TMO Quick Tip - Scrolling in Background Windows || The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size:

DealsOnTheWeb Daily Deal: Computer Geeks' Ho Ho Holiday Deals - Save Up to 80%

TMO Quick Tip - Scrolling in Background Windows

by , 2:00 PM EDT, April 18th, 2008

Scrolling up or down in document or Finder windows is something we do every day, and it's a task that doesn't have to be limited to the currently selected window. You can scroll through non-selected, or background, windows, too, and it doesn't involve crazy origami finger positions, either.

If you have a Mac laptop that supports two-finger scrolling, just place the mouse pointer over the window you want to scroll through. Now use the two-finger trackpad scrolling shortcut to move up or down through the window. This trick works with mice that support window scrolling, too.

Position the pointer over the window you want to scroll, no need to select the window first.

I use this trick when I am researching information on the Internet. I can scroll up or down through a Web page while taking notes in OmniOutliner or BBEdit without having to first jump back to my Web browser.

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Morning Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

if you have tips or tricks to share, or Mac-related questions you want answered.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments

Close Name:Mikuro Posts: 457 Joined: 15 Jun 2002
Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:43 pm Subject:

This tip should work in any app in Leopard. In Tiger and earlier, though, it works in the Finder, but not in most other apps.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:Guest
Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:22 pm Subject: In Tiger and earlier, though...

Thanks for that, I thought I was going mad.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:apex Posts: 63 Joined: 23 Jun 2001
Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:05 am Subject: Not in Firefox

Doesn't work for me in Firefox 2.

Reply | Quote

Comment on this Article

Guest Posts Visible. Hide Them.
Back to top Page 1 of 1

You cannot edit your comments. You cannot delete your comments.

Recent Headlines - Updated Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Thu., 5:40 PM: iPodObserver - Safari Exploit Allows Hacker to Call 1-900 Numbers
4:55 PM: User Friendly Blog by Ted Landau - Deal or No Deal: Apple Edition
2:55 PM: Mac Gaming News - Blizzard Sets a New 1-Day Sales Record With Lich King
2:35 PM: iPodObserver - Man Sends Naughty Pics to Mistress, Blames iPhone
2:05 PM: Gaming News - GameRanger Adds PC Support
2:00 PM: Editorial - Times Are Tough Apple, How About Feeding Some Kids
1:45 PM: TMO's DealsOnTheWeb.com - Logitech V550 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks: $42.29 Delivered
1:30 PM: TMO Contest - Get Into Macworld Expo with Your Inner Bard
1:00 PM: Review - Bento 2
11:50 AM: Freeway 5.3 Converts Flash to QuickTime for iPhone
11:10 AM: iPodObserver - Rumor: More Labels to Go DRM-free at iTunes Store
10:30 AM: Hot Forum Topic - Mac Security and Drive Encryption
9:55 AM: OmniGraffle 5.1 Beefs Up Visio Compatibility
9:35 AM: iPodObserver - Microsoft Lets Zune Subscribers Keep Some Music
8:45 AM: DiscLabel 5.4 Adds Holiday, Business Templates
8:15 AM: OmniFocus 1.5 Adds Multi-Mac Syncing, More
7:35 AM: Apple TV Software Update 2.3 Adds AirTunes Support, More

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
New iMac 800Mhz Memory 4GB $54. New MacBook & MacBook Pro DDR3 PC8500 4GB Kit $116. MacBook/MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO DDR2 667Mhz 4GB Kit $58, 3GB Kit $44, 2GB Kit $30. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Mac observers can now play Party Poker for Mac as well as Mac casino games by going to MacPokerOnline.com.
RamJet Memory: Mac Pro FB-DIMMs: 2Gig kit $95, 4Gig Kit $179, 8Gig Kit $355! MacBook 2Gig Kit $78, 4Gig Kit $149! Click here
For the latest Apple products use Ciao a comparison website to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate cell phones.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Special Report: iPhone
__________
Help TMO Grow
Macworld Expo - Hotel Deal
Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
TMO on Twitter!

Apple Stock Quote

AAPL: $80.49. Change Today: -5.80.
(Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

What's the buzz? These articles have TMO readers talking.

Judge Dismisses Pystar Antitrust Claims Against Apple - (15 Comments)
The Fastest Mac Compared to Today's Supercomputers - (13 Comments)
Another Christmas Arrives, Same Old Apple TV - (11 Comments)
Times Are Tough Apple, How About Feeding Some Kids - (9 Comments)
Life With Microsoft Vista in Parallels Desktop 4 - (7 Comments)
Apple's DisplayPort Includes Digital Copy Protection - (7 Comments)

Top Deals From DealsOnTheWeb

© The Mac Observer, Inc. -- All rights reserved. All information presented on this site is copyrighted by The Mac Observer, Inc. except where otherwise noted. No portion of this site may be copied without express written consent. Other sites are invited to link to any aspect of this site provided that all content is presented in its original form and is not placed within another frame. The Mac Observer is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple, Inc.