MacMost Now 397: Mac Window Basics

Learn interface window basics like resizing, closing and opening new windows. Learn how the red, yellow and green buttons at the upper left of most windows work.

Comments: 10 Responses to “MacMost Now 397: Mac Window Basics”

    forkboy1965
    14 years ago

    Thanks for a better explanation of the green button. I hadn't quite understood that it simply resizes to the larges needed to see everything horizontally. I always thought it strange that it didn't expand to completely fill the screen.

    Years of Windows can skew one's brain a bit, don't you know?

    Randy Fox
    14 years ago

    Gary, did I miss it or did you forget to mention that in Windows, when you use the close icon (the X) the program goes totally away, but with our macs, the red button does NOT totally remove the program because it is still running in the back round as shown by the little blue-white button underneath the dock icon?

      14 years ago

      That's another factor. It is true on Windows for some applications (but not all, actually). And not true for the equivalent to "Finder windows," of course. But then I'm really talking about Macs here, and mentioning Windows is just a sidebar.

    Ken
    14 years ago

    Gary just want to add you can minimize windows into application icon under dock preferences which I am sure you already knew.

    Dr. Jacqui Cyrus
    14 years ago

    I found this tutorial very useful. I am a teacher educator at the School of Education. My students enter my Mac lab with very little general knowledge about Macs, even if they are owners. I wish to use it for my beginning students as a general overall introduction.

    Thank you for creating a succinct overview.

    -j-

    Mike Franklin
    14 years ago

    Hi Gary, another great video - thanks a lot. Just wanted to add that the other day I "double-clicked" the top area of a window in OSX and discovered it has the same function as the yellow "minimize" button, ie: it moves the window in to the dock.

    Just thought I'd add that in for any of the "switchers" out there that would normally expect that action to enable the window to fill the screen.

    Susan Fields
    14 years ago

    I am an absolute novice with MAC having been a lifelong Microsoft - just love your clear explanations and demonstrations. You are now my first best friend!

    Leivur Steintún
    13 years ago

    Hi Gary, thank you for all the help you've been so far, great tutorials! I've been kinda irritated with "pop-up windows" when surfing on the internet. I know you can block them, but is there not a quicker way other than to close each window one by one (opened) to maybe use the function "all windows" and just hold the mouse over the windows you want to close and use the same "cmmd+W"? Hope you understand me.

      13 years ago

      Well, you can hold the option key and click the red button at the top left of any window. That will close them all. But that would include the main browser window, which I assume you don't want closed.
      Do you have Safari, Block Pop-Up Windows checked? I know this doesn't block them all, but it helps.

    Mr Anthony Cotton
    12 years ago

    I received your email with the link to this tutorial. I knew a bit, but i was unsure about the rest. This video explains all of it. Thanks Gary.

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