Using Expose to move between windows

Expose is an application that runs all the time in the system.

Setting EXPOSE up: Go up to the APPLE in the top left of the machine, and click on SYSTEM PREFERENCES. You will see this icon (right) - click on it.

Now you are into the EXPOSE and SPACES settings. When you look at my settings, you will see that I have asked for ALL WINDOWS to appear when I go to the bottom left corner of my screen and if I go to the bottom right corner of my screen, I will start my Screen Saver.

You choose what you want to happen at the corners. Have one corner show ALL WINDOWS. Close SYSTEM PREFERENCES and move to the corner you chose.

You should then see a screen that looks like this, showing all open programs and windows.
You can see all my windows and you will notice when I rolled over a window with my mouse, it shows me its name.

Just click on the window you want!

Using Command-Tab on your Mac

If you wish to move quickly to another program you have open, here is a quick tip. Hold down the Command key (or APPLE key) and tap on the TAB key (don't hold it down, just tap on it!)

You will see a list of all the different programs available. By tapping on the TAB key you will move through the list. Let go when you get to the program you want.

If you have a number of programs open and you just hit the COMMAND and TAB key once, you will go back to the last program you were in. For example, I am looking at the internet (using Firefox) and working on a document in Word, but I have other programs open at the same time. It will always remember the last program I looked at so if I am moving backwards and forwards between the internet and my Word document, by just hitting COMMAND+TAB once, I will flick between them easily.

You can also use EXPOSE to flick between a number of windows. This will be another tip!

Using Quick View

You are able to see documents or movies or anything, really, quickly and easily.

Click on the last button in the VIEW (see picture) when you are in a FINDER window - this is Cover Flow look.

Now when you move through the documents in the FINDER and you hit the space bar, the document will pop out and you will be able to view the contents. This is great when you are looking for a document but forgot what you named it.

It also works really well in MAIL.

Spotlight

Spotlight is one of the handiest tools you will use on your Mac.

Up in the top right hand corner you will see a magnifying glass and when you click on it, you will see this search facility.



Type a word that you will search for into the box.

NOTE: this word can be anywhere in a file, a letter (if you use Mail) - it doesn't just have to be in the title of the document you are looking for.

So, if I have a strategic plan and I know I wrote a word in it like "Byzantine", i just search for Byzantine and it will find the file. It will also show a dictionary meaning and lots of other things.

Very Handy!