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
    2010-08-04T16:54:52+00:00

    I use a method that is not elegant but works for me.

    I open an instance of Excel normally by double clicking a stored .xlx file or by clicking on the Excel icon.

    Then while holding down the shift key, I double click on the Excel icon (not another .xls file). Then use open to open the second .xls file.

    This gives me two instances of Excel and I can arrange them ide by side (i use snap)

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-08-04T14:02:35+00:00

    I tried that and got the following error:

              "There was a problem sending the command to the program"

    Then my computer crashed and I had to reboot. Thanks Talcum ;o)

    The solution to this appears to be reversing the option you provided above; so I'm still left unable to copy and paste content from one spreadsheet to another without an inordinate degree of clunkiness I'd rather not have to contend with.

    I understand a very effective workaround is to uninstall Windows and install any of the more secure Linux operating systems such as Red Hat, Ubuntu, Android, Google OS etc.,

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-07-30T20:24:49+00:00

    In Excel 2007 , Click the Office button ->Excel Options -> Advanced .

    Under General , check ‘Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange’ .

    Close Excel and open the two up. Both will open in two instances of Excel. Now remember, that DDE linking to other documents has been disabled, so if you use DDE, then you'll have to use theCompare Side By Side feature.

    Same with Excel 2003.

    In Excel 2003 , go to Tools -> Options ->General tab.

    Make sure the option, ‘Ignore other applications ’ is checked. Now all the Excel files will be opened as separate instance

    Same caveats with DDE and you can use the Compare Side By Side feature.

    PEACE

    Bud

    Not

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