Am I really unable to escape single application mode?

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Am I really unable to escape single application mode?

Apologies if this question has been repeated (I did try to search for it but no luck).

I saw a property in Onyx or Cocktail for "single application mode" which will hide all other application windows besides the one that just got focus. This is irritating me to no end and I immediately reverted the config change. While I seem to recall it worked at the time, my OSX 10.7 (early 2011 MBP) acts like this all the time. I've tried to set/unset this option but it just won't go away. I hate it! My questions are:

What is the actual defaults property is that sets this behavior?
How do I make this stop happening?
Has anyone else experienced 10.7 refusing to cooperate on this issue? Am I doing something wrong or is there a problem with the software?

Ok.. thank you. It seems like Apple Support Forums should have an easy-to-update FAQ functionality.

Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Nov 19, 2011 3:05 PM

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Answer 1

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Nov 19, 2011 5:04 PM in response to multiplryan

You've mucked up your Mac using third party apps and now you're upset. Why do you think you need these to begin with?

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Answer 2

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Nov 19, 2011 6:53 PM in response to multiplryan

On the OnyX Dock panel:

If you remove the check, it should revert to normal (you may have to Restart).

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Answer 3

captfred

Level 7

26,422 points

Nov 19, 2011 6:55 PM in response to multiplryan

The dock must be relaunched for the change to take effect. Logoff/Login.

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Answer 4

multiplryan Author

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Nov 20, 2011 2:54 PM in response to sig

Running apps of any kind is sort of why humanity invented the operating system. Besides, as I wrote, I could have done the same thing with defaults, which is an Apple app. If you know of anyone who is familiar with Apple apps, maybe send them to this support board, huh?

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Answer 5

multiplryan Author

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Nov 20, 2011 2:56 PM in response to Pondini

Thanks for taking the time but that's what I meant by "I've tried to set/unset this option but it just won't go away." I couldn't remember whether it was Onyx or Cocktail but I had turned on the mode, then turned it off, and this might not even be related to me doing that -- it's just the easiest way to describe what's happening (it is behaving exactly like it did in single app mode).

I thought maybe someone would know off-hand. I can look it up. I'll post here the solution.

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Answer 6

multiplryan Author

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Nov 20, 2011 2:58 PM in response to captfred

It's much faster to killall -9 Dock from the shell when you want to restart the Dock (instead of logging out and back in).

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Answer 7

multiplryan Author

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Nov 20, 2011 3:10 PM in response to multiplryan

Hm, well, I was hoping this wasn't the case. It's easy to disable the single-app mode from Onyx with defaults:

defaults write com.apple.dock "single-app" -bool false

So.. now I gotta figure out what other property is out there that hides all app windows except for the windows from the app with focus. Any ideas?

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Answer 8

multiplryan Author

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Nov 22, 2011 7:04 PM in response to multiplryan

Finally.. it was Quicksilver. An option under 'Extras' about hiding apps while switching apparently does what I described. I don't know why it wouldn't be more clear in the preferences but... oh well. Fixed! Thanks, folks..

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Answer 9

Nov 22, 2011 9:34 PM in response to multiplryan

Running apps of any kind is sort of why humanity invented the operating system.

I love that response! 😀

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