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Hiding applications via a programmable mouse Desktop
Here is a little trick that greatly improves my efficiency. It's not new to X, but I still wanted to share. We all know that If you option-click on any background window, the active application will hide. But this also works if you click on the empty desktop.

So, I've programmed the fourth button of my mouse to be a simple option-click (I use USB Overdrive). Now I have a gigantic button (the entire desktop) that I can click on whenever I want to hide my current app (Fitts's Law here we come!). Obvious? Yes, but the extra step of setting up a mouse button brings a whole new life to this simple shortcut.

[Editor's note: I'm using this simple but effective tip as a reminder that you can save a ton of time and keystrokes with a multi-button mouse. I use option-click on the right side button, and (the real time saver for me) command-option-click on the left side button. So with a simple thumb-press on a given application, all other applications hide on switch. You can effectively get this same behavior with third-party programs, but they are an 'all or nothing' proposition - you either always hide on switch or you don't. With the multi-button mouse, my main button still behaves as normal, and the extra buttons provide two additional switching modes. I realize the Mac was originally sold on the concept of a one-button mouse, but if you haven't tried a multi-button mouse, you may wish to do so ... there are many advantages!]
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Similar way to quickly open Applications
Authored by: tarkin on Oct 14, '02 01:40:09PM

I also use USB overdrive. I programmed the weelmouse button as a "command-click"
so I could use it to open links in a new tab (or window) in Mozilla.

But if you command-click on Dock Icons it issues the "show in finder" command.
So whenever I need to go to "Applications", I just middle click on any Dock Icon.
If I want the subfolder Utilities : one middle-click on Terminal...



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an even easier way
Authored by: kirkmc on Oct 14, '02 03:39:04PM

You don't need to bother with the option-click - just set one of your buttons to Cmd+H. That hides the current app. (OK, there are a few apps that parse that keystroke, but not many.) It's even quicker, since you can hide your current app without having to move the mouse to click on the desktop.



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an even easier way
Authored by: mr5m on Oct 18, '02 04:52:55AM

That's a good idea.

However, since the option key is a standard modifier, there are advantages to keeping your extra mousse button as a "pure" option-click. For example, option-clicking on the red, close window button, will make an application close all its open windows. This works in the Finder too. Also in the Finder, option-dragging a file will copy it. Option-clicking to open a folder, will make the Finder close the parent window.

Another example I use all the time is with the zoom tool. In every Adobe program, holding down the option key switches from zoom in, to zoom out and visa versa. With an option-click on your mouse, you don't have to switch tools from the tools palette.



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Cmd-w
Authored by: acct_removed on Oct 14, '02 04:37:01PM

I have the wheelbutton on my Logitech Wheel Mouse set to the cmd-w keystroke. This closes windows. I've found this to be very usefull, and I miss it when I'm on another machine.



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yet, still, another, further, different way
Authored by: mervTormel on Oct 14, '02 04:41:32PM

keyboard maestro. assign 'hide current app' to key F1. me happy now.

and, rather that emulate command-H, it sends the correct event to the app, so it works even if the app has other function for command-H. it's the only app i know that will provide this functionality well.



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Hide Current App with DragThing
Authored by: tsharvey on Oct 17, '02 05:25:14PM

DragThing does this very well too.



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Hide Current App with DragThing
Authored by: mervTormel on Oct 17, '02 05:41:18PM

i'll be durned. so it does. heh. thanx.



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