Change appearance of window with focus

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daniel1948 Author

Level 1

15 points

Change appearance of window with focus

When a window has focus, the window's title bar changes to a very slightly darker shade of grey. My problem is that the change is hardly noticeable, so that it is not immediately evident which window has focus.

Is there a setting that will cause the change in title bar color with focus to be more dramatic so the window that has focus will stand out more?

iMac 5,1, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 4, 2007 7:16 AM

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Answer 1

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Mar 4, 2007 1:58 PM in response to daniel1948

daniel1948,

Have you noticed that the window in focus will have ( Red/ Yellow/ Green) Close, Minimize, and Zoom buttons. Those buttons will be gray in other windows.

;~)

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Answer 2

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Mar 4, 2007 7:49 PM in response to daniel1948

daniel1948,

Although there may be a third party solution, I believe that there is no native way to increase the intensity of the focus.

Have you experimented with using the Expose feature?

If you close a window in OS X, it will generally not close (quit) the application. Specific exclusions to this rule will exist, and it it will not for example apply to single window applications such as System Preferences. Closing the window in System Preferences, will quit the application.

I generally keep most applications open all of the time, and use ( + Tab) to switch between open applications. Only if I need to use a memory intensive application will I quit (close) applications.

Use (Option +  + Click) on an open but unfocused window to switch to that application while hiding the others. Use (Option + Click) on the desired window to hide the current application without closing other application windows.

The application name in the menu bar next to the Blue Apple is another highly obvious indication of the focus.

Personally, I find the windows way aggravating. The more you use OS X, the more distant the windows memories will become.

Perhaps other users will give you their tips.

Good Luck.

;~)

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Answer 3

daniel1948 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 4, 2007 3:11 PM in response to Ferd II

Yes, I see that the buttons are in color on the window that has focus. But I'd still like the title bar to show a more distinct change. It does change ever so slightly. There ought to be a way to make it change more dramatically. For example, to be colored when the window is in focus, and grey when it is not. It would be a serious oversight if this is not user-selectable.

P.S. I recently switched from a PC because the security software had begun to use up an enormous amount of the computer's resources. But it was always obvious which window had focus.

Also, if I close a window in OS X, the focus does not automatically go to the last-used program, as it did on the PC. This is why I want a really clear and obvious indication.

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Answer 4

daniel1948 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 6, 2007 7:56 AM in response to Ferd II

Thanks Ferd. Your suggestions are helpful. I'm disappointed that OS X does so little to highlight the active window. I'm actually less concerned with the default behavior of how windows are activated, than with the minimal distinction between the active window and all the others. It would have been so simple to increase the contrast by adding color to the title bar rather than merely to the buttons. I can get used to any method for switching, but my eye does not easily detect which program is active.

I'll count this as one small disadvantage in an otherwise much superior OS. My exasperation level has decreased markedly since switching away from Windows.

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