#Alttab macos pdf#
#Alttab macos mac#
#Alttab macos windows#

As far as I know, there is no constant-time way of switching to a specific application in the current workspace using only the keyboard. AltTab tries to use as few resources as it can: CPU, memory, disk, etc. I know I can also use the arrow keys to select a window in Exposé, but once again that breaks my mental model of the window layering, will institute a cognitive feedback loop in the selection, and will require worst case log( n) keystrokes. I know that using Exposé is the more 'Apple' way of handling these situations, but I want to avoid having to reach for the mouse.

#Alttab macos windows#

I want the first hit to ⌘+ tab to bring me to the next application with windows in the current space, i.e., Preview. In the worst case, I will have to cycle through all n open applications by repeatedly pressing ⌘+ tab in order to get to Preview. If I hit ⌘+ tab, however, the first option will be to take me back to Terminal in Space 1 (since Terminal most recently had focus).

#Alttab macos pdf#

I then want to consult a PDF that is open in Preview, which is in the same Space but whose window is behind the web browser. If I am in the terminal and then decide I want to open a web page, I switch to Space 2, where the web browser has focus. Let's say I have a terminal open in Space 1 and both a web browser and Preview open in Space 2. This happen live with the application open. You can then create your own ones by selecting 'App Shortcuts', click the + button, select the app you want to modify, enter the menu title and a shortcut. Most of the finder an system shortcuts are in there. The problem is that I sometimes do have two or three windows from different applications open in the same space ( e.g., I often have a PDF reader open in the same space as my web browser). Apple Menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. Since I really only ever have a half-dozen or so applications open at any time, I can easily switch between them in constant time with my left hand. In general, I usually have one application open per space, maximized. I have disabled spaces' auto-switching, and I've mapped each space to a ⌘+ space # shortcut.

app Notice here that multiple copies of apps are separated: The apps are in order of last usage - making it very simple to jump back and fourth between windows - no matter what app they belong to. Here's my rather long-winded explanation of why I want this: Currently, I have settled on the app called AltTab: https : / / alt-tab-macos. In other words, I'd like OS X to mimic the behavior of most X window managers with respect to their workspaces/virtual desktops.

#Alttab macos mac#

I would like that list to only include applications in the current space, or at least give priority to applications with windows in the current space. AltTab Switching from Windows to MacOS Alt-tab wont work so well Luckily, AltTab brings the power of Windows alt-tab window switcher to Mac and solves. I am keeping it accepted for historical reasons, but all readers using Mavericks should use and up-vote this answer.īy default, pressing ⌘+ tab will display a list of all open applications. AltTab is an open-source app that introduces an alternative to the hotkey in the form of a Windows-like Alt+Tab function. Edit: The original accepted answer is no longer valid for Mavericks.