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bertfberry
Participating Frequently
May 3, 2018

P: Panel windows stacking order changes after hitting tab twice

  • May 3, 2018
  • 12 replies
  • 316 views

Hi,

I am having an issue when I press tab to turn my palettes on and off with the tab key. They are re-ordering themselves alphabetically instead of how I left them. For example the layers palette will be visible above other palettes, I will press tab then do some painting/working, then when i press tab to turn the palettes back on I find that it is buried underneath other palettes. Is there any reason that the palettes should not be exactly as I left them vs. re-ordering themselves alphabetically?

Thanks

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    12 replies

    B
    bertfberryAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 9, 2018
    ahhh! the rigid order of those palettes all gridded and locked in place hurts my eyes :)!!!!
    Earth Oliver
    Earth Oliver
    Legend
    May 9, 2018
    Holy crap Bert! Your disorganized panels are triggering me. Why do leave them floating all over the place like that? You do know that you can dock and stack them into any config you choose?

    Here's how i arrange mine if you need a little inspiration...

    J
    J453
    Legend
    May 9, 2018
    You'll note that the apps that don't change z-order, their panels don't hide when cmd + tabbing away from them - which is why they don't have this problem.
    B
    bertfberryAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 8, 2018
    Thanks a lot! Here are some examples from safari, quicktime, itunes, and keynote-the only one that switches the order on un-hide is keynote, but it is not alphabetical...fwiw i am having the same problem with illustrator.
    J
    J453
    Legend
    May 8, 2018
    Do you have an example? I can run it by them.
    B
    bertfberryAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 8, 2018
    Hey Jeff,

    I really appreciate you looking into this. I am confused though. Other apps on macOS seem to be able to remember their stacking order after they are hidden and un-hidden...

    Bert
    J
    J453
    Legend
    May 8, 2018
    Hi Bert,

    Checked with engineering.

    This is as designed by Apple. Hidden windows do not have a z-order on macOS. The workaround is to not overlap floating panels (and/or keep them snapped together or the edge so they have the same z-order)
    J
    J453
    Legend
    May 8, 2018
    Thanks. I've asked engineers to take a look at this.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    May 5, 2018
    FWIW, MBP running HS, I see the same thing happen. Not always, so some stacking order (the height, or what PS thinks should be first in pecking order) seems to be the key. I always use the app frame with mostly docked panels, so haven't seen this before.
    B
    bertfberryAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 4, 2018
    This is after/before- doing nothing else beside hitting tab twice. Thanks for your help!
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