In Excel, you can work on two worksheets (from two different workbooks) by placing them in vertical, side-by-side windows. When you have two workbooks open at the same time, select Window, Compare Side by Side With.  After you select this command, a floating Compare Side by Side toolbar will open in Excel. The toolbar includes the Close Side by Side button, which you can use to close the windows as soon as you’re done comparing or transferring data between the two. While the two workbook windows are in open in Excel, you can select different worksheets and scroll to different regions in either one by using its sheet tabs and scroll bars that appear at the edge of the window. To make workbook active, just click the title bar or one of the cells of its worksheets.

25 Responses to “Viewing Excel Worksheets Side-by-Side”

  1. Jon-Paul Says:

    Another way to compare Excel, Word and any other program in multiple windows is to use a great program called WinTiles that has been around for a few years…

    www.WinTiles.com

  2. Davak Says:

    Great hint Shaman. Thanks!

    Jon-Paul:

    I have never seen Win-Tiles although the program appears to me to be just a shareware way to tile windows.

    XP already does tiles pretty well already… Just right click on the task-bar and select your tiling options. If you only want to tile certain windows… then just hold CTRL, then select the windows you want to tile, and then select your tile options.

    Here is the recipe on the tile of windows:
    http://www.tech-recipes.com/windows_tips830.html

  3. Mickey Says:

    Hi,

    Is there a way to view side by side 2 worksheets that are located in the same workbook?

    Thanks,

    Mickey

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  5. Nick Burns Says:

    Mickey,

    With your workbook open, just select Window, New Window. This will create a second window of the current workbook. Then you can arrange them horizontally/vertically and select individual sheets in each window.

  6. mroonie Says:

    Oh how I needed this tip! Thank you so much!

  7. Francois Says:

    Hello,

    If you have two monitors, like I do, you can go to

    Tools > Options

    Select the “General” tab and place a check mark at “Ignore other Applications”.

    You will be able to open Excel files in multiple windows (like Word.

  8. joe Says:

    Francois,

    Thats what I needed.

    Thanks so much.

  9. Alison Says:

    When I check “ignore other applications” under tools > options > general, I can view an excel file on each of my two monitors. However, now when I try to open up an excel file through window explorer, just a blank excel file is loaded. The program no longer automatically opens the file I’ve selected. Is there a fix to view excel on two monitors and allow opening thorugh the window explorer?

    Thanks.

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  11. H Says:

    Thanks Nick.
    That really made my day too! Comparing Excel sheets side by side, simply by choosing “new Window” was a too obvious solution for me to spot. It is in HELP under “View multiple sheets or workbooks at the same time ” , but for some reason that did not come up when i looked for it.

    Nick Burns Says:
    September 25th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
    Mickey,

    With your workbook open, just select Window, New Window. This will create a second window of the current workbook. Then you can arrange them horizontally/vertically and select individual sheets in each window.

    mroonie Says:
    September 25th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
    Oh how I needed this tip! Thank you so much!

  12. Monique Says:

    Hi

    I have a bit of a problem , and you guys seem like you know what you are talking about when it comets to Excel. I would like to share a file which has excel on it. This Excel doc is my master. My friend would like to access this excel master and edit it. ie. work one the same excel document at the sametime on 2 different computers. Im sure that this is possible or there is a 3rd software that i have to purchase for this application.
    Please get back to me a.s.a.p
    Thank you so much
    Monique

  13. Sree Says:

    It might be late. Still somebody might be able to use it. You can share the excel sheets. Tools and then share workbook. There are some limitations, but as long as to work it will work just fine.

  14. Willian Morrison Says:

    I don’t exercise at all. If God meant for us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up on our body.

  15. Copycat Recipes Says:

    Ha ha! I was actually searching for food recipes but was brought to your blog. Funny thing is I use excell and I found your tip really helpful!! LOL
    Thanks!

  16. Anna Says:

    For those who have Excel for Mac 2004 - Windows > Arrange… > then select how you want them arranged.

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  18. plastik Says:

    Thats what I needed. Thanks for the idea.

  19. prefabrik Says:

    Thank you for information.

  20. doctorH Says:

    Oh yes! Wow! This is exactly what I needed! Thanks Nick. It did seemed too obvious. But I guess simplicity is always the best solution…

  21. Kulak estetiği Says:

    Very useful information for me. Thanks.

  22. Roger Says:

    I’m trying to view unique floating windows of excel files, not within the same frame. Can someone help with this?

  23. Prefabrik Says:

    thanks you it is very nice and using http://www.prefabrik.tv usefully and i am happy.

  24. qrius Says:

    thank you francois! that resolved my dual monitor setup issue. i can now see side by side. Roger, do the same thing.

  25. hekimboard Says:

    Oh how I needed this tip! Thank you so much!hekimboard is very nice..

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