Home  /  BIM and ARCHICAD   /  Mac Application Switcher + ArchiCAD

Mac Application Switcher + ArchiCAD

I just started using Command-Tab to pull up the Mac Application Switcher. I’ve accidentally used it before, but never intentionally. It’s AWESOME for quickly switching between multiple ArchiCAD files. Which happens to be something I’m doing a lot of right now.

If you’re not familiar with the Mac Application Switcher, a quick Google Search will reveal a bunch of tricks that it can do.


But what I’m really loving right now is this: while holding down Command (Cmd), tap the Tab key and let go of both buttons. Don’t be slow about it. To get really pedantic, I recommend holding down Cmd with your left thumb and hitting Tab with either your ring or middle finger. Instead of pulling up the Mac Application Switcher, you’ll switch between your current application and the last one you used. Which means if you’re jumping between two open instances of ArchiCAD, Cmd+Tab is a life saver. Also the switch doesn’t effect what’s happening in ArchiCAD, so you can keep elements selected when you hit Cmd+Tab. Being able to switch back and forth mid-command is so nice.

This Mac feature has been around since at least 10.6, so if you’re not on Lion or Mountain Lion don’t despair. Not sure if there’s an equivalent function for PC users. Anyone know?

And yes that’s the Doomsday Clock in the background. It reminds me to be ever vigilant.

Comments

  • September 18, 2012
    reply

    James Murray

    Hi Jared,

    You might also enjoy Cmd+` (the key above Tab), which switches between windows within an application. It’s handy for rapidly switching between the floor plan and a model window.

    In Windows Alt+Tab switches between apps; I think it predates the Mac feature by some time.

  • September 18, 2012
    reply

    Patrick May

    this is definetly a huge time save. cntrl+tab should work on most pc’s too. Also, take advantage of the command+~ to switch between open windows in a single instance of ArchiCAD

  • September 18, 2012
    reply

    Andy Kilanowski

    And here’s another neat trick. If you have a lot of applications running, hit open-apple (that’s command for you young’ns) you can swtich to the right… well, if you have the app switcher open and you keep command held down then press ~ you can go backwards through the list. Also a time saver… kind-of…

  • September 19, 2012
    reply

    Another useful tool is using spaces on the apple platform. You can devote a seperate screen view for each version of Archicad Runing and just switch screens using the control key and the arrow keys or a number key (representing the screen number). I open a new instance of Archicadd and quickly before it opens hit control + right arrow, for instance and then let the program complete opening in that screen. I then only have to slide left or right with the control + left or right arrow to move from one instance to another. If you have more than two instances open then do the same when opening additiona instances of AC as described and hit control + the number keys say 1, 2, or 3 to jump to those specific screens. Spaces is configurable in system preferences.

  • September 19, 2012
    reply

    Billy Earnest

    Windows Alt+tab for switching between programs has been around since the beginning of time. As a fairly new Mac user, but a windows user since the beginning; it’s always surprising to me how ‘mac people’ find something like this & are amazed by it (& sometimes make it seem like apple did something amazing), when it’s just ‘basic functionality’ to use old windows users…..heehee It’s one of the first things I tried when I stared using a Mac. Very handy!

  • September 19, 2012
    reply

    Bill Michels

    Control number works great, thanks for that tip. Occasional I will hit the wrong/right key combination and all the windows will open so you can choose the program you want, does anyone know that shortcut?

  • September 19, 2012
    reply

    s2art

    Bill, do you mean Expose settings on Mac? There you can set shortcuts to display All Windows, Application Windows and Desktop, and set an “active corner” for the same, where you just send your cursor quickly to one corner to perform one of the above (or other) functions. Sometimes handy, sometimes a pain. 🙂

  • September 20, 2012
    reply

    Matt

    Jarod, you should have known this, how embarrassing! Thanks for posting though, I’m sure there’s things that I do that aren’t that efficient. I train some people on ArchiCAD and when I see them minimising each window, or dragging the title bar away for each window I go mad! Off topic – check out kuvva on the mac app store.

  • October 6, 2012
    reply

    Jared: I created a post on my Archicademy facebook page earlier tonight, which builds on this tip. See link below. Your Mac followers should really enjoy the read and get a lot from it.

    http://www.facebook.com/notes/archicademy/tip-10-mac-shortcuts-archicad/454499077921557

  • October 12, 2012
    reply

    ernest

    For Windows users, there is also the “win key” (also known as the Windows key, the home key, the meta key, the start key, MOD4, or the flag key) to toggle between opened tabs if multiple tabs are open (works only in Aero Theme). Similar to Alt-Tab, but nicer 🙂

Post a Comment