How To Display Documents Side By Side In Notepad++ [2024]

You’re using Notepad++ and want to split the window so you can edit two files side by side to speed up your work.

If you are looking for an ultimate user guide to know how to use Notepad++’s split-screen feature, you are in the right place then.

In this post, you’ll learn how to use Notepad++’s split-screen feature. When using or comparing two documents, this is a valuable tool that comes in handy. When I’m developing code, I’ll frequently use this to keep track of other programs I’m working on at the same time.

Read the whole post carefully to know to use Notepad++’s split-screen feature.

Why Do You Need To Split The Notepad++ Screen?

Notepad++ is software that programmers use to create, read and write source code. It is a Microsoft Windows-based text and source code editor. It has tabbed editing, which lets you work on various open files in one window.

When programmers wish to open two documents or two different programs, most programmers are splitting windows. It allows programmers to quickly compare between two same programs or edit two different programs side by side.

A developer can benefit from having two or more documents open at once. The split-screen feature also refers to another program containing an external function or function call that needs to execute or managed.

You may simply start a second window in Notepad++ and tile the documents together if you wish to view multiple documents in Notepad++ together. Also, you can divide the Notepad++ window into two sub-windows and move your documents between them as needed.

Quickly check out our epic guide on how to enable word wrap in Notepad.

How To Display Documents Side By Side In Notepad ++

The split-screen feature is one of the best features in Notepad++. Splitting the main screen in Notepad++ is a convenient and helpful feature for programmers or users who want to use multiple documents at a time.

Sometimes, you need to open multiple documents side by side to compare or view or create or edit multiple documents at once. The split-screen feature helps you to view or edit multiple documents side by side. This feature helps you to speed up your work, save more time, and keep your consistency.

There are three methods to split the Notepad++ screen. You can use any of them to split your main screen.

Here are the steps to display documents side by side in Notepad++:

1. Use Menu Bar

Using a menu options bar is one of the methods to split the Notepad++ screen. To split the main screen of Notepad++, you can use the menu options bar.

Follow these steps to display documents side by side in Notepad++:

• Open Notepad++ on your computer.
• Open two documents that you want to view side by side.
• Go to the View tab at the top of the menu bar.
• Go to Move/Clone Current Document.
• Select Move to Other View if you want to view two different documents side by side. Or,
• Select Clone to Other View if you want to view a duplicate copy of a document side by side.

Here’s a complete guide on how to use column mode in Notepad++.

2. Use Document Tab

There is another method to split the screen using the document tab. You can use the document tab to split the main screen of Notepad++.

Follow these steps to display documents side by side in Notepad++:

• Open Notepad++ on your computer.
• Open two documents that you want to view side by side.
• Right-click on the document tab, and you can see a list of options.
• Select Move to Other View at the bottom section of the list if you want to view two different documents side by side. Or,
• Select Clone to Other View at the bottom section of the list if you want to view a duplicate copy of a document side by side.

3. Drag Your Document

The last method is the document dragging method. You can also split the main screen of Notepad++ using the document dragging method.

Follow these steps to display documents side by side in Notepad++:

• Open Notepad++ on your computer.
• Open two documents that you want to view side by side.
• Click and hold on the document tab.
• Remove the tab from the tab bar by dragging it.
• Release the mouse cursor anywhere in the window. A small dialog window will appear when you release your mouse cursor, and you will see two options: Move to Other View and  Clone to Other View.
• Select Move to Other View if you want to view two different documents side by side. Or,
• Select Clone to Other View if you want to view a duplicate copy of a document side by side.

If you wish to have two separate documents open together, Move to Other View is handy. Clone to Other View duplicates the document, with all of your current changes carried over. Any changes made to one version of a document will immediately affect the other.

How To Create Shortcut To Split The Screen

In Notepad++ splitting, the main screen is a very effective and powerful feature. In the earlier section, you learn how to use the split feature.

What if the screen can split with just one click of a shortcut button?

In this section, you will learn how to create or register a shortcut key to split the screen with just a click.

Here are the steps to create or register a shortcut button to split the screen:

1. Open Notepad++ on your computer.
2. Go to Settings at the top of the menu bar.
3. Select Shortcut mapper on the menu list.
4. Type move to search Move to Other View.
5. Select the Move to Other View option on the list.
6. Click on Modify to create or register a shortcut.
7. Choose and set your shortcut button. For example, mine is Alt + Right arrow button.
8. Click Ok to save the shortcut button.

You can also use a shortcut to Clone to Other View. To create or register a shortcut button, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad++ on your computer.
2. Go to Settings at the top of the menu bar.
3. Select Shortcut mapper on the menu list.
4. Type clone to locate Clone to Other View.
5. Select the Clone to Other View option on the list.
6. Click on Modify to create or register a shortcut.
7. Choose and set your shortcut button. For example, mine is Alt + Shift + Right arrow button.
8. Click Ok to save the shortcut button.

Now, you can use a shortcut key to split the screen with just a click.

How To Scroll Multiple Documents Together

When you split your screen to place two different documents side by side, you can scroll all the documents individually when you need to scroll.

You can scroll your documents horizontally and vertically. However, sometimes, you need to scroll both documents together when you compare the same documents. It is a handy feature for programmers or users. You can scroll your documents horizontally and vertically.

Follow these steps to scroll multiple documents together:

1. Open Notepad++ on your computer.
2. Open two documents that you want to view side by side.
3. Go to View at the top of the menu options bar.
4. Select Synchronize Vertical Scrolling to scroll vertically.
5. Select Synchronize Horizontal Scrolling to scroll horizontally.

How To Rotate The Split-Screen

Rotating your split-screen is another beneficial feature in Notpad++. You may also need to rotate the screen when you write or edit your code.

Follow these steps to rotate the split-screen:

1. Open Notepad++ on your computer.
2. Open two documents side by side.
3. Right-click on the divider of the two screens.
4. Select Rotate on the right to rotate the screen top-and-bottom (90 degrees clockwise).
5. Select Rotate on the left to rotate the screen side-by-side (90 degrees anti-clockwise).

Final Thoughts

The split-screen feature is very effective in Notepad++. Splitting the main screen in Notepad++ is a convenient and helpful feature for programmers or users who want to use multiple documents at a time.

The split-screen feature helps you to view or edit multiple documents side by side. This feature helps you boost your working capability, save more time, and keep your consistency.

What are some of the advantages of using split-screen you notice by your user experience? To share your user experience, leave a comment below!