Can't figure out how to switch between open documents in Pages

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Level 1

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Can't figure out how to switch between open documents in Pages

A bit of background: I've owned an iPhone for years now but just barely bought my first Mac (MacBook Air) a couple of weeks ago. I'm finding there are things that I could do easily on a PC that aren't intuitive on a Mac - I'm sure I'll get there eventually but right now I'm finding weird things are tripping me up.

Something I haven't been able to figure out yet is how to keep multiple documents open at the same time in Pages. I use keystrokes all the time instead of my mouse to switch between documents, applications, whatever I have open. Well, when I hit Command + Tab at the same time to switch between two documents, the Mac only gives me Pages as an application and no way to switch between documents. I hope that makes sense. I did some searching and someone suggested clicking Command + + (Command and the + key) to switch easily between documents - that did not work. That made the font size larger on the page, lol.

I know this seems like a small thing but I'm going to school online and it's something that I use multiple times a day. A way to do it easily would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Havilah

PS How do I figure out what version my operating system is? I'm assuming it's the latest since I just bought this a couple of weeks ago from Apple.com but I wanted to verify that. Sorry for all of my newbie questions!

MacBook Air

Posted on Aug 7, 2015 3:15 PM

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Answer 1

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Aug 7, 2015 3:40 PM in response to HavaWorkman

Havilah,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities.

(⌘) + (~) will allow you to switch between document windows.

(⌘) + (Tab) can be used to switch applications.

Here are two references for OS X keyboard shortcuts:

1. http://www.danrodney.com/mac/

2. Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support

The version of your operating system can be obtained from your menu bar by selecting >About This Mac.

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Answer 2

Aug 7, 2015 5:07 PM in response to HavaWorkman

Always try the PC shortcut substituting the command key for the control key.

There are keyboard shortcuts that use the control key, it is just another modifier on the Mac, but they are unusual and simply used because everything else is taken.

Many PC shortcuts were borrowed from the Mac, some were borrowed from PCs in return.

Experimenting with the obvious or similar usually works and it is difficult to do any harm. There is a high degree of uniformity in OSX and its Apps.

As Ferd II has pointed out the About is always under what it is referring to, so for the Mac it is under  menu, Finder it is under the Finder Menu (it is just another App) and for all Apps it is under the Apps menu.

To explore any new App scroll through the Menus. Preferences are always under the App menu and the File, Edit, View, Window and Help will contain more or less the same items, with some variations as needed. The names mean what they say. Even the rest will be similar between similar Apps.

Peter

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Answer 3

HavaWorkman Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 8, 2015 8:34 AM in response to Ferd II

Thank you so much, Ferd!! It never would have occurred to me to try the Command key with the ~ key but it works exactly as I needed it to. Brilliant! I knew there had to be a way of doing it. 🙂 And thank you for the link to the list of hotkeys - that will be very helpful for me in the future.

Thanks again for your time,

Havilah

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