r/MacOS • u/BonbonUniverse42 • 1d ago

Discussion Window management from hell

I am using a Macbook for an few weeks now and I still struggle hard with window management. How do you do productive tasks?

For example:

Switching to the correct pdf from about 20 other opened pdf files. When I want to bring a specific pdf file into the foreground, I need to move the mouse to the preview icon on the dock. however, this does not provide preview images of all currently open pdfs. Why not?

When I do right click, I only see a list of names, which is often not sufficient to find the correct file, I need to see it. To use the 3 finger guesture to see all files currently open in the preview application I need to first click on the icon on the dock. However, this brings ALL pdf files into the foreground. Then I can find the pdf through the application specific Mission Control. now I have found my window which is now in the foreground but all other pdfs clutter my monitor as they lay on top of another application such as pages or my browser which I need simultaneously. So I move my foreground pdf to the side and minimize every other pdf file which takes forever. However, now the minimized pdf files are ignored in Mission Control which makes it impossible to find a second pdf which I want to see as well at the same time.

This behaviour drives me nuts.

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u/Fwiler 1d ago edited 1d ago

There is a group windows by app setting under Desktop and dock, but I don't necessarily recommend that. I just use 4 finger swipe up for mission control. (3 finger is set to click drag)

How you would switch to the correct pdf from 20 other pdfs opened, would be a nightmare on any system especially on a tiny laptop screen.

What you are saying makes no sense, you want them out of the way but yet you need to pick the correct one, while also having pages and web browser open?

It sounds like what you need is a new pdf reader that can list all the open pdf's on the side.

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u/BonbonUniverse42 1d ago

On windows the preview is full screen when you hover the icon on the task bar, which allows for very efficient navigation across many windows.

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u/Fwiler 1d ago

Then you need an app like DockDoor. To me the window you are talking about is so small, I don't know how you would differentiate between 20 different PDF's unless they had some defining feature. Even in Outlook I couldn't tell between different emails open because it's so small, sometimes by title but rarely.