Forum Discussion
Opening and Viewing Option for Two MS Project Files Simultaneously on Two Screens?
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.
Take a look at this thread. Several options are given by various users like yourself.
John
Though this thread is partially useful as provides some alternatives. Again it is a testament that Microsoft has not been able to fix this issue since over a decade now.
Users like myself have been struggling and finding alternative ways. Fingers crossed until experts can take notice of this long issue and resolve.
Cheers
Actually we have been asking for multiple instances, multiple windows on multiple monitors of Microsoft Project since the early 1990's - About 30 years in my humble estimation.
I have Excel running 7 spreadsheets in 7 different instances of 7 different monitors. Windows and MS Office have been able to do that for over 10 years now.
The simple fact that MS Project lacks basic functionality for Project Management without copious work arounds is why I own a copy of Primavera and am constantly looking for more powerful portfolio level scheduling software.
Thanks for asking the question. But truth is is Microsoft still has legacy database limitations from the 1980's in the MS Project schema - I doubt they will ever give us more than the decades of cosmetic updates we have seen.
And web based MS Project Has been a Microsoft effort for over 20 years. It's still not very useful. About 20 or 30 better online scheduling apps that beat MS Project online. The simple truth is MS Project is good enough that every business pays for it not understanding the software is not worth the money they pay for it. The only reason I have it is compatibility with my clients.
Every version of MS Project is outdated legacy software that is slowly losing ground to all the new PM software out there.
- Eithala --
I do not work for Microsoft, so please do not blame me for telling you the truth about your situation. I am simply a volunteer in this group, trying to help people with their Microsoft Project problems. So, maybe you owe me an apology for your rude comments. - Excellent! 100% agreed.
Sorry, this is a miserable excuse!!! MS Project developers are completely ignoring the grave importance of users opening one MS project program file PER SCREEN!!! So, like Excel, Word, PP, or Outlook, I would be able to open one MS Project file for one monitor, and another different MS Project file for my second monitor! Can you and John NOT SEE what he is trying so ardently to say to you????? This IS A GRAVE OVERSITE (I think on purpose) of MSP developers. For those of us who have worked MSP for 15 years, this is a bad problem. This is why so many companies are nixing MSP and going P6 and Open Plan!! Deltek has covered the gaps where Microsoft refuses!! We are professionals who work multiple files every single day and some of us are working project files with 50 thousand task lines and more!!! Give us a break!!
- Eithala --
I don't work for Microsoft, so I have nothing to do with this situation. I am simply reporting to you what is going on within Microsoft. They are spending all of their development money on the new Project for the Web application, and no money on further developing the Microsoft Project desktop application. So, I would appreciate it if you would not blame ME for this situation! I am simply a volunteer in this forum. - Thanks Eithala! 100% correct.
The irony is that some strange responses have been provided which are not helpful at all!
Only because of this, I am thinking to leave using this software (which previously have been using for 5 years now) and move to other competitive ones.
Might even suggest organisational revamped investment and look out for some competitive software providers in this category.
But still giving MS a chance after passing of several months since raising this, might receive any update to resolve this issue. Wow, this is terrible customer service and I 100% agree with MZ_Rasheed.
The fact that the developers at Microsoft "do not see this as an issue or problem" is a terrible mindset and just goes to show that you all are not investing the time needed to meet the customers needs and/or you don't bother to even see with your own eyes what it is we need and don't care to know why.Just because something has always been a certain way doesn't make it right and the fact that you're not even bothering to go after improvements being pointed out to you all is disappointing and shows a lack of ambition for improvement.
- MZ_Rasheed --
FYI, the developers at Microsoft do not see this as an issue or a problem. It is simply how Microsoft Project works and has always worked, which is totally different from how Word and Excel work.
So, don't hold your breath, waiting for them to "fix" this, as there is no fix coming. For the moment at least, Microsoft has stopped further development on the Microsoft Project desktop application, and is spending all of its time and budget on the Project for the Web application instead. Hope this additional information helps.
