Tip #22 - Comparing Worksheets in an Excel Workbook

100 Computer Tips in 100 Days

Tip #22 - Comparing Worksheets in an Excel Workbook

Even if you love Excel as much as I do, I bet at times you find it frustrating, particularly when you want to compare two or more worksheets in the same workbook. There’s a lot of switching between sheets trying to remember what one looked like while you looked at another. There is a better way.

What you’re looking to do is create a new window to house the second worksheet. Here’s how you do this:

1. From the View tab, Window group choose New Window
2. Then, still in the the View tab, in the Window group choose Arrange All
3. In the box that pops up, choose the way you would like your windows arranged. Click the checkbox “Windows of active workbook”. Click OK.  Clicking the checkbox for “Windows of active workbook” is particularly important if you have more than one workbook open.

For my Apple friends or for those who are using a pre-2007 version of Microsoft Office, these controls are in the Window menu.

I generally choose arrange vertical which puts one window on the left and the other on the right. Tiled is a good choice if you have more than two windows open.

Happy computing!