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dbergstrom · Nov 21, 2003, 05:01 PM

Right now I have 6 windows open in Safari (I'm doing multiple BLAST searches of DNA sequences, and each set of results spawns a new window). I am on an iBook G4, so my screen is small, and each window takes up most of the screen.

When I want to quickly switch between windows, I use the F10 key to do application-specific Expos�. All 6 of these windows just get tiled across the screen horizontally, so that each window is very small and there is a ton of unused shaded space above and below the row of windows.

Anyone have a fix?

dagaz · Nov 21, 2003, 05:26 PM

Right now I have 6 windows open in Safari (I'm doing multiple BLAST searches of DNA sequences, and each set of results spawns a new window)

Why don't you just command-click on the links to open them in a new tab instead of a new window?

SMacTech · Nov 21, 2003, 06:52 PM

I don't know why it aligns them like you say, but create another window or two and maybe the positioning will be different.
But I would do as the dagaz ^^^ suggested and use tabs.

Hop Pocket · Nov 21, 2003, 07:22 PM

I've seen this exact same behavior. Just move one or two of the windows around, and the Expos� algorithm will adjust.

mattyd · Nov 21, 2003, 07:59 PM

exactly. if the tops of all the windows are perfectly aligned (like bumped against the menu bar) then what you described will happen (i can reproduce on my TiBook). but move the top window down just a few pixes before activating expose and they'll be easier to see,

dbergstrom · Nov 21, 2003, 08:15 PM

I do usually use tabs. However, when using the website for BLASt (which is for comparing DNA sequences), it insists on spawning new windows. Suffice it to say I would use tabs if I could.

Gadifae · Nov 21, 2003, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by dbergstrom:
I do usually use tabs. However, when using the website for BLASt (which is for comparing DNA sequences), it insists on spawning new windows. Suffice it to say I would use tabs if I could.

Is that true even when using the contextual menu (brought up by control-clicking on the link, something you probably know but that others may not) to Open Link in New Tab?

When I've run into a site which insists on opening links in new windows (such as http://iconfactory.com/), that technique will open the page on a new tab.

G.

misc · Nov 21, 2003, 11:01 PM

Originally posted by Gadifae:
Is that true even when using the contextual menu (brought up by control-clicking on the link, something you probably know but that others may not) to Open Link in New Tab?

When I've run into a site which insists on opening links in new windows (such as http://iconfactory.com/), that technique will open the page on a new tab.

G.

Yeah, i'm pretty sure doing this or command-clicking a link will force it to open in a tab. Maybe this is whacked though..

Cory Bauer · Nov 22, 2003, 12:01 AM

Originally posted by misc:
Yeah, i'm pretty sure doing this or command-clicking a link will force it to open in a tab. Maybe this is whacked though..

Just to confirm, I've never seen an instance where command-clicking a link didn't cause it to open in a tab. Works great!

d4nth3m4n · Nov 22, 2003, 12:52 AM

Originally posted by Hop Pocket:
I've seen this exact same behavior. Just move one or two of the windows around, and the Expos� algorithm will adjust.

right on

macintologist · Nov 22, 2003, 09:17 AM

Yea but we're missing the point of the topic. "I love expos� but...."

..but it horizontally tiles windows if they are all the same size and positioned in the same place. That's a problem and Apple should fix it.

dfiler · Nov 22, 2003, 12:23 PM

That's a problem and Apple should fix it. [/B]

Capn Obvious reporting for duty.

Don't worry. Half of the apple employees are walking around with powerbooks so I'm positive that they are aware of the issue and want it fixed.

With my 18" screen, windows never end up horizontally aligned so I hadn't notice yet.

AKcrab · Nov 22, 2003, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by Cory Bauer:
Just to confirm, I've never seen an instance where command-clicking a link didn't cause it to open in a tab. Works great!

My work webmail uses scripts for everything, and there is NO way to make links open in tabs instead of windows.

dbergstrom · Nov 24, 2003, 10:23 AM

I just did some more BLAST searches this morning. Safari will NOT let me send the new window to a tab after right clicking. The only option in the contextual menu is to open in a new window.

biscuit · Nov 24, 2003, 10:44 AM

I've found this on my iBook too, and it is due to all the windows being aligned as others have said. I've also seen it tile 4 windows in a quadrant-type way, which I quite liked actually.

Anyway, my fix for this behaviour is to leave your downloads window open somewhere, so that it's not lined up with the others. This forces Expos� to do something more interesting than horizontal tiling.

biscuit

dbergstrom · Nov 24, 2003, 10:48 AM

Originally posted by biscuit:
I've found this on my iBook too, and it is due to all the windows being aligned as others have said. I've also seen it tile 4 windows in a quadrant-type way, which I quite liked actually.

Anyway, my fix for this behaviour is to leave your downloads window open somewhere, so that it's not lined up with the others. This forces Expos� to do something more interesting than horizontal tiling.

biscuit

biscuit - You are a genius!!!!!

biscuit · Nov 24, 2003, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by dbergstrom:
biscuit - You are a genius!!!!!

You are too kind sir.

biscuit

Appleman · Nov 24, 2003, 11:07 AM

Can reproduce this on an old iMac 400 DV as well. Never saw it before.
Indeed, moving one window a little bit changes the way Expos� draws the windows.
Funny, but indeed a bug.

JKT · Nov 24, 2003, 11:10 AM

I'm glad for this thread... I've been wondering why all of a sudden my browser stopped doing the long tiling across the middle of the screen and instead did it the eminently more sensible way of tiling everywhere... I used Expos� with my downloads window open.

Anyway, interestingly enough, now that the download window has been closed, the other windows still continue to tile correctly instead of just across the middle... but one to send to feedback at Apple.

cenutrio · Nov 24, 2003, 12:17 PM

He is right, performing blast searches at the NCBI home page is a pain since 2 new windows are open (I always close the format page and keep the blast result).

My complains would be for how long the service takes sometimes.

Still, i think that expose helps a lot with the window management.

mikeini · Nov 24, 2003, 12:40 PM

what does it mean to tab? outside of that i can follow what you guys are saying.

dagaz · Nov 24, 2003, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by mikeini:
what does it mean to tab? outside of that i can follow what you guys are saying.

In Safari go Safari > Preferences > Tabs and then enable tabbed browsing (Its also available in Netscape 7, camino, mozilla etc). In Safari instead of just clicking on a link hold down the Apple key while clicking and that page will open in a new tab on the same page you clicked from. It saves having a whole heap of windows open and having to navigate between them, you just navigate between the tabs.