Mac - it is a working tool for people of different professions. We use computers for writing texts, editing photos, creating applications and uymy other things. As with any job, the workflow for Mac must be productive. Screen space is one of the most important factors influencing productivity. Some use external monitors, but what about those who can not afford such a luxury? For these users, we have a few tips.
Actively using the application switching menu
While working for a small screen is wiser to use the space for a single application, and easily switch between them as needed. OS X has a very convenient switching menu, which is caused by the keyboard shortcut [⌘] + [⇥] (Cmd + Tab). It is, in fact, is not as primitive as it may seem at first glance. Here are some of the nuances of his work:
- If you press [⌘] + [⇥], you switch to the previous application
- if you press [⌘] + [⇥], and then release [⇥], hold down the [⌘] - it opens a menu itself with icons of running applications
- You can switch to the menu not only in the previous application, but in any of the running
- select the application in the menu, you can use the mouse (simply move the cursor)
- ... or press [⇥], single click repeatedly to switch applications, hold [⇥] scrolls to the end of the list
In addition, you can easily switch between windows of the same application using the shortcut [⌘] + [~] (on the RS / A-keyboard [~] button next to [Z], whereas shtatovskih just above the [Tab], which is more logical).
Effectively use the available screen space
We have surveyed a variety of tools that allow you to efficiently manage your windows in OS X. Among them are Moom, BetterSnapTool and window Tidy. All of them allow more conveniently control the size and location of windows in pursuit of the same goal - effectively divide the available screen space between the applications with which you need to work at the same time.
Here is an example. I work for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is not the smallest, but taking into account the resolution of 1280 × 800 (which is even less than the 11-inch Eire), it can be considered as such. When I do translations of great articles, for easy work at the same time I need to keep a minimum of three windows - a text editor and two Safari window to the original window and the dictionary or translator. Manually adjust the windows size and positioning them on the screen in the right order me a very thankless job, so I use BetterSnapTool, which has many options like the size of the windows, and on their location.
Configure desktops, and divide the working space
Support for multiple desktops in OS X is a standard and a feature implemented a while ago. You can create as many virtual desktops and switch between them easily.
The idea is to differentiate your workspace. The system allows each application to bind to a specific desktop, and thereby reduce confusion and chaos. Appoint a desktop application, you can call the menu by right-clicking on the application icon in the Dock and choosing Options ▸ This desktop.
This is how organized the desktops I have: in the first iTunes and the Mac App Store, the second - the post office, on the third - Telegram and Twitter, the fourth - the Safari and Writer Pro, on the fifth - Pixelmator. I am enough, you may be more or less. Here are things that you should know about the desktop:
- add desktop can be in Mission Contorl calling its chetyrehpaltsevym swipe up or F3 button, then you need to click on the "plus sign" in the upper right corner of the screen
- switching between the tables can be the same chetyrehpaltsevym gesture, only left and right, or with a keyboard shortcut [Ctrl] + [←], and [Ctrl] + [→]
- you can quickly switch to the last open desktop making swipe at him, and swipe back in the opposite direction
Use the full-screen mode applications
There is nothing wrong with using the whole screen space for the same application. For example, if you are working with a text editor, then deploying it to the entire screen, you get rid of distractions and focus on your task. This method is not suitable for all applications, but still it can be applied in most cases. Full screen mode is present in almost all applications, so do not forget to use it!
Leverage Doc
Dock - an exclusive and very convenient feature OS X. Using it is very convenient to switch between applications and open documents, but minus the dock is he picks up precious screen space, which is in widescreen 11- and 13-inch displays, and so few. Here we have two options, or rather even three:
- adjust the minimum size of the dock, which is acceptable to you (menu ▸ Dock ▸ Dock Settings)
- move the dock on the side of the screen, yet the width of the space we have much more
- customize avtomaticheskte hide and open dock summing the cursor to the edge of the screen (it is possible, by the way, speed up its response)
All these options can be found in the dock settings, and auto-hide, you can even include a separate shortcut - [⌥] + [⌘] + [D].
Do not forget the Spotlight
The work at the computer almost always involves interaction with documents, files and folders. You can certainly keep a separate Finder desktop with multiple tabs or windows of a pair, but it is easier to open the documents you need or search for files using Spotlight.
Global search in OS X, you can call being in any (even full screen) application - for this you need to press the key combination [Ctrl] + [Space]. With the release of OS X Yosemite Spotlight has become much more functional and allows you to convert values, perform calculations, search for information in Wikipedia. Think about this the next time you will open Safari to search for this information.
Adjust the pulling three fingers
Little MacBook not only has a small screen, but not as big trackpad. Therefore, it is complicated by such commonly used as drag and drop operation, which we use to select text, drag and drop, and in many other cases. By default it is on a normal mouse by pressing and finger movement, but it can be reassigned to trehpaltsevy gesture. To do this, open the trackpad settings and tick the relevant item.
editorial comment
If enough small laptop screen, due to its ergonomic design, too many different applications on one desktop to keep extremely uncomfortable. The most important thing - is to work with one application at a time. In the same way as on iOS - one application takes all the workspace. It not only focuses on the work of just one thing, but also minimizes the use of the scroll.
In other words: If you open the Mail - expand it to all workspace. Skype, Finder, iTunes - similarly. If you are using the MacBook as home and work computer at the same time, you can make a second desktop. In the first place the application that you are working from home, while the second - those that use at work. I second the desktop, for example, in a fully deployed Parallels Desktop with Windows 10. So I can switch from one OS to another simple swipe four fingers. And each of the desktops serves its purpose.
Dmitry Kutuzov