I have windows for an editor, a browser, a web application, and a development tool for that browser open. Unity groups them as two applications: Chrome and Eclipse.
Alt–Tab switches application group,
Alt–` switches windows in the same group. But, if my current window and previous window are from the same application group (Chrome),
Alt–Tab switches to the previous window, not to Eclipse.
How can I configure Alt–Tab to always switch between application groups, not windows of the same app?
Best Answer
Here is how to solve this:
All of these Switchers expose the old behaviour.
If you don't mind using the mouse instead of keyboard-shortcuts - one more note:
The Unity Launcher (the menu that comes up when you go to the left side of the screen) also works like an "old" taskbar. Clicking on an active app's icon brings that app's window to front. If an app icon indicates two or more windows of one app open, double-clicking opens a multiple-window grid that I think is more convenient than the multi-window "sub selector" that comes up through Alt+Tab for that same app group.
Update:
Actually now, I've come to accept the "grouping switcher" but with one novel way of using it (novel, at least for me):
I've found out that once you're working in one window from a group, you can switch between windows from this group by using ALT+^ (instead of ALT+TAB), for example switching between multiple instances of leafpad. And switching between windows from one group is what I usually do most, or wanted to do with ALT+TAB before. So this as a tip for everyone not knowing this very handy short-cut.