Showing the same file in both columns of a Sublime Text window

Question

When I have 2 columns set in a Sublime Text window, can I display the same file in both columns?

MattDMo · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-22T03:40:47.627

327

Yes, you can. When a file is open, click on File -> New View Into File. You can then drag the new tab to the other pane and view the file twice.

There are several ways to create a new pane. As described in other answers, on Linux and Windows, you can use AltShift2 (Option ⌥Command ⌘2 on OS X), which corresponds to View → Layout → Columns: 2 in the menu. If you have the excellent Origami plugin installed, you can use View → Origami → Pane → Create → Right, or the CtrlK, Ctrl→ chord on Windows/Linux (replace Ctrl with ⌘ on OS X).

edited Oct 22 '16 at 03:40

answered May 30 '14 at 23:33

MattDMo

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Ctrl+Shift+2 shortcut for split screen and drag the file over – zadubz Dec 18 '14 at 14:15
You can also use Windows+Ctrl+arrow key to arrange windows. – Shital Shah Apr 15 '16 at 07:22
The cmd in the next post works - shift + Alt + 2 to split into 2 screens, not this one below. – LED Fantom Oct 21 '16 at 17:12
@LEDFantom When you say this answer doesn't work, what do you mean? The OP already knew how to create split windows, which is why I didn't explain how to do that in my answer. I'm not sure what the downvote is for. – MattDMo Oct 21 '16 at 17:32
@MattDMo , I see what you meant now. How do I remove the down vote? – LED Fantom Oct 22 '16 at 02:28
@LEDFantom I just edited the post, so you can remove it if you wish. Thanks! – MattDMo Oct 22 '16 at 03:41
It makes me sad that this option is in the File menu and not the View menu. – Reverse Engineered Dec 11 '17 at 15:45

score 94 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 08 '16 at 21:19

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Its Shift + Alt + 2 to split into 2 screens. More options are found under the menu item View -> Layout.
Once the screen is split, you can open files using the shortcuts:
1. Ctrl + P (From existing directories within sublime) or
2. Ctrl + O(Browse directory)

edited Nov 08 '16 at 21:19

Hizqeel

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answered Jan 02 '15 at 05:52

Ramraj

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To expand, CTRL + P will allow you to "open" the same file more than once. – jayflo Jun 23 '16 at 20:13
CTRL + O will not – Tagman Jan 10 '21 at 22:31

score 71 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 29 '16 at 21:20

71

Inside sublime editor,Find the Tab named View,

View --> Layout --> "select your need"

answered Jan 29 '16 at 21:20

sg28

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`View --> Layout --> "select your need" ` select your needs = [single,columns,rows,grids]. So this means the options available when you go to Layout .try out first ,Tested in Sublime 2. – sg28 Jan 29 '16 at 23:02
appreciate the menu navigation instead of just a shortcut which happens to work for some users and doesn't explain what sublime feature is in use - which the menu clearly defines. :) – keen Dec 22 '17 at 17:17
This should be the only accepted, this is what worked for me. The accepted one doesn't work anymore. Probably it doesn't work in current versions. – VaTo Jan 08 '19 at 23:11

score 12 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 13 '17 at 21:15

Here is a simple plugin to "open / close a splitter" into the current file, as found in other editors:

import sublime_plugin

class SplitPaneCommand(sublime_plugin.WindowCommand):
    def run(self):
        w = self.window
        if w.num_groups() == 1:
            w.run_command('set_layout', {
                'cols': [0.0, 1.0],
                'rows': [0.0, 0.33, 1.0],
                'cells': [[0, 0, 1, 1], [0, 1, 1, 2]]
            })
            w.focus_group(0)
            w.run_command('clone_file')
            w.run_command('move_to_group', {'group': 1})
            w.focus_group(1)
        else:
            w.focus_group(1)
            w.run_command('close')
            w.run_command('set_layout', {
                'cols': [0.0, 1.0],
                'rows': [0.0, 1.0],
                'cells': [[0, 0, 1, 1]]
            })

Save it as Packages/User/split_pane.py and bind it to some hotkey:

{"keys": ["f6"], "command": "split_pane"},

If you want to change to vertical split change with following

        "cols": [0.0, 0.46, 1.0],
        "rows": [0.0, 1.0],
        "cells": [[0, 0, 1, 1], [1, 0, 2, 1]]

score 6 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 13 '20 at 13:55

I regularly work on the same file in 2 different positions. I solved this in Sublime Text 3 using origami and chain with some additional config.

My workflow is Ctrl + k + 2 splits the view of the file in two (horizontal) panes with the lower one active. Use Ctrl + k + o to toggle between the panes. When done ensure the lower pane is the active and press Ctrl + F4 to close the duplicated view and the pane.

In sublime global settings (not origami settings!) add

"origami_auto_close_empty_panes": true,

Add the following shortcuts

  { "keys": ["ctrl+k", "2"], 
    "command": "chain", 
    "args": {
      "commands": [
        ["create_pane", {"direction": "down"}],
        ["clone_file_to_pane", {"direction": "down"}],
      ],
    }
  },

  { "keys": ["ctrl+k", "o"], "command": "focus_neighboring_group" },

to make the `chain` command work (seen in the shortcut), you will also need the [Chain of Command package](https://packagecontrol.io/packages/Chain%20of%20Command) installed. — wehal3001, Sep 12 '16 at 21:19
@wehal3001 Thanks, updated (also updated the globals settings, where the wrong setting was pasted). — mrtnlrsn, Sep 13 '16 at 06:48

score 3 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 08 '15 at 13:23

I would suggest you to use Origami. Its a great plugin for splitting the screen. For better information on keyboard short cuts install it and after restarting Sublime text open Preferences->Package Settings -> Origami -> Key Bindings - Default

For specific to your question I would suggest you to see the short cuts related to cloning of files in the above mentioned file.

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Jun 07 '17 at 10:14

2

It is possible to edit same file in Split mode. It is best explained in following youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2cMEeE1aOk

answered Jun 07 '17 at 10:14

Rahul Varadkar

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score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 15 '18 at 08:54

View -> Layout -> Choose one option or use shortcut

Layout        Shortcut

Single        Alt + Shift + 1
Columns: 2    Alt + Shift + 2
Columns: 3    Alt + Shift + 3
Columns: 4    Alt + Shift + 4
Rows: 2       Alt + Shift + 8
Rows: 3       Alt + Shift + 9
Grid: 4       Alt + Shift + 5

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jan 05 '19 at 00:55

Kinda little late but I tried to extend @Tobia's answer to set the layout "horizontal" or "vertical" driven by the command argument e.g.

{"keys": ["f6"], "command": "split_pane", "args": {"split_type": "vertical"} }

Plugin code:

import sublime_plugin


class SplitPaneCommand(sublime_plugin.WindowCommand):
    def run(self, split_type):
        w = self.window
        if w.num_groups() == 1:
            if (split_type == "horizontal"):
                w.run_command('set_layout', {
                    'cols': [0.0, 1.0],
                    'rows': [0.0, 0.33, 1.0],
                    'cells': [[0, 0, 1, 1], [0, 1, 1, 2]]
                })
            elif (split_type == "vertical"):
                w.run_command('set_layout', {
                    "cols": [0.0, 0.46, 1.0],
                    "rows": [0.0, 1.0],
                    "cells": [[0, 0, 1, 1], [1, 0, 2, 1]]
                })

            w.focus_group(0)
            w.run_command('clone_file')
            w.run_command('move_to_group', {'group': 1})
            w.focus_group(1)
        else:
            w.focus_group(1)
            w.run_command('close')
            w.run_command('set_layout', {
                'cols': [0.0, 1.0],
                'rows': [0.0, 1.0],
                'cells': [[0, 0, 1, 1]]
            })

Showing the same file in both columns of a Sublime Text window

9 Answers9