Turn off fullscreen mode

[kimmer]

I really don't care for this feature and don't see the use for it but I'm sure loads of folks do find it useful. I only "use" it when I accidentally hit those arrows (see insert) -- and I can never remember how to exit this annoying fullscreen feature and wind up spending time trying commands and keyboard shortcuts until something works. So I would like to disable this feature. Is that possible, and if so, how do I disable it?

[attachment=2805:fullscreen.png]

[Xairbusdriver]

So, what yor're saying is that you'd like to ESCAPE this feature? There has to be a KEY to this problem...

[Paddy]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Feb 7 2013, 10:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really don't care for this feature and don't see the use for it but I'm sure loads of folks do find it useful. I only "use" it when I accidentally hit those arrows (see insert) -- and I can never remember how to exit this annoying fullscreen feature and wind up spending time trying commands and keyboard shortcuts until something works. So I would like to disable this feature. Is that possible, and if so, how do I disable it?

[attachment=2805:fullscreen.png]

I don't know about disabling it permanently, but to get out of it, simply mouse over the very top of the screen and the menu bar, with the arrows in the right corner will reappear and you can click on them to shrink the window back to its original size. Works in all apps.

[kimmer]

Jim, the escape key doesn't work (at least in Firefox and Thunderbird).

Paddy, thanks. I'd still like to permanently disable this "feature". So far, I've not found an answer; but I bet there's a terminal hack for it.

[krissel]

I think this is one of those things Apple has to fix.  To get in and out of full screen in different apps it takes different key commands.

Command+Option+F  
Command+Shift+F
Command+Control+F

These will all work in various apps. One way to check is to go to View in the menubar of the app in question and see which keys are listed by the Exit Full Screen.  

Or perhaps assigning your own key command in prefs might do it for you.

http://osxdaily.com/2011/08/10/full-screen...rtcut-mac-os-x/

[Xairbusdriver]

I can only assume you are accidentally hitting the key combo to create the full-screen, otherwise, you have to hit a pretty small area on a window that could be almost anywhere on your screen. I think the Escape key will work on any Apple app. Otherwise, you'll probably have to use the keys designated in the app. But, just because the app's menu disappears doesn't mean it's not accessible. Simply scroll to the top edge on the screen and the menu will reappear. Then use the View Menu to find the appropriate key combo to switch back to normal window size. It should be the same combo for either size.

As for disabling it, there's probably a setting in the 'defaults write...' category in Terminal, but it may be a hidden pref setting in every non-Apple app. Frankly, I wasn't even aware that there were different keyboard combos for using this absurdly useless function. What does Apple think we are, Windows users?! Why would I want to cover up all the other windows I'm using?! What's the point of having Spaces? What's the point of being able to 'Dock' a window? What's the point of all the other ways to eliminate other windows/apps?

Since all keyboard commands seem to use something with the "F" key, just make sure you don't have lazy fingers resting on something besides "F" and 'command.' Of course, if the app allows editing its keyboard menu equivalents, you should change them all to the same combo.

I'm sure I have accidentally entered full screen but I can't remember how long it's been. Therefore, I suggest you use the same procedures as I do in all your computer usage. I, obviously, have the best system. After all you don't hear me whining about trivial things like this. I only concern myself with important problems... like my STUPID CC!

[kimmer]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Feb 8 2013, 07:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can only assume you are accidentally hitting the key combo to create the full-screen, otherwise, you have to hit a pretty small area on a window that could be almost anywhere on your screen.

Not hitting a keyboard command. It's when I'm moving my mouse to the upper right of my screen to click my iCalendar, or the drive icon, or something else that is there and I have finger fumble and hit those 2 stupid little arrows and POP there's fullscreen for whatever is open. It's really annoying to this user. If Apple would just do things MY way, life would be so much sweeter.  And I have a grand CC company. Just saying.

[Paddy]

The escape key doesn't seem to work in non-Apple apps. The mousing at the top of the screen, on the other hand, does work in all apps.

Disabling it seems to be application-specific, and not all apps have it in the first place (Photoshop, Lightroom are two I just checked which don't have it).

You alter its behavior in, though not really turn it off in Firefox if you want though - I just tried it and it works as advertised. See: http://serverfault.com/questions/416392/di...ox-for-eternity (double clicking on the item changes the setting from true to false - which isn't explained in the link) The menu bar disappears, but you can still see your tabs and URL bar. BTW - that about:config file sure has a lot of things you could mess around with. I love the warning about voiding the warranty when you first open the file. I wasn't aware that Firefox HAD a warranty. If you Google about:config you'll find lots of info about fooling around with that file - might be interesting on a day with nothing else to do. (Never seem to have those, unfortunately)

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Not hitting a keyboard command. It's when I'm moving my mouse to the upper right of my screen to click my iCalendar, or the drive icon, or something else that is there an...

Uhmn... I thought you needed to click the arrows on the app's window! I have both the upper and lower corners of my screen_ as hot corners for MaxMenus, but that never makes an ap go full screen.

[kimmer]

Paddy, thanks. That does look like fun to try - after a complete backup.

xABD, I do click the arrows on the app's window -- accidentally. I'm moving my mouse to go from lower left to upper right and my finger slips about the time my mouse pointer is over those arrows and POW, I have fullscreen. I have no idea what MaxMenus is.

Guess I can't do what I'd like, so I'll have to learn to not have fumble fingers.

[Xairbusdriver]

Well, many studies have proven that the corners of any screen are the easiest places to mouse to. But I don't understand why you are accidentally hitting that corner of, apparently, lots of windows. There's just nothing up there other than those arrows which I never use, intentionally, either. I don't understand why you're anywhere near that spot so much.

MaxMeuns is a very old System Pref that allows just about anything you want to appear at any or all the four screen corners; with or without modifier keys. It's been around almost from the beginning of OS X and I don't think it has been supported in many years. But it still works perfectly in every version of the OS I've ever had.

I have the System Prefs set to the upper, right-hand corner.

This allows me to select the Pref I want before even opening the System Prefs window.

The lower, right-hand corner has a few apps I tend to open often but not constantly leave open.

Since the 'buttons' are in the corners, it's extremely easy to get there, even with a touchpad. Once you hit any side, the only movement left is along that side till you hit the corner. Once there, you have to change at least one of the directions you were moving (Up/Down or Left/Right). Again, there just aren't ever any windows covering the Menu Bar (top of screen) and only extremely rarely the bottom, right-hand corner. I do get frustrated with the Dock opening when I mouse down there, however. Fortunately, it doesn't extend all the way to the corner so I don't actually hit anything on it.

My second suggestion, since you seem unwilling to just do things like I do, is to tilt your monitor at least 30° to the left. I think that will make most of your diagonal moves more horizontal on the monitor, at least...

[kimmer]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Feb 8 2013, 02:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, many studies have proven that the corners of any screen are the easiest places to mouse to. But I don't understand why you are accidentally hitting that corner of, apparently, lots of windows. There's just nothing up there other than those arrows which I never use, intentionally, either. I don't understand why you're anywhere near that spot so much.

[attachment=2808:corner.jpg]

Because that corner is near MenuCalendar and Notifications and my HD icon.  It's the way I do things. It allows me to come here and ask pesky questions.    

Thanks for the info on MaxMenus. Is that was gave you that nice drop down menu? If not, what did?

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Is that was gave you that nice drop down menu?

Of course! I just put "System Prefs" in the list of items I wanted to appear when I click the upper, right-hand corner. Each corner, that's used, has a quarter circle of any color you want so you can see that it's being used for something. You can also insert 'dividers,' as I did on that smaller menu display. You can put just about anything you want in any list;

And you can assign keyboard shortcuts to each corner as well as each item in the drop down list! You may have noticed I have one assigned to MaxMenus in the longer drop down image above. Seriously, I fear each new OS update/upgrade may break this very handy little app that hasn't been updated since 2007! I think it speaks well of the developer that he made such good use of basic APIs! And his sense of humor also shows. Here's the choices of the size of text in each drop down menu:

Frankly, I haven't had the guts to see how big "Prodigious" might be!

I'm still confused as to why you use the HD icon on your Desktop. The whole drive's contents are already available in any Finder or PathFinder window, which should be open at all times, anyway. Nor am I able to discern why you don't move some of your windows to avoid hitting what obviously irritates you. You do realize that windows usually open exactly where they were when you closed them, right? You won't have to move them every time... just once! Of course, one would then need to find something else to whine about... discuss.

BTW, if you don't want to move any windows, you can move the items on the Menu Bar, also, at least the items on the right-hand side. Hold down the 'shift' and the 'command' keys, click on an item and move it. Fini.

[kimmer]

QUOTE

I'm still confused as to why you use the HD icon on your Desktop.

It's my way. And I guess I should have added a disclaimer: Note: browser window was moved to the right for the purpose of this photo. It normally lives over to the left on this nice large screen.

QUOTE

The whole drive's contents are already available in any Finder or PathFinder window

I don't have PathFinder and don't know what it is.

QUOTE

BTW, if you don't want to move any windows, you can move the items on the Menu Bar, also, at least the items on the right-hand side. Hold down the 'shift' and the 'command' keys, click on an item and move it. Fini.

Just tried that and it only works on a few of the items, not all. Fini.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

It's my way.

There it is!

BTW, <PathFinder> is a super replacement for Finder.