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My install of macOS Sierra on a late 2015 27" iMac switches away from the current application whenever an open file dialog box is used. Has anyone else here ever had this issue? If so, how did you fix it?
IMAC (RETINA 5K, 27-INCH, LATE 2015), iOS 11.2.6, 32 GB RAM
That is how it is supposed to work. Any dialog box has a higher screen status (set by the developer) than the underlying application. Until you service and dismiss the dialog, your access to the parent application is unavailable.
This is true in El Capitan 10.11.6, and High Sierra 10.13.4 — both systems up and running in front of me.
That is how it is supposed to work. Any dialog box has a higher screen status (set by the developer) than the underlying application. Until you service and dismiss the dialog, your access to the parent application is unavailable.
This is true in El Capitan 10.11.6, and High Sierra 10.13.4 — both systems up and running in front of me.
Sorry, I wasn't more clear. The computer switches away from the application, including the open file dialog box.
Example: If I'm in Photoshop and choose "Open File", the open file window does open, but at that same moment the computer switches to the last open application (the one open before Photoshop). I then have to switch back to Photoshop to choose files to open.
At the risk of violating the least surprise law, that switching away to another application from an open file panel in Photoshop should not occur, unless your mouse pointer accidentally drifted onto another application window, and you clicked the mouse —still believing that you were in Photoshop. That's human enough.
Take a look at the System Preferences : Mission Control panel. In the bottom half of that panel, have you changed any first column settings, or added any second column changes to this panel that may be contributing to your results?
Using any Wacom input devices?
That fixed it. Thank you.
I unchecked "Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use" and "When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application".
I also got rid of a number of old unused applications right before that, including Wacom's applications. So that may be what fixed it. I've dropped using Wacom devices and switched to an iPad Pro using Astropad connected to my Mac to do detailed Photoshop work.
Just drag the Open window back to where the Application is, drag left or right or use Mission Control.
It's not an issue of the location on screen of the open file dialog box. The issue is having to switch back to the application (and the open file dialog box) every time I try to open a file.
Are you in full screen mode when this happens?
Open dialog box switches away from application
