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Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

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Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#51

Post by klabb3 »

nicwolff wrote: post #12

Wish you could change the key combo for this, I've been using a long-abandoned tool called Zooom2 to do this with `fn` (and `fn` + `control` to resize`) and fear losing it on my next Mac if it's an M1.

As a mac user, and more importantly, as an admirer of their UX design, I have to agree with this. Not perhaps specifically this point, but in general with the keyboard.

Muscle memory is not to be fucked with. Cmd vs Ctrl still gets me now and then, and even if it's rarer now, I can feel the cognitive context switch in my brain as I switch between devices. Sometimes it's better to play along even if you think you have a better way. Or at least offer the option (there is a time and place for spacebar heating).

Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#52

Post by mistersquid »

nico_h wrote: post #36
nicwolff wrote: post #12

Wish you could change the key combo for this, I've been using a long-abandoned tool called Zooom2 to do this with `fn` (and `fn` + `control` to resize`) and fear losing it on my next Mac if it's an M1.

Using an M1 right now and Zooom/2 still works.

> Using an M1 right now and Zooom/2 still works.

Same, but Rosetta 2 won't be around forever. Dreading the day Zooom/2 stops working and I can't find a replacement that lets one move and resize background windows.

Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#53

Post by mgrandl »

tgbugs wrote: post #46

I've had `OnWindow Mod1 Mouse1 :MacroCmd {Raise} {Focus} {StartMoving}` in my fluxbox keys config for a decade or so? My brain will automatically issue and alt-click on a window in some other OS and I'm always jolted back to the reality that I'm not in my usual window manager. Now if only I could rebind that cmd ctrl on macos to alt.

Can you not do that just fine with karabiner-elements?

Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#54

Post by toomim »

nicwolff wrote: post #15
iwebdevfromhome wrote: post #11

I use the kinda hidden three finger dragging gesture that you can activate like this: 1. Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Accessibility. 2. Select Pointer Control in the sidebar. (In earlier versions of macOS, select Mouse & Trackpad.) 3. Click the Trackpad Options button. 4. Select ”Enable dragging,” then choose ”three finger drag” from the menu. 5. Click OK.

That's not the same at all, you can still only drag the move bar – and it focuses the window, bringing it to the front. Moving and resizing background windows can very handy.

You can move (or do anything to) a background window without focusing it by holding `cmd` while clicking or dragging.

Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#55

Post by mark-wagner »

ugh123 wrote: post #30
iwebdevfromhome wrote: post #11

I use the kinda hidden three finger dragging gesture that you can activate like this: 1. Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Accessibility. 2. Select Pointer Control in the sidebar. (In earlier versions of macOS, select Mouse & Trackpad.) 3. Click the Trackpad Options button. 4. Select ”Enable dragging,” then choose ”three finger drag” from the menu. 5. Click OK.

I just tried this and it should be warned that this resets existing "three finger drag" (for mission control and switching desktops) to "four finger drag". This took me a while to figure out after thinking something was seriously broken, even after going back and disabling the new setting you mentioned.

To be explicit, the fix is to go into the trackpad options, more gestures, and change "swipe between full screen apps" (poor name choice) to three fingers.

Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#56

Post by orang2tang »

unicornfinder wrote: post #8
tambourine_man wrote: post #6

This looks to me like some experiment with touch enabled UI on the Mac by Apple.

I suspect as of Big Sur that Apple were intending to release touchscreen Macs, but the changes to the OS in future versions makes me suspect that they then changed their mind.

Mac OS on my iPad Mini 6 would make it a perfect device.

Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#58

Post by evan_ »

mistersquid wrote: post #49
brandonhorst wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can do exactly this with BetterTouchTool. You can also set it up with Hammerspoon.

> You can do exactly this with BetterTouchTool. Zooom2 allows for moving/resizing of background windows. Last I checked, BetterTouchTool window manipulation required clicking the window which brings it to the front.

It's actually configurable in BTT whether you bring the window to the front. You don't need to click, just hold down modifier keys.

Re: Moving a macOS window by clicking anywhere on it

#60

Post by blueberrychpstx »

Another question - I've looked before for any documentation on building tools for Mac, and can't really figure out anything besides "run this xyz app to trigger an AppleScript and do magic".

Does anyone know of any Swift APIs for interacting at the level of the OS itself?

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