[newbe]

open hidden programs?

ex - i hid 'mail' with [command+w] when i toggle using [command+tab] the window doesn't pop up, only the title bar changes

also, whats the difference b/t [command+w] vs [command+h]

[ibook_steve]

I've moved your thread (has nothing to do with portable hardware) and changed the title to be a bit more descriptive.

As for your questions, cmd+w does not hide a program. cmd+h hides a program. cmd+w closes the currently active window in a program. This is a common issue when migrating from Windows. Closing all windows of an OS X program does not quit or hide the program. You can still switch to and from the program with cmd+tab and reopen a window for the app using the app's Window menu (in Mail, Window menu -> Message Viewer) or sometimes File -> new. Some apps understand this confusion and will automatically open a blank file window when you switch back to them after closing all of the app's windows.

cmd+h simply hides all the windows of an app to get them out of the way. You can just switch back to the app in the dock or using cmd+tab. Using Expose is usually a better method to use, but hiding can help reduce screen clutter.

Steve

[Chuckit]

Mail will open up a viewer window if you have no windows open. The thing is that programs only open the window if you switch to them by clicking their Dock icon or double-clicking them in the Finder, not if you command-tab. Basically, if you do something that would open the program, the program will pretend like it's being reopened and do whatever it normally would when you open it. You can't open a program with command-tab, so you don't get the behavior in that case.