Submit Hint Search The Forums LinksStatsPollsHeadlinesRSS
14,000 hints and counting!

Cancel window drags via the Escape key Desktop
Not only (as previously noted) can you use the 'Esc' key to cancel a drag-and-drop operation, such as moving a file or folder, but it can also cancel Finder window dragging. Hit the Escape key before letting up the mouse button, and the window will glide back to where it came from.

[robg adds: Yes, this is an obvious hint, but those new to OS X may not realize that they can cancel something as simple as a window move with the Escape key.]
    •    
  • Currently 1.00 / 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  (1 vote cast)
 
[5,521 views]  

Cancel window drags via the Escape key | 12 comments | Create New Account
Click here to return to the 'Cancel window drags via the Escape key' hint
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: rhowell on Jun 24, '04 11:30:15AM

I don't know if "glide back" is an accurate description :)



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: stokini on Jun 24, '04 11:36:48AM

Why doesn't this work with windows in Safari, Mail, Address Book, etc.?



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: fds on Jun 24, '04 01:01:58PM

This doesn't seem like an obvious hint to me at all, as it only works in Finder. Nice find!



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: timcrawf on Jun 24, '04 01:48:16PM

Great hint.
I don't think this is obvious at all. I have used a Mac since 1984 and did not know this! No I am not slow. In OS 9 if you drag a side panel on accident you can drag off of the screen to have the window pop back to where it was. But this is a great tip.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: hamarkus on Jun 24, '04 02:15:06PM

Based on my limited testing (Safari, SubEthaEdit, Safari, Mozilla) this works only with carbon applications.



[ Reply to This | # ]
On of the 'Safaris' should read BBEdit (n/t)
Authored by: hamarkus on Jun 24, '04 02:17:22PM
On of the 'Safaris' should read BBEdit (n/t)
Authored by: snit on Jun 24, '04 04:05:52PM

Which one?

:)



[ Reply to This | # ]
On of the 'Safaris' should read BBEdit (n/t)
Authored by: hamarkus on Jun 24, '04 04:08:56PM

The second.
:)



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: timrand on Jun 24, '04 05:45:50PM

This hint works in <deprecated> Microsoft Windows XP </deprecated> as well!



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: enigmamf on Jun 24, '04 09:02:10PM

It also works for scrolling -- start scrolling and hit escape, the scroll bar returns to where it was. THAT is something I find useful, as I am used to windows (and os9?) where if you drag far enough to the right/left of the scrollbar, it snaps back to the original location.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: xStep on Jun 24, '04 10:04:15PM

Is this another Panther hint? Tried it under Jaguar 10.2.8 with no luck.

While I'm at it. Could the hint posters let us know what version of OS X they are using. This will help with other peoples expectations.

---
Using Windows on the Net is like using a faulty condom!



[ Reply to This | # ]
Cancel window drags via the Escape key
Authored by: jolinwarren on Jun 26, '04 06:19:08PM

This also works by using the traditional Mac 'cancel' key combo -- command-.

i.e. if you drag the window (of a carbon app) and press 'command-.' before letting go of the mouse button, the window snaps back to its original position.

I also think this is a non-obvious (and useful) hint -- as is the hint that it works in scroll bars, too!



[ Reply to This | # ]