Window order is wrong when switching Spaces

When I switch from one space to anther using the cntl arrow keyboard shortcut the window order in the new space is invariably messed up. It is just the display of the windows though and not the order that the OS thinks they are in.
For example if I switch to a space with Mail.app I often get the main Mail viewer window but if I go into the Window menu the email message I was working on is checked in the menu.
If I switch to a space with two apps the previously frontmost app is no longer displayed as being in front but it is actually still active.
Anyone know what the solution to this problem is?

First off, I meant to title this "When switching spaces application window is not showing."
Just in case anyone else runs into this problem or any other weirdness with switching between spaces, the answer seems to be trashing the com.apple.dock.plist file and then restarting the dock. The preferences file can evidentially get corrupted and create some problems. Spaces does not have it's own plist file but stores it's data in the dock's plist file. Be warned that this will reset all of your dock preferences including which apps you have on the dock.
Mark

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When switching spaces application menu is not showing

I'm not sure the is a Snow Leopard specific problem, but I have certain applications assigned to certain spaces. When I switch to a space for that application and it has an open document, everything is fine. But if I close all of the document windows for the application and then switch away from that space and then back to that space, the Finder menu takes over. The application is still running, but I have to either click it's icon in the dock or cmd-tab to the application to get it's menu or toolbars to appear.
Is this normal behavior? It's kind of a pain to mak sure that I at least have one open document window so that when I switch back to that space I don't have to "reactivate" the app. Just so I make sure i'm explaining this correctly...
I have Photoshop in it's own space and then open the program and then don't open a document window and then switch to another space and then switch back to the Photoshop space, I now have the Finder's menu displayed and a blank desktop showing. I then have to click on the Photoshop icon or cmd-tab to the running application to get it's menus and toolbars to show.
Thanks for your help.
Mark

First off, I meant to title this "When switching spaces application window is not showing."
Just in case anyone else runs into this problem or any other weirdness with switching between spaces, the answer seems to be trashing the com.apple.dock.plist file and then restarting the dock. The preferences file can evidentially get corrupted and create some problems. Spaces does not have it's own plist file but stores it's data in the dock's plist file. Be warned that this will reset all of your dock preferences including which apps you have on the dock.
Mark

How can I prevent finder from popping up when switching spaces

When you switch between spaces with control + arrow keys the finder window in that space becomes the active window. I'd like the order of my windows to remain the same so that I can use several spaces for different sets of apps without the finder window popping up every time I change spaces. One way to fix this is to hide the finder window with cmd+m, is there another alternative?

Hi Timc, I tried restoring the default, didn't work tried making google as my home page didn't work. cleared my cookies & chache didn't work. I am attaching an image of what comes up when I open Firefox it opens in a new tab. I tried clicking both buttons on the bottom didn't work. Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Finder window won't resize after switching spaces

I've got my mbp set up with 12 spaces and designate apps to particular spaces.
When I open a new finder window in space 2, I can move it and resize it no problem.
If I then switch to another space and then switch back to space 2, I can't resize the finder window. I can still move it, but just can't resize it.
Does anyone know a way around this bug?
Thanks!

I can also confirm this bug. Finder windows seem to "forget" where they are on the screen. This is very clear when renaming a file: the highlighted, editable filename text shows up some seemingly random distance from the filename displayed in the Finder window.
This can also be seen when using Quick Look. The file zooms to the full Quick Look preview not from the file icon, but from some random point on the screen.
Same goes for dragging and dropping. For example, if you want to drag a file into an existing folder, you have to hover some distance from the actual folder, the same distance you see when you rename a file or use Quick Look. The Finder window doesn't know its position on the screen after using Spaces or Expose.

The color of the web site looks wrong when switched to full screen mode.

I was in a game website.
When I switched to full screen mode, the black text changed into blue text.

Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.
* Use "Disable all add-ons" on the [[Safe mode]] start window to disable all extensions.
* Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
* [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]

Windows moving and shrinking when switching users in Mavericks

My wife and son share the same macbook air. When they switch user accounts, often windows are mysteriously moved and made into a smaller size. Seems like some kind of glitch. Is this happening to other people?

Hi there.
I had a similar problem with the Dock. Try my solution mentioned here (use Terminal to 'kill' the Dock).
https://discussions.apple.com/message/26090676#26090676
Killing the Dock might be enough to bring everything else back into line (your background picture looks similar to how mine used to look -- cut off).
Enjoy!

What determines a window's/programs preference when switching between a full screen app and the desktop

Example: I have multiple programs/windows open but am currently working in Firefox. I switch to itunes to change a song, switch back to the original desktop and now iCal is comes up as the focused program. Is there any way to make the current window/program your working on take preference over the others?

That is strange, seems like a different problem. I find that I can access either screen ok (ie either share the screen of the currently-logged in user, or open a virtual desktop of a different user), but it goes haywire if I try and switch between the two once a remote desktop is open. If I want to switch from the virtual desktop to the actual desktop, the only way to do it is to close screen sharing and open it again, selecting the different option.
Regarding your problem - is it just the virtual display that is unresponsive or also the sharing of the logged-in user? It is probably best you create a new thread dedicated to your problem.

Is there a way to stop iTunes from automatically pausing videos when switching spaces in Lion?

I have some technical podcasts and iTunes U vids that I like to watch, but occasionally, I need to navigate away from the video to do something with another application... while listening to the audio of the video.
Every time I attempt this, however, iTunes stubbornly assumes that I no longer want the video to play since my focus is somewhere else. Frustrating! I've looked through preferences but cannot find a way to override this irritating feature. Any suggestions welcome.

No, say I just downloaded the new Spoon album and want to listen to it while I'm looking around in the main music list at other stuff.
I'd drag the new Spoon tracks into my static playlist named "Now Playing"
By static I mean, not a smart playlist.
I could just as well decide to listen to a Genius mix or itunes DJ, or even a smart playlist such as genre=jazz.
Any playlist but the main Music playlist, so I won't have to deal with that annoying jumping around while I'm working with other tracks.

ITunes takes default focus when switching desktops (spaces)

This is more of a pet peeve than anything, but when I am swiping between desktops (spaces), and I return to my primary desktop, iTunes always takes focus.
99% of the time, I have switched from my web browser to mail (which I keep in another space) and when I return to open a new tab in the browser, iTunes preferences opens almost every time (command-T).
I would normally assume, or prefer, that the OS "remember" where I left off when switching spaces, and put me right back there when I switch back. Is there a way to force this?

You're totally right.
I've already tried to find the differences, but not accurately enough. I'll do it again.
Also, I've noticed another strange thing : even with my rc.lua broken, I have this issue. I think that with a broken rc.lua the default one is used, so it may not come from my configuration. if it doesn't, I have no idea...
I'll check again the other install and will tell you if I have something (but not before tuesday)
[Edit]
I've tried with the default rc.lua, and I indeed still have this issue.
For now, I have a workaround : I just add a small titlebar to every window, as if they were floating (cf very end of my rc.lua posted above).
But if someone has any idea to really fix it, I would be happy
Last edited by nyddogghr (2014-07-12 10:17:31)

HT6114 Delaying problem when switching desktop

After upgrading to Mavericks v10.9.2 Update my "Macbook pro Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013" is delaying when switching desktops or switching to mission control. An overall delay problems occured. I need help!

First off, I meant to title this "When switching spaces application window is not showing."
Just in case anyone else runs into this problem or any other weirdness with switching between spaces, the answer seems to be trashing the com.apple.dock.plist file and then restarting the dock. The preferences file can evidentially get corrupted and create some problems. Spaces does not have it's own plist file but stores it's data in the dock's plist file. Be warned that this will reset all of your dock preferences including which apps you have on the dock.
Mark

Turning off switch spaces when hovering with a window near screen corner

Hi,
I use Spaces very often, but I absolutely hate that when you move a window near the corners of the screen and hold it there for about 1 second, that you switch spaces. I once found a terminal command which lets you set the delay the OS waits before switching spaces to 1 minute (so it it basically turned off). Now I can't find this site again. Does anyone know what I mean?

This might still work:
http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/index_files/terminal-commands-for-hidden-settings-in -leopard.html
charlie

Strange issue when switching between spaces

This morning my laptop (MBP) started doing strange things when I switch space. For starters, it takes a lot longer to actually make the transition. Then, when the desktop has moved, it takes a second or so for the primary application window on that desktop to be activated, and the menu bar does a strange swipe animation. I've noticed in Console that there are errors such as this each time I switch space:
11/04/2013 12:50:03.425 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x214f
11/04/2013 12:50:03.426 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x214e
11/04/2013 12:50:03.427 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x214d
11/04/2013 12:50:03.427 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x214c
11/04/2013 12:50:03.427 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x214b
11/04/2013 12:50:03.428 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x214a
11/04/2013 12:53:54.281 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x21df
11/04/2013 12:53:54.283 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x21de
11/04/2013 12:53:54.298 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x21dd
11/04/2013 12:53:54.299 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x21dc
11/04/2013 12:53:54.299 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x21db
11/04/2013 12:53:54.299 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x21da
11/04/2013 12:53:54.300 Dock[363]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0x21d9
Any ideas?

Consider the possibility of third party software incompatibility.
Does this behavior persist for a different user, e.g., Guest User? Does this behavior persist when starting up in Safe Mode?
charlie

Keep Preview playing when switching windows?

Is there any possible way to keep Preview playing the file when switching windows? For example, pressing the space bar on .mp3 file begins playing it in Preview, however when switching windows, the preview pauses until you go back to the finder window. This is annoying when browsing .mp3's to play while doing other things. Any ideas?

I think you mean QuickLook, not Preview. And no, QuickLook is not intended to work that way--it is a way to do just what its name says: provide a quick looksee at the files in an open Finder window.
As for ideas: why not just open them in iTunes?
If you don't want to add them to iTunes, you can put the folder with the mp3s into Column View, make sure the box for "show preview column" is checked in View Options, then click directly on the icon for the file in the preview column (as your mouse moves over the icon, you will see the stylish play button appear on top of the icon). It will continue to play no matter what else you are doing.
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

Windows disappear when using spaces

Something very peculiar has begun happening today and I will describe its features below:
1) When switching from one space to another, all the windows in one space would completely disappear. They were not hidden, but the windows disappeared. The menu for the program was visible and items from the menus could be selected, but the menus were not visible
2) Sometimes all the windows entirely in all spaces would disappear.
3) When I turned spaces off and on again the would usually reappear.
4) Sometimes when using the keyboard command to switch spaces the desktop background would change
5) When pressing Apple-Tab to switch applications, at first certain programs would not show their icon, but simply a white square, and then the bar of applications would not be visible at all. It was still possible to change between programs, but the icons were not at all visible.
6) I later found out that the problems were minimized if I reduce the number of open applications. The problems occurred when I had about 20 applications open simultaneously. I still had over 700 MB of free RAM, so that was not the problem. When I quit about half of the applications, all the goofy-ness with Spaces stopped.
Is this a bug or is there a reason why I should only be able to have 8 programs open simultaneously? How can I fix this so I can have more programs open?
Thanks!

I have a similar issue with Spaces. Windows just seem to disappear. The menus are available if I click on them in the dash, however the windows are still missing. Sometimes manually assigning them in Spaces will bring them back, but then they just disappear again.
I've seen tons of issues like this with no response or fix.
-Ronan

FaceTime camera turns off when switching between spaces

I will have the Facetime app on, have a conversation with a person. I have Mail opened up full screen in another "space." When I switch to that space, the camera turns off. I have to go back to the "space" that FaceTime is in in order to turn the camera back on. Is there a way to keep the camera on all the time when switching between different spaces and the Dashboard?

Having the same problem - In Snow Leopard, when I was on a FaceTime chat with a friend, I was able to navigate away from the FaceTime and surf, check the calendar and other stuff without pausing my video feed. In LION, for whatever reason, FaceTime pauses itself whenever I navigate away from the app. It's as if the application is FORCING me to stay in the conversation when, sometimes, I use FaceTime for TALKING, not VIDEO CONFERENCING.

Window order is wrong when switching Spaces

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