Visual Studio: How can I see the same file in two separate tab groups?

Question

I want to be able to edit one method while looking at another method in the same file, as reference. Can this be done?

possible duplicate of [Open two instances of a file in single Visual Studio session](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/728949/open-two-instances-of-a-file-in-single-visual-studio-session) — nawfal, Jun 14 '14 at 06:54
I don't think this is a duplicate, @nawfal. Either way, the solutions in the other answer don't work in SSMS (v17.4). — BigSmoke, Aug 20 '18 at 08:39

score 289 · Answer 1 · edited Nov 09 '17 at 10:46

289

You can open the file in another tab (Window -> New Window).

Doing so you have two copies of the same file. Then you can right-click the tab bar and select New Vertical Tab Group (or New Horizontal Tab Group, the one you like more).

Hope I understood you question..

edited Nov 09 '17 at 10:46

Hille

1,763
18
29

answered Jan 14 '09 at 19:53

p4bl0

4,825
5
22
25

51

VS 2013 made it simpler - Window -> Split – Bakudan Dec 17 '15 at 10:57
14

True, it splits only vertically though – p4bl0 Mar 29 '17 at 10:32
6

Just wanted to add a keyboard shortcut for this: 1) ```Alt + w,n``` for ```New Window``` and ```Alt+w,v``` for ```New vertical tab group``` – dmytro.poliarush Dec 11 '19 at 15:27

score 79 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 14 '09 at 19:45

79

Only vertically that I'm aware. When looking at the code, right above the vertical scroll bar is a small rectangle, drag it down to get a split view of the file.

answered Jan 14 '09 at 19:45

ctacke

65,117
17
91
151

score 72 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

72

Be on the tab you want to duplicate,
then click in the menu bar at the top on
Window > New Window

Finally drag & drop the second window to the the left or right side to show both views next to each other.
Et voila, there you have it :)

image insturction 1 image insturction 2

EDIT

It seems that this function is not implemented in all version of VS.
In my case (V 15.4.2 (2017), V 15.9.7 (2017) & V 16.2.5 (2019)) it just works fine.

Version 15.9.7

edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

Community

1
1

answered Sep 27 '17 at 11:33

Hille

1,763
18
29

1

This does not work in VS 2015. It says that that tab is open and then closes it and reopen it. – Ryan Lee May 14 '18 at 22:20
1

@RyanLee it does work for me, i haven't changed any settings, don't know where the problem could be. – Hille May 15 '18 at 10:32
I can confirm that this doesn't work in SSMS v17.4, for the same reason as stated by @RyanLee. – BigSmoke Aug 20 '18 at 08:35
1

Works on 2017. And to complete the answer - Once you have the new tab, drag it and dock it to the side of the original tab – Oded Ben Dov Nov 21 '18 at 07:57
In VS 2017 v15.9.3 there is no New Window under Window menu when you're on the tab. – Jason Willett Dec 13 '18 at 15:34
@JasonWillett please take a look at my edit, as you can see it just works fine on a bit older build. – Hille Dec 18 '18 at 11:32
1

Works in Version 16.7.2 – bombek Aug 20 '20 at 08:25

Moayad Hani Abu Rmilah · Answer 4 · 2017-07-31T03:30:03.237

37

You simply use the small drag arrows icon at the top right corner of your file window as depicted in the following screenshots:

edited Jul 31 '17 at 03:30

answered Feb 09 '17 at 08:57

Moayad Hani Abu Rmilah

682
2
8
16

2

tab groups is a vertical split, you have demonstrated a horizontal split. – odyth Jan 01 '19 at 02:44
What is the keyboard shortcut for switching between this? – pcbabu May 09 '19 at 18:11

score 18 · Answer 5 · edited Sep 04 '17 at 09:39

1) View the same document side-by-side (with a fix for Visual Studio 2017)

It is possible to do this using New Window and New Vertical Tab Group, however, in my Visual Studio 2017 the New Window command was missing from the Window menu. To use it, first you must add the command to a menu or assign a shortcut to it.

To add New Window to your Window menu follow this sequence, starting with the Tools menu:

Tools > Customize > Commands > Menu Bar > Window > Add Command > Window > New Window

FYI In the Commands step you decide where to put the New Window command. The sequence I gave above puts it unceremoniously at the top of the Window menu.

To view the same document side-by-side

Open the document you want to view side-by-side
Select your recently added New Window command (perhaps it's in Window > New Window)
Right click the new tab and select New Vertical Tab Group or select that command from the Window menu

2) View the same document above-one-another

If you wish to view the same document in two views on top of each other use the Window > Split command or click-and-drag the double-arrow at the top of the scroll bar for any window.

3) Get creative

FYI You can even combine the two view options to have three, four or even more views of the same document on a particularly wide monitor. On mine (2560 x 1080) I can comfortably get three side-by-side views going and split them vertically, if desired.

This doesn't work in SSMS v17.4. When clicking _New window_, it will ask me whether to close to current window or not. — BigSmoke, Aug 20 '18 at 08:36

score 6 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 23 '16 at 09:21

6

One can install VsVim extension and :sp :vsp does the trick.

answered Aug 23 '16 at 09:21

A. Akzhigitov

179
2
12

VMM · Answer 7 · 2017-02-21T07:35:40.370

3

In Visual Studio 15 you can just click inside the document and then "Window → Split"

edited Feb 21 '17 at 07:35

answered Feb 20 '17 at 08:26

VMM

711
8
13

Visual Studio: How can I see the same file in two separate tab groups?

7 Answers7

EDIT

Linked