Show Desktop
 

I'd like to see a Show Desktop command much like Linux's Cntrl+Alt+D or Windows Start+D. I use those commands frequently, and find myself hitting Apple+H like 8 times to get to the finder.

Anyone else?

Not sure I understand. You mean something different than the "Desktop" command (F11) for Exposé in 10.3?

Does it have to be keyboard only? Because you can option+click a Finder window or empty area of the desktop to bring the Finder forward and hide all other applications at the same time.

In the meantime, rather than hit cmd+h over and over, you can cmd+tab to the Finder, then do cmd+opt+h to Hide Others. That should save you a few keystrokes, at least.

option-command click the Finder in the Dock, or anywhere on the Desktop

Re:
 

Sorry, "Show Desktop" is a Windows term. By it, I mean, have one keyboard shortcut to minimize all running programs, and show an unobstructed view of the Desktop.

I've set the third button on my mouse to Option-Command-Click. When I want a clear screen, I click with the third button somewhere in the Finder Desktop, and all other programs are hidden.

Didn't know about Option+Command+Click on the Desktop. That seems to work. Just wish there was a nice, easy keyboard-only shortcut. I like to use the mouse as little as possible.

As dhalterman noted above, Exposé's "Desktop" function in Panther does what you want with a single key.

Re:
 

Oh really? I'm getting a new machine in the fall. Still running Jaguar on this machine. That's why I didnt know what you two were talking about.

Yellow, I'm from Rhode Island as well.

Show Desktop
 

You know thinking about it this gets to me also. so I just tried this ( Below )

You could try a applescript like this, which seems to work and save it in you scripts folder ( then I think it would be avalible as a hot key at all times, as something like 'script-name___cmd-?.scpt'
I do not have 10.3 yet, so I can not save and test this with its own cmd hot key , but you would need to choose your hot keys with care

Sweet! A fellow Rhodylandah! How is Lil' Rhody doing? Still the Biggest Little State in the Union?
Don't laugh people from a bigger state.

Re: Rhode Island
 

Rhode Island's doing well. I'm in my third year of computer engineering at the Univ. Of Rhode Island, but I'm from Newport. Just can't wait for summer!

Cool. I'm from SK/Wakefield as a matter of fact.

is it true that they recently had the entire state carpeted? ;]

In pea-green shag!

I don't mean to interrupt the RI talk, but going back a bit, it isn't necessary to hold down the command key. Option-clicking will do the trick.

Save yourself a finger.

That's not the same thing.

Option-click when switching apps hides the app that you are switching from.

Option-command-click when switching apps hides all apps except the one you are switching to.

Mark,

Here's a script that doesn't rely on UI scripting.


-- Rob

Thanks Rob, still learning,
I had to chop out both 'to' parts and drop 'set visible of (every application process...' to its own line to get script ed. to like it (sys - 10.2.8) but works fine.

Butler offers this!
 

My solution (I'm on Jaguar too) is to use Butler. I've configured it so that I have a button that shows the desktop right on the main Butler menu (functions like the one on my Windows taskbar). It's easy to assign any hotkey you want to it as well.

I have a 4 and a 6 year old who recently got interested in the 50 states. They call Rhode Island "Rhode" and refuse to call it Rhode Island because it isn't an island. Just last week I showed them a bigger map of Rhode Island that shows that it has some islands so I don't know if that calmed them down or not...I haven't heard it discussed since then.

They are really something...when they get interested in something (which is most of the time), look out. The 4-year old corrected me on the capital of New Mexico (Sante Fe, rather than Albuquerque), and they both can tell you that Pluto has one known moon whose name is Charon (as well as the orders of the planets from the sun, etc.). We don't drill them on it, but we don't use our TV and once they hear of something new they ask to read things about it, they go get the P encyclopedia because they know that planet begins with P. Sorry to go on about them...but it really gets me thinking about the dangers of TV replacing the natural inquisitiveness of children with mindless nonsense. They never say "I'm bored." Sorry, here I go again.

Anyway, it cracked me up that they refused to call it Rhode Island, so I had to chip that in here where it almost fit.

I'd like to note that there is a difference between option+command+clicking the Dock's Finder icon and the desktop itself: the Finder icon will reveal the desktop with a Finder window open to your Home folder (or whatever you have set up under Finder preferences), while the desktop will reveal just the desktop.

From California... I have NOTHING to crow about.

Bring it up in the coat room--good subject. I try to limit the "live" TV and just show them what I have recorded over the years. Classic Looney Tunes and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Nice balance--eh?

To the original point... Rhode Island? No... hmmm--Oh yeah...

I do not like having any other application windows showing when I am in a particular application or in the Finder. DragThing comes in real handy with a preference to automatically hide-all applictions. Personally, this should be built in to OSX as a preference.