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

Best way is to create a bat file that you associate with excel documents instead of excel.

You can do this in Open Office, so that you don't loose formatting, open the one you want to edit in Excel and the other in open office.

in 2003, I simply start both sheets, the select Windows/compare side byside, then windows/arrange/tiled, horizontal, vertical, cascade

View two or more worksheets at the same time

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You can quickly compare two worksheets (worksheet: The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook.) in the same workbook or in different workbooks by viewing them side by side. You can also arrange multiple worksheets to view them all at the same time.

What do you want to do?

• View two worksheets in the same workbook side by side
• View two worksheets of different workbooks side by side
• View multiple worksheets at the same time

View two worksheets in the same workbook side by side

1. On the View tab, in the Window group, click New Window.

1. On the View tab, in the Window group, click View Side by Side .
2. In the workbook window, click the worksheets that you want to compare.
3. To scroll both worksheets at the same time, click Synchronous Scrolling in the Window group on the View tab.

Note This option is available only when View Side by Side is turned on. Tips

• If you resize the workbook windows for optimal viewing, you can click Reset Window Position to return to the original settings.
• To restore a workbook window to full size, click Maximize at the upper-right corner of the workbook window.

 Top of Page View two worksheets of different workbooks side by side

1. Open both of the workbooks that contain the worksheets that you want to compare.
2. On the View tab, in the Window group, click View Side by Side .

Note If you keep more than two workbooks open, Excel displays the Compare Side by Side dialog box. In this dialog box, under Compare Side by Side with, click the workbook that contains the worksheet that you want to compare with your active worksheet, and then click OK.

1. In each workbook window, click the sheet that you want to compare.
2. To scroll both worksheets at the same time, click Synchronous Scrolling in the Window group on the View tab.

Note This option is available only when View Side by Side is turned on. Tips

• If you resize the workbook windows for optimal viewing, you can click Reset Window Position to return to the original settings.
• To restore a workbook window to full size, click Maximize at the upper-right corner of the workbook window.

 Top of Page View multiple worksheets at the same time

1. Open the workbook or workbooks that contain the worksheets that you want to view at the same time.
2. Do one of the following:
   • If the worksheets that you want to view are in the same workbook, do the following:
     1. Click a worksheet that you want to view.
     2. On the View tab, in the Window group, click New Window.
     3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each sheet that you want to view.
   • If the worksheets that you want to view are in different workbooks, continue with step 3.
3. On the View tab, in the Window group, click Arrange All.
4. Under Arrange, click the option that you want.
5. To view sheets only in the active workbook, select the Windows of active workbook check box.

Tip To restore a workbook window to full size, click Maximize at the upper-right corner of the workbook window.

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See Also

• Merge copies of a shared workbook
• Where are my worksheet tabs?