how to view two excel files side by side

Comparing Excel Files Side-by-Side: The Complete Guide

When analyzing data, it’s often useful to view two Excel worksheets or workbooks simultaneously. Comparing sheets side-by-side allows you to easily spot trends, differences, and relationships between sets of data

Whether you need to cross-reference financial reports, contrast project plans, or double-check employee records, viewing Excel files together saves time versus toggling back and forth.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you’ll learn multiple methods for displaying Excel sheets side-by-side. By the end you’ll have the flexibility to handle any dual-workbook task with ease. Let’s get started exploring the various options for effective Excel side-by-side analysis!

Method 1: Open Two Separate Windows

The most straightforward approach is to open each workbook in its own separate window. This allows you to place both windows side-by-side for easy visual comparison. Here’s how:

1. Open the first Excel workbook you want to view This will display in one window.

2. On the View tab, click New Window in the Window group. This will open a second window displaying the same workbook.

3. Click and drag the title bar of each window to resize and position them side-by-side on your screen.

4. In each window, navigate to the specific worksheet you want to compare.

5. Resize the windows horizontally to allow easy left-to-right eye travel between data points. Adjust column widths identically for easy alignment.

6. Repeat steps 2-4 to add additional workbook windows if needed. You can open as many windows as you like!

Tip: Check “Synchronous scrolling” on the View tab to scroll both sheets simultaneously. This synchronizes your place as you move up/down for easy tracking.

The separate window method allows great flexibility. You can tile workbook windows horizontally, vertically, or in a customized grid to compare multiple files. This works for both separate workbooks or separate sheets within the same workbook.

Method 2: View Side-by-Side

A quicker alternative is using Excel’s built-in “View Side-by-Side” mode. This displays two sheets from two workbooks together in one window.

To use this synchronized view:

1. Open both workbooks (Workbook A and Workbook B) that contain the sheets you want to compare.

2. Select the sheet from Workbook A that you want to display on the left.

3. On the View tab, click View Side by Side in the Window group.

4. In the box that appears, use the Browse button to locate and select the sheet from Workbook B that you want to display on the right.

5. Click OK. Excel will now display both sheets together in one window for easy side-by-side analysis.

6. Adjust column widths and row heights identically so data lines up properly between sheets.

This integrated view is perfect for quick side-by-side sheet comparisons. It ensures alignment while keeping data neatly together in one place.

Tip: You can view up to four workbooks together this way! Just continue selecting additional sheets to add more panes.

Method 3: Arrange All Windows

If you have multiple already-open workbook windows, you can use the Arrange All command to organize them in a grid.

For example, with four workbook windows open, here is how to arrange them in a 2×2 grid for easy comparison:

1. Click the first window to make it active.

2. On the View tab, click Arrange All in the Window group.

3. Select 2 rows and 2 columns to create a 2×2 grid.

4. Click OK. Excel will size and position the four open windows into the organized tile arrangement for simultaneous viewing.

5. Navigate to the desired sheet view within each window.

The Arrange All function allows you to instantly organize and align a group of open workbook windows however you like—side-by-side, stacked horizontally, in columns, etc. Play with different grid arrangements to find the best layout for your specific analysis needs.

Method 4: Split the Window

Another option is splitting your screen into resizable panes separated by adjustable split bars. This allows simultaneous multi-sheet viewing entirely within one window.

To split your window:

1. Open one of your workbooks and select the sheet you want to display on the left.

2. Click the Split button on the View tab and select how you want to split the window horizontally or vertically.

3. A movable split bar will appear. Drag it to resize the panes to desired proportions.

4. In the second pane, open the additional workbook and select the sheet you want to display and compare side-by-side.

5. Now your workbook windows are perfectly split for analysis! Adjust the split bars to customize pane sizes as needed.

The benefit of window splitting is it prevents toggling between sheets or separate windows. You can view two sheets of data together in one field of vision for optimal side-by-side eyeballing.

Advanced Tip: Split your window more than once to create 4 quadrants for viewing multiple sheets at once!

Method 5: Copy/Paste into One Sheet

An easy workaround is copying the data from one Excel sheet and pasting it into the other.

Here’s how:

1. Open the first workbook and worksheet. Select all the cells you want to copy.

2. Copy the selected cells (CTRL+C or right-click Copy).

3. Open the second workbook and worksheet you want to compare it to.

4. Paste the copied data into an empty section of the sheet (CTRL+V).

5. Position the pasted range of cells adjacent to the original data to create a side-by-side comparison within one sheet.

6. Adjust column widths to match between the two data sets for easy visual alignment.

This allows you to view two data sets together without splitting your window or toggling workbooks. You can instantly see the copied data beside the original. The downside is data alterations sync in just one direction.

Tip: Add borders/background color around the pasted data to visually differentiate the two data sets.

Choose the Best Viewing Method

The technique you choose depends on your specific needs:

• Separate windows provide the most flexibility for custom arrangements.

• View Side-by-Side offers dual-sheet viewing in one tidy window.

• Split panes allow seamless toggling within one window.

• Copy and paste into one sheet gives side-by-side visibility without toggling workbooks.

In reality, combining methods is often best. For example, use View Side-by-Side to analyze two sheets, while also splitting the window to reference a third. Employ the method that works for each comparison.

With the above skills, you can efficiently reference, cross-check, and contrast Excel data from multiple files. By organizing sheets and windows in creative ways, you can zoom through side-by-side analyses to uncover key relationships and insights faster.

Advanced Tips and Shortcuts

Take your Excel data comparison abilities to the next level with these pro tips:

• Add colorful Conditional Formatting rules to highlight matching or discrepant cells between sheets. This makes differences instantly obvious.

• Sync scrolling to auto-scroll both windows/panes in tandem so matching rows stay aligned.

• Freeze Panes to keep column and row headings locked in place as you scroll.

• Display sheet tabs side by side for quick toggling between views.

• Customize zoom level and orientation for each window separately.

• Use keyboard shortcuts like CTRL+F6 to quickly cycle between open workbook windows.

• Shorten and widen key columns identically so data lines up properly between views.

• Adjust colors, fonts, formulas, and formatting to match across sheets for better visual comparison.

• Open sheet views in new windows then Arrange All to create customized comparison grids.

With a little creativity, you can optimize Excel to display important sheets in perfect tandem for rigorous analysis. Visually cross-referencing data has never been easier.

So next time you need to double check spreadsheets, contrast financials, reconcile records, or make any dual-Excel analysis, use these tips to view files side-by-side. By mastering side-by-side workbook management, you’ll be better equipped to spot trends, anomalies, and relationships that drive smarter business insights.