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Opening and Viewing Option for Two MS Project Files Simultaneously on Two Screens?
Hi
Can two MS Project files be opened on two different screens at the same time?
This option is should be there as it is for other usual MS software like Word, Excel etc.
Hope this can be fixed as will ease out while working from two parallel files simultaneously.
Appreciate if this can be looked at, please asap.
Looking forward
You can open either 2 windows of the same file or 2 completely different files at the same time across 2 screens.
I use a triple screen set up with my laptop and 2 x 34 inch widescreen monitors, with the display setting set to extend the desktop.
To achieve this you just need to reduce the project window from full screen view to a resizable window and then drag it to fill the two screens. When you have both files open you can use the Arrange All button in the View Tab to have them side by side one on the left screen and one on the right. - Resize them as necessary to make them fit perfectly. I do this all the time and it works perfectly.
40 Replies
MZ_Rasheed I think some of the confusion in this thread is that people are referring to two screens when the issue is opening multiple MS Project files separate windows. I can open two files but they can't be windowed the same as Excel files can. It's shocking that this feature was overlooked when MS Project was developed.
Thank you Telsic, John-project, Dale...I attached a real video of the procedure described above.
Ignacio Martín
While this workaround can be used for similar monitors with same resolution, unfortunatelly it is totally useless when the monitors are different, i.e. laptop and desk monitor.
If the claims of 30 years asking for a solution for this problem are true, then most certainly is a lost case by now.
Hello
By following the above steps of extending the screens, I can also open and view two MS Project files, one on a laptop and one on a desktop monitor, as shown in the photo I captured.
Regards
Ignacio Martin
Thank you for your query and suggestion. I am also looking for the way that I can look at two different project files on extended screen.
Appreciate if you could share the solution if you have found.
Thanks.
1) open two projects that you want to see in 2 different screen
2) then using you mouse grab the green top portion of MS project screen and drag it then you will see that ms project is coming on two screens
3) Extened on either side to cover both the screens
4) Finally go in view and click arrange all
Done!
Hi MZ
Are you looking for what I have attached then follow these steps:
1) open two projects that you want to see in 2 different screen
2) then using you mouse grab the green top portion of MS project screen and drag it then you will see that ms project is coming on two screens
3) Extened on either side to cover both the screens
4) Finally go in view and click arrange all
Done!
As John has already mentioned, MS Project is a single instance application. You can not run multiple instances of MS Project but it can of course open multiple different mpp files, and multiple windows of the same mpp file. I hope they continue to invest in developing the desktop application further.
- MZ_Rasheed,
In a similar scenario, I usually extend the main Project window so as to occupy both screens in full in a two-monitor configuration, open the two files, and first arrange both files' windows horizontally by clicking the associated menu button (see View | Window | Arrange All) and then arrange them vertically by using the mouse such that each monitor contains only one of the windows of the files.
Hope this works.- This is the only option that works. Thanks for sharing Ismet!
- You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.
That sort of works and could be OK for quick use, but it is not as flexible as people want. I think it was abundantly clear what the OP wanted to do.
It's unfortunate that the desktop version is being abandoned. I have used the web version a tiny bit, and it seems very clumsy. And to be clear, the Project for the Web is the very limited version and "Project Online" is supposedly better but mainly lets you a desktop version.
- Thank you John, for your post and feedback.
>> It's unfortunate that the desktop version is being abandoned.
I guess I missed the company's official statement on that matter.
- MZ_Rasheed,
Two Project files can certainly be opened on two different screens. However, a single file cannot be opened for editing on two separate PCs. One file will be read/write but the other will by default be read only and for good reason, to avoid editing conflicts.
Unlike Excel, Project only allows on instance of the application to be opened so a user cannot open two separate instances of Project on a single PC. Obviously, Project can be opened on multiple PCs simultaneously, subject to licensing agreements.
Hope this helps to clarify.
John- John
Thanks for the prompt response.
However, the query relates to reporting a problem with Microsoft Project; not being able to open two different files on a single pc on two different screens.
Imagine yourself working on a MS Project file where you need to constantly refer to another Microsoft Project file. Unlike Word or Excel, project doesn't allows you to have the two files on two screens.
Wonder if this shortcoming can be addressed and fixed by the developers.
Will save a lot of time for project programmers and planners like myself working on extensively long files for hours.
Looking forward
CheersI don't understand what you mean. I can open multiple files and view them simultaneously using split screen via, View > Window group > Arrange all. It's not necessarily easy to work on the files especially with a small screen but careful use of filtering can make it easier. Another option is to temporarily create a master file with inserted projects.
If you are looking for the ability to have two separate instances of Project, then I suggest you submit a request via, File > Feedback > "I have a suggestion".
John
