Opening a separate window in Excel?

Question

Using Excel 2007, how do I open more than one window? Everytime I try to open another spreadsheet file it opens it on top of the current one. I'm wondering how I get two or more separate windows open so I can reference them? It used to do it, and then someone else jumped on my computer at work and messed it up. Any help would be appreciated before I snap and fling my computer out of my office window

Answer 1

Your problem is that you do not want to combine into a single button your excel files when you have multiple items open. To change this display behavior, you need to change how programs and buttons appear on the taskbar, for this use one of these options:



OPTION 1:

Right-click on an empty space on your taskbar

Select Properties

Select the Taskbar tab from the dialog that pops up

Select Never combine on Taskbar buttons. This buttons never collapse into a single button, regardless of how many windows are open

Click OK to save your preferences.



OPTION 2:

Click the "Start button"

Choose "Control Panel"

Select "Appearance and Personalization", and then clicking Taskbar and Start Menu.

Under Taskbar appearance, select the option "Never combine"

Click OK to save your preferences.



Now, you will have one window for each excel file. Hope this help you

Answer 2

Open both files. Go to the View tab on your menu. Select Arrange All and then Horizontal or Vertical depending upon how you want to work on the files. Select one and if the appearance isn't useful, open up Arrange All and select the others. You can try Tiled or Cascade if you like but I prefer Vertical for a side by side comparison. You will now have both files open side-by-side and can compare or copy/paste or use formulas between the two files as needed.



Also, you can select View Side by Side from the View menu in the ribbon. If you want both worksheets to scroll at the same time, select Synchronous Scrolling just below that (see the second tip below).



Greg G's answer will allow you to see two or more files, but you'll have to do some rearranging of the windows to see and work on both. Gospiele's tip is only for separating the different files into individual buttons on the taskbar, which can also be helpful but not what you asked. The above steps will give you two or more workable and viewable windows within Excel.



I don't know if you can set this mode as a default mode. I didn't see anything in the Options/Preferences menu to be able to set this permanently, but you might not need to use it all the time. It only takes two or three clicks to do, anyway.



For more details, you can check out the following:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-arrange-windows-in-excel-2010-workbooks.html

http://www.addictivetips.com/microsoft-office/word-2010-synchronous-scrolling-view-side-by-side/

Answer 3

After your first sheet opens, on the top right, the sheet will have the minimize, restore window and close buttons. Click on the restore window button and it will allow you to resize the window.



Now just open your 2nd window and you should be set.