Jan 29
With Spaces, Mac users can finally enjoy what Linux users have had for years: virtual desktops. However, Leopards implementation has a neat trick that I’ve yet to see in any Linux distro. You can now perform “window dragging” between the desktops without having to use the multi-pane view (ie. 4 screen view).
Simply click on a window as though you were going to drag it. While continuing to hold down the mouse button, press control+<an arrow key> to move that window to another space. Then let go when you are done. Isn’t that a much easier way to manage window clutter?
January 29th, 2008 at 6:52 am
… ok I admit this whole site is quite good for starters… but some hints and tricks are just make my tooth ake. aaarg. i think i have to remove this rss.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:03 am
…and if you hold down the ’shift’ button while dragging, it will drop the window you are moving to the same position in the new space.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Of note, if you drag a window until your mouse cursor hits an edge that borders another space, a moment’s pause there will cause the space to slide over, no extra buttons needed.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:31 am
And just how do I hold down the control + arrow key on my laptop while pressing my mouse button at the same time without growing a third hand?
Apple could have just let you assign a keystroke to “move window to next workspace” like Ubuntu does
Or give you a mini-view of your spaces in your dock and let you move windows around there. Then I might start actually using Spaces.
@Zarch: In my experience, that only works sometimes.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Insane Dreamer:
Left ring finger on control,
Left index finger on the trackpad
Left thumb on the mouse button
Right fingers for arrow keys
January 29th, 2008 at 10:24 am
@Zarch. Further clarification: I find that it works to drag a window down (ie, from space 2 to 4), but not up (4 to 2). And it doesn’t work from left to right but that may be because i have dual monitors set up.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Insane Dreamer:
I agree with you about ubuntu having better hotkey support. I just bought my first mac and have been trying to find all the little apps that I took for granted with linux. Try a program called spark if you haven’t already. It allows you to assign global hotkeys to OS X. It made switching for me a lot easier and should be able to do what you want(shift+ctrl+alt+arrow keys).
January 29th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
As far as I remember Enlightenment (http://www.enlightenment.org) allows the dragging of windows in this way, since at least 2000 and probably earlier.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Darren:
How are you doing that with Spark? Are you using AppleScript?
January 29th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
>>a neat trick that I’ve yet to see in any Linux distro.
oO This functionnality is implemented by several Linux window managers since years.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
@Matt: Sorry, I should have clarified I use an external mouse, thus the difficulty. Yes, you can do it with the trackpad, but boy, it’s not exactly a natural pose
[Also, try as I might, I haven't gotten it to work.]
@Darren: Tx for the tip, will try out Spark.
@Bob: You’re right. Ubuntu also allows you to drag the window to the side and then on the other desktop (with a nice rotating cube effect as well for those so inclined).
January 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
You can also move your window to another space by holding down the mouse and pressing control and then pressing one of the numbers. This gets you directly the space you want, and easier for those with trackpads. Thanks for the tip, I wouldn’t have discovered this easier way had I not known about this useful but awkward one.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Actually, with the new, flat keyboard, I find the tip to be very useful. It’s easy to hit + with one hand while holding the mouse-click with the other. I don’t see how the laptop can be any more difficult.
As for the drag to the sides tip, it does work multi-screen–at least if you move the window to the second screen (without the menu bar at top) if you want to go up or down. Or, you can just hold it to left or right until you reach the pane you desire.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Correction to above… “It’s easy to hit CTRL + ARROW with one hand…”
January 29th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
It’s far easier using a pref pane called “Warp.” It allows you to switch spaces by holding the cursor at the edge of the desktop (even while dragging windows), and if you find it too easy to move you can alter the reaction time and even assign a modifier key. Best of all, it’s free!
January 30th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Correction to above… “It’s easy to hit CTRL + ARROW with one hand…”
not when they’re on the opposite sides of the keyboard and the trackpad is in the middle. it’s doable but definitely a finger dance.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I find easier to click with the external mouse in the upper edge of the window (right hand) and press CMD+NUMBER of the space I want to move to (left hand).
CMD+NUMBER is easier than CNTRL+NUMBER.
BTW that is the default shortcut for selecting a space on the Exposé/Spaces pane in the System Preferences.
But without this tip I wouldn’t have discovered it.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Where would you exactly find this program called Spark?
January 30th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
linux has yet to do? I’m pretty sure I did that in 2002 when I was running redhat 7.3 (valhalla) and kde 2.0 or whatever gnome version was prevelant. I do appreciate and respect your not trying to claim that this was a “new mac idea” There is lots of that currently (though vista is even more guilty towards linux and also to osX) Linux has had this feature as well for years; except they also have several additional features that truly benefit the laptop and keyboard shortcut happy people. You can’t tell me that there is anything ergonomic about clicking the trackpad button, the command/ctrl/alt and a number/arrow as well.
on linux: ctrl+alt+DirectionKey shifts me from one to another
shift+ctrl+alt+Direction moves the window there along with me
for mouse movement on linux I dont know what the default is for dragging; however if you are running compiz/beryl/compiz fusion then by default merely dragging a window to a border will allow to move the item along (although you can force a modifier key to be needed to break a constraint on the current screen.
as a new mac convert from linux (rhel, fedora, gentoo and lately ubuntu mostly) who’s been using compiz fusion the only other thing I think mac could take away well from kde/gnome is having a modifier key that if held allows you to click anywhere on a window and allow the window to be dragged. in kde/gnome/compiz this key is “alt” (note this can respond and is disabled within certain windows where its inappropriate like paint programs …) Really handy to use on things like media players, web browsers,
spaces is basically the same thing as the “expo” plugin from compiz fusion although the other plus to “expo” is that you can drag windows around from the zoomed out view. wait strike that you can do that. I guess mac can still pull out the win if they can enable different wallpaper on each desktop or some other easy way for me to know which one I’m on. I’m not used to checking the top of the screen for information like that.. I’ve always enjoyed the live previews of the desktops that kde/gnome have that tell you not only where you are but a ‘mini’ preview of whats residing on that “desktop”
The other thing I would really like to see is the ability to task-switch or perform an expose across all “desktops” instead of only the one we are currently on. Is there a way to do that on the mac?
lastly is there a good way to make the trackpad continue to scroll if I use the two finger gesture for scrolling and reach the end of the pad?
January 31st, 2008 at 12:02 am
oops just discovered “edge knocking” per @zarchs post
though its hardly doc’d or configurable :-\
did someone say enlightenment? lol is it e17 or e18 thats been in dev/beta since 2000 and competing with duke nukem forever for the software vaporware award?
will try spark and warp
January 31st, 2008 at 11:44 am
hold the control button and hit 1,2,3,4 two fingers, no gymnastics!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
hi, guys. please don’t get me wrong. i have a mac problem, and i don’t know which forum to go to, so in my desperate need for answer, i would like to ask the subscribers here to please direct me to any site you think might be helpful. thanks.
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 am
i’ve known about this for the past 3 months. way to stay on top of things lol.
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:13 am
You don’t actually have to drag at the same time. It works if you just click on the top of the application and press the control button and arrows at the same time.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:56 am
How can I find out how to use spark to set up keys for moving an application to a different space?
By the way, I installed warp, and it is great. Sometimes I’d like to just keep my hands on the keyboard, though.
Everyone says spark is easy to use, but I’m missing something.
Thanks,
JRV
April 6th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
i get it but i think this one’s more trouble than it’s worth!!!! maybe because i have spaces hot cornered?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:57 am
@ insane-dreamer: a external mouse makes it easier then for a macbook. on spaces options change the ctrl key for alt (option) key then with your left hand press the right alt key (next to the arrows) and use your left hand for the mouse.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:58 am
@ insane-dreamer: EDIT * i mean right hand for mouse lol * ^
July 26th, 2008 at 5:03 am
All X11 window managers in Linux are fully configurable, and it has always been possible to drag windows directly between the virtual desktops without using the pager. Flipping to another space with mouse has always been possible and it’s not available on Leopard, which is extremely annoying. So if automatical switching of the second screen in dual screen setups.