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gareth2938

Q: Anyone know how to control which desktop space new apps or docs open into?

I have a laptop connected to a display in extended desktop mode.  If i have a finder window open on the extended display and open a doc from that finder window, it always opens on the laptop not the external screen.  Anyway to make the default location for new docs to open be the active desktop space?  aka the one with the white menu bar?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 9:28 AM

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Q: Anyone know how to control which desktop space new apps or docs open into?

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  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jul 28, 2015 10:01 AM in response to gareth2938
    Level 9 (71,155 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 28, 2015 10:01 AM in response to gareth2938

    Try going to System Preferences/Mission Control and check Displays have separate spaces. Then assign the doc to the external monitor space.

  • by boisebimmer,

    boisebimmer boisebimmer Jul 28, 2015 10:11 AM in response to gareth2938
    Level 1 (130 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 10:11 AM in response to gareth2938

    You can assign the documents to the external monitor space by Control clicking the app (word, pages) on the dock and selecting "this desktop" while the program is open on that specific desktop.

     

    This would be after checking Displays have separate spaces.

  • by gareth2938,

    gareth2938 gareth2938 Jul 28, 2015 11:06 AM in response to boisebimmer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 11:06 AM in response to boisebimmer

    Thanks for the replies.

     

    I know that I can set a desktop space for different apps to always open in that desktop space, but Im wondering if its possible to make an app open in the active desktop space.  So if i have a finder window open on my laptop (Display 1) and open a doc, the doc will open in Display 1.  And if i have a finder window open on my external monitor (Display 2) and open a doc, the doc will open in Display 2.


    Right now, if i have a finder window open on Display 2 and open a document it automatically opens on Display 1.