Split edit window in Visual Studio

Question

Is there any way to show two editing windows in Visual Studio?

I would like to look at two source files at the same time, but I cannot find the option to do that.

Leucopenia

Answer 1

Another easy option is to open two documents, then just click and drag the tab for one of the documents and drop it on the document itself. This will display a menu that lets you move the document to a new vertical or horizontal tab group.

I find this to be the easiest and quickest way to do this.

You didn't ask in the question, but if you want to edit one document in two windows, you can grab the small area above the scrollbar and drag it down. You will now have your document open in two scrollable areas. Great for working on two sections at once.

Christman

Another way to edit one document in multiple (also more than 2) 'real' windows (which can float/dock/...): select the document, Window->New Window. – Micrometer

@Micrometer 's comment is the correct answer. – Galba

Please add the shortcuts for new (vertical/horizontal) split view? And new window? I'm used to QtCreator and I'm wondering if I can get the same functionality on Visual Studio. – Katar

Which version of Visual Studio are we talking about, 2019/2022? – Katar

I tried this and it didn't work. – Temporal

Answer 2

I think what you want to do is to add a new vertical tab group. The keyboard shortcut to do that is

Alt + W, V.

According to this source, it works for Visual Studio 2005, 2008, and 2010. In my experience, it also works for Visual Studio 2013.

Dibrin

This also works for Visual Studio Community 2015. I am able to see my .less and .css file side by side. As I update my .less file the .css file changes. nice! – Tamtam

this is definitely the easiest way! Thank you – Kassia

is it possible to just create a new group without having a split window ? – Justino

It doesn't work for me with Visual Studio 2019 (on windows 10) – Agonist

This is the one I'm looking for Thanks! – Susannsusanna

Perfectly works in Visual Studio 2022 on Windows 11. – Soot

Alternatively click menu "Windows" --> "New Vertical Document Group" – Soot

it makes tabs side by side but not for the same document. If you wanna do this, Window -> New Window. Then yes: Alt+W, V – Slavocracy

Answer 3

In Visual Studio Community 2019 to split a document (code) and have two independent views of the code, there is a little tool in the top right corner of the display:

Just drag it down and you will get another viewer for the current file. To adjust the height you can grab the bar between the two views and drag. (Can be kinda tricky, just move your mouse until the mouse pointer icon changes to double arrows)

To split the view between two files just right-click on one of the files tabs (title) then in the resulting menu you can select either "New Horizontal Document Group, or New Vertical Document Group:

Arran

I don't see this in Visual Studio 22 for Mac – Autolithography

my New Horizontal Document Group disappeared (VS 2022). I'm sure I saw it somewhere before – Breughel

The shortcuts please – Katar

Answer 4

To create a keyboard shortcut for "Window->New Vertical Tab Group" you need to assign a shortcut to "Window.NewVerticalTabGroup" command.
Tools->Options->Environment->Keyboard, in "Show commands containing" type "Window.NewVerticalTabGroup", and assign the keyboard shortuct in "Press shortcut keys" field.
Remember to click "Assign" before "OK".

Canzone

It seems that in Visual Studio 2010 & 2012 Window.TileVertically become Window.NewVerticalTabGroup – Haiku

What about VS 2019/2022? – Katar

Answer 5

For Visual Studio 2012:

Move your mouse over the Class tab > Right Click on the Title of the Class > New Horizontal Tab Group or New Vertical Tab Group.

If you want to split the same class: Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Keyboard -> search by Window.Split and add a new shortcut.

Hanshaw

Answer 6

In Visual Studio 2022.

To edit the same file side by side (vertically split the editing window) without actually making a new copy of the file, you:

• Select the file (tab) to split.
• Choose "Window" -> "New Window" from the menu.
  
  The selected file (tab) is split in to two files (tabs), ending with :1 and :2.
  It's the same file, NOT a copy of the first file.
• Right click on one of the files and select "New Vertical Document Group" to split the editing window into two parts.
  

Dollop

Sorry, but I did exactly as you explained, and as of today sadly, there is no such option. – Nauseating

I don't now what version you are using but in Visual Studio 2022 there is such an option. I just tried to do it again in version 17.9 and 17.10 of Visual Studio 2022 and it works just fine... – Teyde

https://mcmap.net/q/243998/-how-do-i-vertically-split-the-same-file-in-visual-studio-editor – Teyde

Answer 7

In Visual Studio 2015:

Right click on the (file name) tab and select vertical split or horizontal split.

Forjudge

Answer 8

In newer Visual Studio versions (I can confirm this for Visual Studio 2017 15.9.55 and newer versions), you can do: Window -> Split. You can also unsplit following the same way. This will work so for the current active tab.

Boldfaced

Answer 9

You can use my Task Canvas extension to look at several source files at the same time:

Hypoplasia

Answer 10

I know this answer is a little unrelated, but I came here because I was trying to a split with the same window. In case you're like me trying to do this, just go to Window > Split

Laceylach