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
    2010-06-22T18:10:15+00:00

    Difficulty: 0

    Skills Required: Using Mouse

    Time to completion: 1 Second

    Versions used to test this: Windows 7, Excel 2007

    Rightclick on the tab in the Task Bar and click on "Microsoft Office Excel 2007" to open a new workspace.

    Afterwards, simply drop in a file per Drag and Drop or use the "Data > Open"-Command to open files in the new Workspace.

    This way you don't need to edit your Registry or go the long way vie Start > Programs > etc. . I find that useful the few times I need it as it is quick, simple and does no permanent changes to your system.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-05-27T21:34:10+00:00

    By the way, I did it using Office 2010 64-bit Beta on Windows 7 64-bit.  Only difference is that it's "Office14" instead of "Office12".

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-05-27T21:32:42+00:00

    Works!

    Fabulous solution, thanks Israeli-gogo !

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