Apple+Tab on Macs

So I've been using PC's forever and was thinking about a switch. One important thing that doesn't work on Macs I noticed is ALT+TAB or APPLE+TAB. It only switches between applications not windows. So If I have 5 MSN messenger boxes or other multiple windows such as firefox, I can't use Apple Tab. It will just switch firefox to msn. Anyway this can be changed.

 

There's a window-switch command also that you can remap if you like - default is command+z if memory serves (not on a Mac this instant so can't check).

 

It's not command Z, it's Command `, the button next to Z. I prefer Expose though.

 

Right, I just do it on automatic, never look at the keyboard - thanks for the correction

 

I was wondering about that too.

Is the keyboard layout different in the UK/Ireland? Because on my machine the ` is way up near the top of the keyboard, immediately to the left of the 1 key and directly underneath the esc key. Z is to the right of the left shift key, to the left of the x, below a and s, and above the option key.

 

And I can tell you I have hit Apple+Q way too many times to count when trying to tab to different programs open.... *sigh*

 

Yes, the layout differs between UK and Ireland. And between the US and those two of course also. And since I'm Swedish I'm used to a different layout entirely, but the key combination remains the same - just that on my (Swedish) keyboard that key (while placed in the same place, left of the Z) is <.

So yeah, it's a big mess giving advice across borders I guess

 

What do you mean by setting up as windows shortcut? Could that be possible to have all shortcuts the same.

I've tried the apple+` at a store with 5 firefox windows open. It would just switch them in orders not back and forth. For example, on windows, I can use Alt+Tab to go back and forth between two windows or I can press Alt+Tab and tab again to go to next window and make it back and forth. The only reason I want this function so much is because I write lots of papers so it would be good to go back and forth.

 

just use Expose, it is much easier

 

vaio_boi, minimize the ones you aren't using to the Dock then?

As was stated above, Command + Tab is similar but not the same as the Windows Alt + Tab. It will switch between applications, not between windows, and when you switch between windows with Command + ` (or whatever your local keyboard says ) it will rotate through all windows of that application.

I don't normally have more than two windows open of the same application in the same virtual desktop (see Mac Gems thread, I still recommend this - wonder how good Spaces will be tho) so it's usually not an issue for me to be able to switch back and forth using this. Your mileage may wary