Switching apps when presenting on a separate display

Hello,


Any help available here would be much appreciated.


I have the Mac connected to a video projector. Under System Preferences / Displays I have the projector 'mirroring' the Mac's screen.


I have two apps using the Mac's screen : a spreadsheet (in full screen mode) and a Keynote presentation. I would like to be able to choose what is shown on the projector - the spreadsheet or the Keynote presentation - and *easily* switch between the two.


I'm having difficulties achieving this. When I "Play" the Keynote presentation, Keynote seems to get hold of everything : the projector becomes the 'Presentation Display' and the Mac's screen the 'Presenter Display'. If, during the presentation, I need to momentarily display the spreadsheet on the projector, I have to exit the Keynote presentation ('esc') and switch to the spreadsheet on the Mac (the spreadsheet now shows on the projector). On the way back, I have to switch applications on the Mac and press "Play" on the Keynote presentation (the projector now shows the presentation again).


All this is fine except that it is lengthy. It significantly breaks the tempo of the presentation session, the audience gets distracted by what I am doing on the computer, and the focus is lost.


Ideally, I would like to be able to switch what is shown on the projector (Presentation to Spreadsheet to Presentation) with one, or two at the most, mouse clicks. I thought I could do it by just switching applications on the Mac but, unfortunately, when Keynote is "Playing" there is no way to access the Dock to switch applications.


Does anyone know of a combination of Display Arrangement Options, number of Desktops defined on the Mac, Keynote presentation options, ..., that would allow this quick and easy switch ?


Thanks in advance.

Posted on Feb 15, 2016 12:29 AM

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Posted on Feb 15, 2016 7:02 AM

In Keynote preferences; (Keynote > Preferences > Slideshow) select the option for: Allow Mission Control and others to use the screen:




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4 replies

Feb 15, 2016 6:57 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Thanks Gary, unfortunately doesn't work.


What I did to try is :

- have a spreadsheet in full screen on the Mac's screen

- open and then "Play" a Keynote presentation


The Mac's screen becomes the Keynote 'Presenter Display', the projector becomes the 'Presentation Display'.


I then pressed command tab (normally, the keyborad shortcut to switch applications). Expected result is that the Mac's screen would now show the spreadsheet and the projector (which is set to 'mirror' the Mac's screen) too. However, nothing happens.


As I said it looks like Keynote in 'Play' mode gets hold of everything 'display' on, or connected to, the Mac.


I have also tried to define 2 Desktops on the Mac (Spaces), one showing the spreadsheet the other showing Keynote. Again Keynote in 'Play' mode prevents me from switching Desktops or entering Mission Control (F3).


Thanks again.

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Switching apps when presenting on a separate display

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