Split screens

**datafiend** · 10-27-2010, 03:26 AM

Hi there
I've got split (i.e. two) screens on my desk but am unable to get two different Excel spreadsheets to show on the different screens. If I drag one spreadsheet to the other screen then click on the second spreadsheet to activate it, it appears on the second screen, replacing the one I have dragged there. Other applications such as Word or Access can show two separate documents, databases on the different screens at the same time.

Does anyone know how the same can be done in Excel.

Grateful for any assistance.

Thanks.

**TMS** · 10-27-2010, 04:02 AM

You'll need to open two instances of Excel. Wherever they open, reduce the size of the second instance and drag the window to the other screen.

I've just done that. Opened Excel ... Book 1, on screen 2 as it happens. Opened another instance of Excel; again, screen 2. Reduced the window and dragged over to screen 1. Opened a further instance of Excel ... back on screen 1.

Regards

**teylyn** · 10-27-2010, 04:30 AM

TMShucks' solution works, but the drawback of two Excel instances is that you can not use things like Paste Special options or copying formulas from one ss to the other.

I prefer to un-maximise the Excel window, then manually drag the Excel window borders to span the two screens. With two Excel files open in the one instance, I then select Windows - Arrange - Vertical

cheers

edit: You can even use that technique to see two different sheets of the same file side by side. Use Window - New Window and then Window - Arrange - Vertical and you can see one internal Excel window with Sheet1 and the other internal Excel window with Sheet2.

**TMS** · 10-27-2010, 05:41 AM

@Teylyn: picky, picky. But I like your approach better :-) Amazing what little (but useful) tricks you can learn.

**teylyn** · 10-27-2010, 06:08 AM

@TM,

I work a lot with two instances of the same file or viewing two different Excel files at the same time. The day I got two monitors was like Xmas. Nowadays, I have a laptop and an external monitor, where the above mentioned technique does not work so well (different screen resolutions), but I generally avoid two separate Excel instances, because too much gets lost when you need to copy and paste between files.

cheers