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
    2011-12-15T19:03:55+00:00

    You work for MS support and THAT is your solution? Which is to basically share the open window? 

    Try thinking outside the box. It is amazing that MS took away this feature, which can be very useful for multiple monitor setups.

    I agree with RV3 below...i fix in a future service pack would be nice.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-14T15:08:32+00:00

    If you are openin the files from My Computer by doube-clickin on them then it automatically opens in a single copy of Excel. It is possible to open Excel from yourStart menu twice, then open the different files inside each copy of Excel. However, f you just want to see the two files in separate icons on your task bar then open both and choose View, Arrange all  from Excel 2007 or 2010. There is a similar options from the Windows menu in earlier versions.

    Hope that helps

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-11T11:20:51+00:00

    I have been trying to figure this out F-O-R-E-V-E-R!! and voila its bloody simple I could kick myself. thank you!!!

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