Open Files with Finder's App Switcher
Say you're in the Finder looking at a file and you want to open it with an application that's already running but which doesn't own that particular document. How? Switch to that app and choose File > Open? Too many steps. Choose Open With from the file's contextual menu? Takes too long, and the app might not be listed. Drag the file to the Dock and drop it onto the app's icon? The icon might be hard to find; worse, you might miss.
In Leopard there's a new solution: use the Command-Tab switcher. Yes, the Command-Tab switcher accepts drag-and-drop! The gesture required is a bit tricky. Start dragging the file in the Finder: move the file, but don't let up on the mouse button. With your other hand, press Command-Tab to summon the switcher, and don't let up on the Command key. Drag the file onto the application's icon in the switcher and let go of the mouse. (Now you can let go of the Command key too.) Extra tip: If you switch to the app beforehand, its icon in the Command-Tab switcher will be easy to find; it will be first (or second).
Written by
Matt Neuburg
Recent TidBITS Talk Discussions
- Alternatives to MobileMe for syncing calendars between iPad/Mac (1 message)
- Free anti-virus for the Mac (20 messages)
- iTunes 10 syncing iPod Touch 4.1 (2 messages)
- Thoughts about Ping (16 messages)
Other articles in the series Worthy Web Sites
- Creo Eases File Sharing with Tokens (24 Nov 03)
- Worthy Web Sites: Get Your Kicks with Netflix (05 Nov 01)
- Worthy Web Sites: PayPal (08 Jan 01)
- Worthy Web Sites: iPing's Mr. WakeUp (17 Jul 00)
TidBITS#535/19-Jun-00
This week's issue spans the gamut, starting with releases of Suitcase 9, AirPort 1.2, and PowerMail 3.0.3. Next, we check out the acquisitions of Bungie Software by Microsoft and Farallon Communications by Proxim, then move on to a discussion of preventing or reducing the severity of RSI problems. Next, we look at changes in Casady & Greene's SoundJam, and close with a review of RepairClinic.com, a clever Web site that sells appliance parts.
(Published 10 years and 15 weeks ago)
Suitcase 9 Packs Plenty Into Upgrade
Suitcase 9 Packs Plenty Into Upgrade -- The Extensis Product Group of CreativePro.com has released a new version of the venerable font management utility Suitcase, which was rescued last year from Symantec's pile of acquired-then-expired software (see "Extensis Rescuing Suitcase" in TidBITS-466)Show full article
AirPort 1.2 Update Available
AirPort 1.2 Update Available -- Apple Computer has released AirPort 1.2, the latest version of its wireless networking software for configuring AirPort Base Stations and enabling any AirPort-equipped Mac to act as a software base stationShow full article
PowerMail 3.0.3 Available
PowerMail 3.0.3 Available -- CTM Development recently released a pair of updates to PowerMail, the latest version of its multilingual email client with search capabilities based on the same technologies as Apple's SherlockShow full article
Poll Preview: I Want My MP3
Poll Preview: I Want My MP3 -- The MP3 audio format is radically altering the music landscape in terms of playing and distributing recorded material. Now that MP3 is gaining a wider acceptance, which software MP3 player do you prefer? There are a ton of MP3 players available, including some less well-known applications we didn't have room to include, so if you use a program we didn't list, send a note to TidBITS Talk at outlining what you use, why, and where others can find the programShow full article
Bungie Jumps, Farallon Follows
This week brought two significant corporate acquisitions in the Macintosh world: Microsoft's acquisition of game developer Bungie Software and wireless networking company Proxim's purchase of Farallon Communications, currently a TidBITS sponsor. Microsoft & Bungie -- Microsoft's acquisition of privately held Bungie Software for an estimated $20 to $40 million was the most atypicalShow full article
Quiz Results: Out of Your Misery
Last week's quiz on our home page focused on ways of reducing or eliminating repetitive stress injuries, or RSI. Years ago, Tonya and I suffered from tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome respectively, and we recovered completely thanks to adjusting how we work and liveShow full article
SoundJam Keeps On Jammin'
Casady & Greene last week released SoundJam MP Plus 2.1, a free update to the company's popular (if awkwardly named) MP3 player and encoder. That reminded me that I'd somehow missed writing about the update to version 2.0, which added numerous features and introduced a free version called SoundJam MP Free, which offers a reduced feature set and the capability to encode only 30 songsShow full article
Worthy Web Sites: RepairClinic.com
Kirk McElhearn's article last week about the emptiness of pages of links highlights why we don't maintain a list of Macintosh-related Web sites, and why we only infrequently write about specific Web sitesShow full article