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Is there a shortcut for "go back" or "close tab", depending?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by GilDawson

GilDawson
GilDawson
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When browsing a topic, I often Google it, then command-click on links to open them in new tabs. While they're loading, I can continue to browse the Google page for more links.

Then, when I start to visit the newly created tabs, I click on links in them, sometimes with, and sometimes without, the command key. This generates a tree of webpages, some on one tab, and some on different tabs, but all on the same topic.

When I want to collapse a branch of the tree, I can use the shortcut "command-[" (Back) if the arrow is dark, or "command-W" (Close Tab) if the arrow is grey. Very handy, but maybe there's a modification which would make it even handier... 

          Is there a single shortcut which will do either, depending on the darkness of the arrow?

I've browsed the documentation and it's likely not there. But I've found a few things that aren't there (Command-click to open a link in a new tab and in the background is a very handy one), so I thought I'd ask.

--Gil

When browsing a topic, I often Google it, then command-click on links to open them in new tabs. While they're loading, I can continue to browse the Google page for more links. Then, when I start to visit the newly created tabs, I click on links in them, sometimes with, and sometimes without, the command key. This generates a tree of webpages, some on one tab, and some on different tabs, but all on the same topic. When I want to collapse a branch of the tree, I can use the shortcut "command-[" (Back) if the arrow is dark, or "command-W" (Close Tab) if the arrow is grey. Very handy, but maybe there's a modification which would make it even handier... Is there a single shortcut which will do either, depending on the darkness of the arrow? I've browsed the documentation and it's likely not there. But I've found a few things that aren't there (Command-click to open a link in a new tab and in the background is a very handy one), so I thought I'd ask. --Gil

Chosen solution

I'm not aware of an extension to achieve this behavior.

You could open all links in a new tab. Then you only need to close tabs and not use the Back button.

You could open links in new windows. Then closing the last tab in a window will close that window if you haven't changed that setting.

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All Replies (4)

crislevin
crislevin
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I don't know how to change Shortcuts, but I do have a handy way:

I installed firegestures add-on, I set it up so I can close a tab by dragging mice downward a bit. Very handy.

GilDawson
GilDawson Question owner
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Thanks, Cris, for the reference. I'll check it out.

No, FireGestures doesn't seem to be quite the answer I'm looking for, although it looks worth trying out anyway.

The key point in what I'm looking for is "depending". If I wrote an AppleScript to do this (which is not a bad idea), the big hurdle would be finding out how the Script could tell whether the current window's current tab's "back" arrow is grey or dark, then do different things depending on the answer.

I still think I'd prefer a keyboard shortcut.

--Gil

Modified by GilDawson

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

I'm not aware of an extension to achieve this behavior.

You could open all links in a new tab. Then you only need to close tabs and not use the Back button.

You could open links in new windows. Then closing the last tab in a window will close that window if you haven't changed that setting.

GilDawson
GilDawson Question owner
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Thanks for the clarity, Cor-el. And I like your workarounds. Either one is a small change in habit.

Thanks,

--Gil