Menus Should Disappear When PS Loses Focus

[Daniel...@adobeforums.com]

I recently transitioned from Dreamweaver to MS Expression Web, and in doing so discovered a wondrously elegant aspect of that program's code: When it doesn't have focus, it removes all of its outboard menus from the screen.

When I have CS3's Photoshop and Illustrator running with all their menus on my left monitor, I want to be able to quickly Alt-Tab between them, but that leaves me with a dizzying mess of overlapped menus, so I have to always minimize them. If they would only blitz their menus when they don't have focus, my efficiency would be greatly enhanced.

If this feature has been added in CS4, I would appreciate hearing. Thanks!

Dan

[John Joslin]

Are you talking about "menus" or about "palettes"? (Or as they are now called "panels".)

If the latter press Tab.

[Daniel...@adobeforums.com]

Menus/Palettes/Panels... Yes.

I am aware of the Tab command, but that means the process of switching between apps and disabling/enabling panels would be:

Tab, Alt-Tab, Tab

Instead of the considerably more efficient:

Alt-Tab

It just seems so logical to automatically remove the panels when the app loses focus, and reenable them upon regaining focus.

[dave_...@adobeforums.com]

that seems like a reasonable request for a user preference to me... i never really thought about it before, because it's usually ok by me, but there are times where i've found it annoying.

if some users find it annoying all the time, maybe it could be made into an option in the preferences with the default being the current behavior.

[Daniel...@adobeforums.com]

Yes, Dave, it could be made an option, I suppose, but when you think about it, what possible value are all those panels when the app isn't in use? Since they'd instantly reappear when focus is regained, it's hard for me to imagine why anyone would need them to remain on screen.

I think a light came on in the head of one of Expression Web's coders, and it occurred to him or her that this was the most logical way to deal with outboard panels. I believe it should become SOP for all winapps.

[dave_...@adobeforums.com]

but when you think about it, what possible value are all those panels
when the app isn't in use?

my focus could be on another image app, even something like windows pic and fax viewer, but i still want my panels - navigator, history, file info, camera raw, whatever up on one of my (dual) screens. or i could be using bridge. or almost anything where i might want to see info from within ps at the same time as another app's data.

like i said, for ME, i would probably leave it alone if it were to default to current behavior, but i can see the reasoning and the logic of why some people, might want to do it your way too.

this was the most logical way to deal with outboard panels.

well, it's A logical way. not THEE logical way. :) the main reason i went with a second monitor was so i could put all those palettes out there. i LIKE seeing them when i'm in another app, esp. bridge and win pic&fax (no lightroom for me, sorry). i'm sure many multi-monitor ps users felt the same way when they added their first non-primary display. now i'd never go back!

if i wanted the palettes to hide and display now, under the way things work currently, as a workaround i'd probably stretch the app across both monitors and leave the palettes inside the application frame (within the mdi parent window).

[Daniel...@adobeforums.com]

Good point, Dave, on the issue of under certain circumstances wanting to see PS's info while in another app (like CMYK values...), so we certainly would want to be able to set preferences on panel hiding.

I was intrigued by your thought about stretching the main app window partially across the other screen, but in practice for me there are some issues when maximizing images, etc.

[dave_...@adobeforums.com]

but in practice for me there are some issues when maximizing images, etc.

use the "F" keys... i don't really like it that way either, but then my main monitor is 22" and my secondary palette monitor is only 17". i think the app stretching would work better if both monitors were the same size and positioned a little better to line up...

my ps desktop:
<http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1x10RHMjnwQJXEnSDZGc9DR2CNsL50>

[Daniel...@adobeforums.com]

The F keys aren't the issue, rather that with the image maximized across both of my 22" monitors, not only do I have to contend with the gap between monitors and the image then being partially under panels, but also since only one monitor can be calibrated at a time, there is a very noticeable color difference.

Re your setup... Spring for that second matching 22" as soon as you can (The excellent Samsung 2253LW that I have is only $229 at newegg.com with the rebate through 11/27) as having two identical sizes lined up with each other is a definite advantage.

[dave_...@adobeforums.com]

not only do I have to contend with the gap between monitors and the image
then being partially under panels, but also since only one monitor can
be calibrated at a time, there is a very noticeable color difference.

I hear ya!

[dave_...@adobeforums.com]

i'm pretty sure there are video cards that can handle 2 color profiles danial. you might want to look into that if it's a big issue for you. i only use my 2nd monitor as a "palette well" so it doesn't matter much to me. i CAN have 2 profiles on my nvidia 7600gtx. and both can be calibrated (more or less, i'm not a real pro at calibration, and don't need to be). one monitor is plugged into the analog output (lacie electron blue iv 22") and one in the digital out (nec multisync lcd 1760vm).

[harry_...@adobeforums.com]

Yeah, get a Huey Pro, and a newer graphics card, and you can get very good calibration. It's what I use at work, and it works very well.

[Daniel...@adobeforums.com]

I use a x-rite EyeOne calibrator, but with only my single ATI FireGL V3600 card, only one monitor can be calibrated. Actually the second monitor not being calibrated can be a benefit for web dev work as it lets you see how differently your site will look on other monitors (which drives this long-time print designer nuts).

[Free...@adobeforums.com]

IME any half-decent and reasonably current card can handle two profiles, but not all calibrators can.

Back to the OP: What a truly wonderful suggestion. There really are some things in life you don't realize you need until someone tells you... I love that idea.