Open two instances of a file in a single Visual Studio session

user_88467 0
Viewed 164438

I have a file, xyz.cpp. I want to open two instances of this file in Visual studio (BTW, I am using Visual Studio 2005). Why would I want to do so? I want to compare two sections of the same file side by side. I know workarounds such as:

  1. Make a copy of the file. But the problem is that it's not elegant, and I don't want to make copies every time I am faced with this.

  2. I can split the window into two. The problem with split it that I can split it horizontally only. The result of a horizontal split is that the right half of my screen is white space.

If I were able to split it vertically or open two instances of the same file, it would increase the number of lines of code I can compare.

visual-studio editor
16 Answers

Here's how to do it...

  1. Select the tab you want two copies of
  2. Select menu Window → New Window from the menu.
  3. Right click the new tab and select New Vertical Tab Group

If New Window is not listed in the *Window menu note that the command does exist, even as of Visual Studio 2017. Add it to the Window menu using menu Tools → Customize → Commands. At that point decide where to put the New Window command and select Add Command.

UPDATED on "30 July 2018"

In Visual Studio Code version 1.25.1 and later

Way 1

You can simple left click on your file in the side-panel (explorer) and press Ctrl + Enter.

Way 2

Simply right click on your file in the Visual Studio Code side-panel (explorer) and select the first option open to the side.

user_294320

Open the file (if you are using multiple tab groups, make sure your file is selected).

Menu Window → Split (alternately, there's this tiny nub just above the editor's vertical scroll bar - grab it and drag down)

This gives you two (horizontal) views of the same file. Beware that any edit-actions will reflect on both views.

Once you are done, grab the splitter and drag it up all the way (or menu Window → Remove Split).

Admin1

How to open two instances of the same file side by side in Visual Studio 2019:

  1. Open the file.

  2. Click Window -> New Window.

  3. A new window should be open with the same file.

  4. Click on Window -> New Vertical Document Group.

Result: enter image description here

user_116061320

With the your file opened, go to command window (menu View → Other Windows → Command window, or just Ctrl + Alt + A)

Type:

Window.NewWindow

And then

Window.NewVerticalTabGroup

worked for me (Visual Studio 2017).

Or using menus:

Menu Window → New Window

Menu Window → New vertical tap group

user_40596990

Window menu, New Horizontal/Vertical Tab Group there will do, I think.

user_601880

For file types, where the same file can't be opened in a vertical tab group (for example .vb files) you can

  • Open 2 different instances of Visual Studio
  • Open the same file in each instance
  • Resize the IDE windows & place them side by side to achieve your layout.

If you save to disk in one instance though, you'll have to reload the file when you switch to the other. Also if you make edits in both instances, you'll have to resolve on the second save. Visual Studio prompts you in both cases with various options. You'll simplify your life a bit if you edit in only the one instance.

Gishu_16950

I don't have a copy of Visual Studio 2005, but this process works on Visual Studio 2008:

  1. Open xyz.cpp along with some other file.
  2. Right click on tab header and select new vertical tab group.
  3. Left click on that other file in the first tab group.
  4. Open xyz.cpp through solution explorer again.

You should now have two instances of file in separate vertical tab groups.

Si_445400

to work on a two section of a one long file simply use shortcut ( Ctrl + \ ) or click on split editor window while you are on selected Tab. the icon is on top-right of the VS Code. enter image description here

user_95333540

As the question is too old, do not know answering this is like beating a dead horse to run or not. But if someone is using VSCode 1.62.1 or later, to see the same script in another tab just simply right click on the script name on the toolbar and select "split right" (or split up/down/left).

user_122436380
Related