Windows 7: Tiling all open windows within an application?

Hi, I recently switched from an old eMac to a new Dell Inspiron 537S running 64-bit Windows 7 and I have been searching for a way to replicate the F10 shortcut on the mac.

On a mac, F10 will tile all open windows within an open application. I used this constantly in Photoshop to cycle through images, compare exposures, etc. Seems like there are a lot of cool ways to cycle through open windows in Windows 7 but I haven't figured out a way to cycle through open windows/files within an application.... Ctrl-Tab works well for straight cycling but I'd prefer a function that allowed me to see all open files/images at one time...

Thanks very much in advance for any tips or suggestions....



Greg

Hi and welcome.
I think you said you want to view your picture files while in Photoshop.
Have you tried the folder in the lower left hand corner called Windows Explorer?
It opens your library.

Hi, thanks for the response.

Specifically, I am looking for a keyboard shortcut that will enable me to be able to view all open files/images within a program, like Photoshop. In other words, if I am working in Photoshop and have about 10 files open, I would like to be able to press a button (or series of buttons) and view all the windows/files at one time... In mac OS, the button F10 does just this.... after pressing it, all of the images that I have open in P-shop will "tile" and fit on the screen... pressing it again returns to normal view....

I was looking for a way to replicate this in Windows 7....

Greg

There isn't an equivalent function in Windows, but you can download a program that will do just that.

It's call Switcher. Credit to Howto Geek for promoting this guy.
Switcher for Windows Vista

There isn't an exact equivalent in Windows 7 but you can get roughly the same before using the Win+1-0 hotkeys. If Photoshop is the first button on your taskbar try hitting Win+1 (or hold down Win and hit 1 repeatedly to cycle). It will basically perform whatever action that would happen if you clicked on the taskbar button so if it isn't running it will launch otherwise it will do a switch.

Thanks for both suggestions... I downloaded switcher and it's cool but still won't work within a program, i.e., show me all the image files that I have opened inside Photoshop... Switcher is exactly what I was looking for in terms of how it works, but it doesn't seem to function within a single program. Instead of showing me the ten images that I have opened in P-shop, Switcher tiles P-shop, Google Chrome, itunes and whatever other folders I have open... I'm looking for a way to carry out this action but within a single program's window.

Thanks, again, though.... there must be a way to do this, or, a program out there.... it's such a convenient feature... I might just be phrasing it all wrong or something....

On windows, the control of subwindows /within/ an application is 100% under the control of that application. and in photoshop all the working windows are child windows I believe. (If they were all desktop windows then those programs would work on it).

It is actually /possible/ to throw messages at child windows of applications but what will actually happen can be entirely dependent on how the app was written and that is also consoidered a security risk and may not even be possible between two apps any more.

So the answer is, if photoshop itself does not have a button, script or key sequence to do it then no, it can't be done. I'm betting that a photoshop forum would have a quick answer in regards to that one app anyway... I've been hoping that PS on windows would allow you to "tear off" the working windows for a LONG time making what you are talking about possible... maybe someday.

Ah, I see... thanks, fseal, that makes sense... I suppose that Mac's OS is just different and therefore has the ability to do it.... apples and oranges, though... plenty about Windows that I like better than Mac OS, too...

Thanks for the suggestion about checking a P-shop forum, I'll do it and post any updates...

Thanks to everyone for all the help...

So I just looked more into Photoshop commands and there are a couple of solutions. An obvious one that I should have known about is the >Window>Arrange>Tile option, this automatically re-sizes all the open windows to fit within your workspace (but it doesn't automatically re-size the zoom, but oh well)...

Between this and the Ctrl-Tab feature, which cycles through all open files, I guess I will become accustomed to missing that old F10 button on my mac... and maybe something will come up with more searching, who knows?

Sorry this turned into a Photoshop for beginners class!

Doesn't look like anyone understood your original question. What you're looking for is available in most properly written Windows programs and it is normally under the Window or View menu item, and then "Tile." Word has it, Excel has it, Adobe programs have it, etc. Some refer to it differently or separate it into horizontal or vertical, but they have it. Just remember it isn't part of the OS...it's the actual application.

FYI, in Photoshop, it is Window, Arrange, Tile. (Just saw that you found that already.)