TITLE
    Mac OS 8.5: Application Switcher & Wrong Application Highlighted
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		30824
11/4/98
11/4/98
TOPIC

    I am using AppleScript to set the window property of the Application Switcher to reverse launch order under Mac OS 8.5. After doing this, I notice an odd behavior with the Application Switcher palette when it is set to show icons vertically in reverse launch order. The Application Switcher palette does not correctly display the active application, or switch to the active application under certain circumstances.

    - Is Apple aware of this issue?
    - How can I workaround this issue?

DISCUSSION

    One of the extensions that is scriptable via AppleScript under Mac OS 8.5 is the Application Switcher extension. One of the window properties that can be set via AppleScript is the button ordering in the Application Switcher window. Button ordering can be set to:

    - alphabetical
    -launch order
    - reverse alphabetical
    - reverse launch order

    When button ordering is set to reverse launch order and the user quits an application, occasionally, the highlighted application in the Application Switcher palette does not match the frontmost application. Apple is aware of and is investigating this issue with the Application Switcher extension. Until this can be corrected, users may select one of the other 3 choices for button ordering as this issue does not occur when sorted alphabetical, launch order or reverse alphabetical.

    An example AppleScript to set the button ordering to alphabetical is as follows:

    tell application "Application Switcher"
    set the button ordering of the palette to alphabetical
    end tell

    AppleScripts can be created using the Script Editor which is installed in the Apple Extras folder with Mac OS 8.5.

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: Mac OS 8.5
Sub Category: General OS Topics

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