More things OS X dos better than XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Windoze
  • Start date Start date
W

Windoze

I am stuck using a PC at work, and I have another question about how to
fix something in XP that I've always taken for granted in OS X and OS 9
for that matter. When I double click a file in Windows Explorer to open
the file, the file does not actually open, instead the application
button in the task bar flashed orange until I click it, then I have to
select the file I was trying to open, AND THEN it finally opens. Who's
idea was it at MS not open a file that I double click? It is so
frustrating that I even need to ask this question, but, here goes:

How to I get files to open when I double click them in Windows XP? As
far as I know, it has something to do with focus, which I know little
about. Can someone PLEASE help me to get Windows to actaully open the
flle - liek a normal OS - when I double-click it to OPEN the file?

In the mean time I'll add this to the list of things that Windows XP
lacks when compared to OS X (and OS 9 in some instances). Don't mean
to rant, it's jsut ridiculous.

P.S. Yes, I posted another similar topic to this a week or two ago,
but I cannot remember the email address I registered with.

See here if you're interested:
http://tinyurl.com/9c7u4

Thanks,
Jono
 
Windoze said:
I am stuck using a PC at work, and I have another question about how
to fix something in XP that I've always taken for granted in OS X and
OS 9 for that matter. When I double click a file in Windows Explorer
to open the file, the file does not actually open, instead the
application button in the task bar flashed orange until I click it,
then I have to select the file I was trying to open, AND THEN it
finally opens. Who's idea was it at MS not open a file that I double
click? It is so frustrating that I even need to ask this question,
but, here goes:

How to I get files to open when I double click them in Windows XP? As
far as I know, it has something to do with focus, which I know little
about. Can someone PLEASE help me to get Windows to actaully open the
flle - liek a normal OS - when I double-click it to OPEN the file?

In the mean time I'll add this to the list of things that Windows XP
lacks when compared to OS X (and OS 9 in some instances). Don't mean
to rant, it's jsut ridiculous.

P.S. Yes, I posted another similar topic to this a week or two ago,
but I cannot remember the email address I registered with.

See here if you're interested:
http://tinyurl.com/9c7u4
Click to expand...

You (or someone else) had to change the default OR you are opeing a file
that opens inside an application you already have open... Like
double-clicking on a Word file when you have Word already opened and
minimized to the system tray.

Use TweakUI to allow your applications to Steal Focus if that is what you
want.
 
You (or someone else) had to change the default OR you are opeing a
file
that opens inside an application you already have open... Like
double-clicking on a Word file when you have Word already opened and
minimized to the system tray.

Use TweakUI to allow your applications to Steal Focus if that is what
you
want.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
First of all, thank you for the quick "answer." Yes, I trying to open
a file in an application that is already open.

Secondly:
If I double click a file, that means I want it to open, not sit in the
task bar and flash. It's just plain ridiculous - number 3 on my
rapidly growing list of things XP doesn't do that OS X does - that I
have to install a thrid party application to simply open a file in
Windows. I know that this thrid party app probably does something that
is doable in XP alone (in regedit?), but too difficult for most to
handle. I cannot believe that so many people put up with, or settle
for, Window's lack of productivity, everyday.

It seems so simple, you double click the file and it opens. Period.
How hard is that? When I double click a file in OS X, hell OS 7.6
even, the file opens like it's suppsoed to, no matter the status of the
application the file belongs to.

Thanks again,
 
Donny said:
PEBKAC


"Windoze" (e-mail address removed) wrote in message

PEBWAW is more like it.

TweakUI does not bring back normal functionality, such as opening a
file when it is double clicked if the application is already open.
Under General< Focus, the only option is to "Prevent applications from
stealing focus" which is what the problem is already. I want the
application to "steal" focus when I double click a fiel that belongs to
that application. Why would anybody in their right mind want the file
to flash in the task bar when it is double clicked? How about an
option to open the file when it is double clicked?


What do I have to do/install in order to get Windows to open files I
double click - even if their parent application is already open? Why
can't Windows just open the application that owns the file I am trying
to open?

Is it possible to force the files I double click to open even if their
application is already open? And why is that so difficult to begin
with. Is this normal Windows behavior?
Click to expand...
 
IS IT POSSIBLE TO FORCE THE FILES I DOUBLE CLICK TO OPEN EVEN IF THEIR
APPLICATION IS ALREADY OPEN AND MINISMIZED?

If TweakUI does it, can someone please clearly describe the procvess,
I cannot seem to get it working.
 
Windoze said:
IS IT POSSIBLE TO FORCE THE FILES I DOUBLE CLICK TO OPEN EVEN IF THEIR
APPLICATION IS ALREADY OPEN AND MINISMIZED?

If TweakUI does it, can someone please clearly describe the procvess,
I cannot seem to get it working.
Click to expand...
It depends on how the application was coded.

Malke
 
Malke said:
Windoze wrote:
It depends on how the application was coded.
Click to expand...


All I want to do is have the file (any file) open when I double clic
on it, even if the application (any application) is minimized. Thi
occurs naturally in Mac OS X (and all previous OSs on the Mac side) bu
I can't seem to get it working in Windoesn't XP.

Apparently there is something known as "stealing focus" that I need t
force upon all applications if I double click a file for tha
application. Why on earth wouldn't Windows open a file that you doubl
click? It's obvious that I want it to open, and be useable, the secon
I double-click it, isn't it?


The time that Windows wastes is soooooo frustrating. Any speed gain
that PC hardware may have over Mac hardware is forfeited by Window
lack of productivity.

Any help, if it is even possible, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
Windoze said:
All I want to do is have the file (any file) open when I double click
on it, even if the application (any application) is minimized. This
occurs naturally in Mac OS X (and all previous OSs on the Mac side)
but I can't seem to get it working in Windoesn't XP.

Apparently there is something known as "stealing focus" that I need to
force upon all applications if I double click a file for that
application. Why on earth wouldn't Windows open a file that you
double
click? It's obvious that I want it to open, and be useable, the
second I double-click it, isn't it?


The time that Windows wastes is soooooo frustrating. Any speed gains
that PC hardware may have over Mac hardware is forfeited by Windows
lack of productivity.

Any help, if it is even possible, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I don't know the answer to your question. I do know that some programs
will open a second instance of themselves when a file is clicked and
some won't. For instance, Firefox will open another in another window
on another desktop for me. KNode will not but will just fail. So I
really think the ability to do what you want doesn't have to do with
the operating system but rather with the coding of the individual
programs.

If you are posting just to bitch about Windows, then go to one of the
advocacy groups. Otherwise, you can check out tweaks by MVP Kelly
Theriot regarding application focus here:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp.htm

Malke
 
Windoze said:
All I want to do is have the file (any file) open when I double click
on it, even if the application (any application) is minimized. This
occurs naturally in Mac OS X (and all previous OSs on the Mac side)
but I can't seem to get it working in Windoesn't XP.

Apparently there is something known as "stealing focus" that I need to
force upon all applications if I double click a file for that
application. Why on earth wouldn't Windows open a file that you
double click? It's obvious that I want it to open, and be useable,
the second I double-click it, isn't it?


The time that Windows wastes is soooooo frustrating. Any speed gains
that PC hardware may have over Mac hardware is forfeited by Windows
lack of productivity.

Any help, if it is even possible, would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

I believe my Office 2003 works as you say you desire.

Example to make sure:

I have a Microsoft Word document already open. I minimize.
I then locate another Word Document on my desktop and double-click on it..
It opens a new window on my desktop - the minimized document stays
minimized.

Excel is similar - same situation.. The only different is that the Excel
window opens and contains all of the windows inside of one window - where
Word has many windows open for each document.. In any case - the excel main
window restores itself and the new file i double-clicked on is visible..

Is that what you are trying to do?

(Yes - I have my "Prevent applications from stealing focus" enabled. Flash
3 times.)
 
Shenan said:
Windoze said:
...I minimize. I then locate another Word Document on my desktop and
double-click on it..
It opens a new window on my desktop - the minimized document stays
minimized.

...In any case - the excel main window restores itself and the new file
i double-clicked on is visible..

Is that what you are trying to do?
]
Click to expand...

Yes, that is the behavior that I want. No flashing, just open the
document I double-click, regardless of the applicatiosn current state
(minimized or not). What is the point of a document sitting in the
taskbar and flashing instead of opening? It just adds an extra click.
The application I have most trouble with is Dreamweaver MX, which may
just be a Macromedia issue?

Thanks, I think I'll throw in the towel and just accept another one of
Windows productivity setbacks.
Click to expand...
 
Shenan said:
...I minimize. I then locate another Word Document on my desktop
and double-click on it..
It opens a new window on my desktop - the minimized document stays
minimized.

...In any case - the excel main window restores itself and the new
file i double-clicked on is visible..

Is that what you are trying to do?
Click to expand...
Yes, that is the behavior that I want. No flashing, just open the
document I double-click, regardless of the applicatiosn current
state (minimized or not). What is the point of a document sitting
in the taskbar and flashing instead of opening? It just adds an
extra click. The application I have most trouble with is
Dreamweaver MX, which may just be a Macromedia issue?

Thanks, I think I'll throw in the towel and just accept another one
of Windows productivity setbacks.
Click to expand...

You do realize that if other people with Windows XP/Office 2003 are able to
do it and you are not - it is not a Windows issue - right?

I will check my settings and post back with what I can discover makes it
work the way you desire - and what seems to be (on all the systems I have
setup in the past few months - and that is in the hundreds+) default for the
systems I setup.
 
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