Keybinding irritations

⌘T in nearly any app which uses tabs opens a new tab. In apps without tabs, it opens the Show Fonts. This is a floating window, which cannot be closed with ⌘W, the usual binding to close a tab or window.

While it can be closed in most cases, you have to use a different keystroke, which can be problematic.

Example:

  1. Attempt to open a new tab in Firefox, but Adium has the focus.
  2. Press ⌘T, get the Show Fonts window.
  3. Press ⌘W, close the tab you’re talking in, the unwanted Show Fonts window is still open.
  4. Scrabble for the mouse in frustration.

This happens to me several times a day. I’ve noticed that since Leopard enabled the ability to scroll background windows, I do it more. While I love that ability, I think it removes a subtle cue as to which app has the focus. The Firefox 3 betas exacerbated the problem, since they appeared active even when in the background.

2008/05/27
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Discussion

I have exactly the same problem you mention almost as often. It’s one of those little things that you used to associate with Windows and it’s love of taking keyboard focus, even when you’ve supposedly made registry changes to prevent that. Have to say, tho, I love the background-app-scroll feature. Maybe they should make a switch to focus whatever the mouse is over, sans the desktop. hmmmm can it do this already? Tis a very old Unix feature…..

CPngN
2008/07/22

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