit and restart Mail only to be in the same conundrum.

I lose functionality (not just the 'built-in' limitations like being unable to use Grab) in Preview too: sidebars disappear, pages won't maintain my zoom preferences, etc. These are real bugs- defects in the programing itself. I feel like I'm using Open Source Linux. I'm sure full screen is programmed to be exclusive, like it or not, though it confounds me why Apple would leave half-baked items in the Services menu (under, e.g., Safari) like Capture Selection From Screen. All it does it launch Grab and navigates you out of full screen mode to an irrelevant desktop.

Really sloppy and shoddy.

I liked the look of Preview in a full PDF document mode (I use a lot of textbooks), but it's just not worth it. I now exclusively use Adobe Reader for those files. As long as other applications are 'less trouble than they're worth' I suppose I'll continue to use full screen mode but I must say I'm shocked at the brazenness of Apple to dump iPad like features on the Mac OS without thorough testing and tweaking. You people at Apple used to be perfectionists. I really am getting the feeling that Apple sees its future in the iOS, and OS X is now taking a back seat of the iCar. Maybe, pardon my redundant metaphors, our ship has sailed. Bummer.

Adding another post to support the OP and other people on here. Not being able to refer to existing emails, or access them in any way while composing an email in fullscreen is a huge usability issue with Mail.

In fact, it's so big I'm surprised it wasn't addressed in Mountain Lion, I almost just assumed it would be.

I only switch back to Mail recently after the news about Sparrow being acquired by Google and no new features being developed.

Apple - please make this an option.

This might help:

1. While in fullscreen mode, click to a different space.
2. Right click the Mail.app icon in your dock and choose "Compose New Message"

This will create a new compose window on the currently selected space which is not locked to the fullscreen Mail.app allowing you flip back & forth between them.

It doesn't work with Replies but it's a start.

That's a great workaround. Along the same lines, for replies you can do the following...

1. While in fullscreen mode, start a reply to a message.
2. Go to File > New Viewer Window (or Command + Option + N)
3. A new "Inbox" window should open up in a different space.
4. Navigate to the (or any) mail item you need to reference.
5. Swap back and forth between your Reply window and your (second) "Inbox" window.

Again, this was something I found after fiddling around with Wilder212's proposed workaround, but this one will help with Replies.

I have a perplexing problem of my own it seems, when I choose New Mail in full screen I get... well, nothing. I have to exit full screen in order to write e-mails. Is that a normal problem?

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Funny I guess Britons are not censored at the same level. 😝