I want to open 2 excel files in separate windows to view them side by side... but each time I try, it opens them in the same window

Anonymous
2009-11-14T01:05:58+00:00

I want to open 2 excel files in separate windows to view them side by side... but each time I try, it opens them in the same window.  is there a way around this?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2011-03-15T22:03:50+00:00

I use Windows 7 and this is what works for me (just figured it out):

1.  Open your first Excel file and place it on the screen you want

2.  Open a new Excel file from the Excel icon

3.  The new file will open on top of the one you have already opened.  Drag it to the other screen

4.  Drag the icon for the second Excel file INTO the new (blank) Excel document

Voila!  Two separate screens.

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Anonymous
2010-04-30T19:36:49+00:00

ok, just because i don't have the petiance to wait for you to answer to my first question about which excel version you'r using i'll just give my solution for all the people who have w7 and office 2007:

the solution involves making little changes in the registry so i recommend making back up for just in case:

strart - run - regedit:

Left column

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/commend:

Right column {adding (space)"%1"}

Double Click on (Default) and write - "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"

Right Click on Command – choose "rename" and add something to the name 

  • for example 2 (commend2).

Left column

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/ddeexec:

Right Click on the folder ddeexec and choose "rename" and add something to the name 

  • for example 2 (ddeexec2)

Left column

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.12/shell/Open/commend:

Right column {adding (space)"%1"}

Double Click on (Default) and write -****"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"

Right Click on Command – choose "rename" and add something to the name 

  • for example 2 (commend2).

no restart needed

Have Fun

hope i helped

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-11-22T15:20:21+00:00

    There is a much easier way to do this w/out going into your registry.  In windows 7, in your task bar you have an icon for excel, it helps if you pin the icon to the task bar but it is not necessary.  

    Depending on if you have your computer set to display the most recently opened documents you can perform the following:

    Step 1

    Right Click on the Excel Icon in your Task Bar

    Step 2


    Select the first sheet that you wish to view or a simple select Microsoft Excel for a new blank sheet

    ***Note-the icon keeps the 10 most recent entries***

    Once wither your most recent document or the blank sheet is open (depends which you select from the pop up menu)

    Step 3

    Right Click on the Excel Icon (in the Task Bar) a second time

    ***you will then have the option to select the second sheet (if its listed) that will open in a new window, or you can simply select Microsoft Excel and it will open you a blank sheet in a new window***

    Step 4

    You now have two open windows with two separate excel sheets.

    Once you have your Blank Sheet, then in that window you can open up any other sheet that you wish.

    If you still have questions, visit https://newwaveit.com/Contact_Us.html and select Contact Me and post your question,  there's never a charge for replies.

    Yaser Ebrahimi

    http://www.newwaveit.com/

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-18T19:20:20+00:00

    Hi everybody

    Would you please stop this exchange and go back to your books about using a window based program, or at least try to use the HELP feature of eitheir excel or window.

    This thread does not certainly bring ANYTHING to a excel forum and does not require more attention and this should be read by this forum moderator.

    Thank you for your understanding

    Kind regards

    JY

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-18T18:40:31+00:00

    This has to be the most useless and inane answer to a post I've ever seen in a forum. When we say open a new window we mean open the file in a new instance of the program so you can see both files at once and move things back and forth. We don't mean open a new file in the same instance. Quit with the cookie cutter answers and figure out how to make this program more useful or STHU.

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