[3.5.3.2/Writer] Split screen in half horizontally?

users
#1

Hello

I'm working on a long document in Writer, and need to split the screen in
half so I can navigate in different parts of the document.

Someone already asked this in February 2012, and it seems like this feature
was not implemented yet:

http://en.libreofficeforum.org/node/492

Can you confirm that there is no way in LibreOffice to open a long document
and split the screen in two halves?

Thank you.

#2

I can't really confirm, but I do read LO planet and changelogs of new versions
and haven't seen anything about that. So, unless it is extremely experimental
function, we can safely assume that there is no possibility to do that. But I
may be wrong.

By the way, can you post user case when this would be actually useful? I tend
to write long documents (100-200 pages) and I have never though that I would
like to split document in any way. Never felt need for such option.

#3

Thanks Miroslaw.

I find it pretty amazing that such common feature still hasn't been
implemented :-/ Even a non-WYSIWYG text editor like UltraEdit supports it.

Simple case I currently have: A table is available twice in the same
document with a few differences. I wanted to split the screen so I could
scroll line by line in each split screen to see the differences.

As a work-around, is there a rich format eg. RTF (since this is a table, not
free text) that I could use to export the document and open it in some GUI
Windows diff program to see the differences?

Thank you.

#4

Since these are tables, can't you just copy them to Calc (spreadsheet
application), where you will be able to split window?

Apart from that, I honestly still don't see need of that feature. But it's not
like I could implement it anyway.

#5

I think that you can get the functionality that you want by doing Window > New Window.

There's a related discussion at
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42428

#6

Hi Gilles,

Gilles schrieb:

Hello

I'm working on a long document in Writer, and need to split the screen in
half so I can navigate in different parts of the document.

Someone already asked this in February 2012, and it seems like this feature
was not implemented yet:

http://en.libreofficeforum.org/node/492

Can you confirm that there is no way in LibreOffice to open a long document
and split the screen in two halves?

Not the same as "split" in Calc, but you can use menu Window > New Window. I know, that the tool bars and menu are not common but duplicate, so it is not the same as "split".

If you have a modern wide screen, an arrangement in row might be better.

Both views work on the same document.

Kind regards
Regina

#7

Thanks for the work-around. ALT+TAB to switch back and forth is good enough.

#8

I agree. I also miss being able to split a document horizontally in two
halves. It's very useful when going through a big document.

#9

This would realy be a good feature. I also miss the possibility to compare to documents side by side and synchronized scrolling. I hate to say it but this is a good feature of MSO. Just hope that our devs can add ti to LibO.

#10

Hi :slight_smile:
Side-by-side is fairly easy on Win7 and Ubuntu 12.04.  Not sure about others but it's got to have originated somewhere and is probably on the cards elsewhere.  Not sure about synchronised scrolling though, that part sounds like a good item for a feature-request / bug-report.

http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Bug_Report

So, in Ubuntu 12.04 and Win7 just grab the first document's window and drag it to the far left as though you are dragging it off-screen.  When a weird shadow fills half the screen let go.  Whatever size and shape the windo had been it now fills half the screen.  Do the same to the 2nd document's window but drag it to the right.  Errr i choose left first just because it feels more comfortable to me.  If you try to drag it off the top of the screen then the window tries to maximise.

Of course you could use Alt Tab to flick between any windows on the workspace you are on and that can be a good way to compare quickly.

Most Gnu&Linux distros also let you flick between different work-spaces quickly so changes jump out at you that way too.  Windows users probably aren't familiar with the spinning cube (which i can never get to work).  Of course Ubuntu kinda lost that quick flick between workspaces in 11.04 using Unity (unless i'm missing a key-combo (which is highly likely))

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#11

Hi:

If I remember well...with LO you can compare two documents...and in
Ubuntu there are some programs to do the same

Regards,

Jorge Rodríguez

#12

I wish this were true ... using WIN [now 7], it's not ;-(

       To be able to compare 2 versions side by side would be an asset -
often, I've wanted to remember how something was worded ... so I have to
close the document, open the other document then reverse the process
because both versions cannot be open at the same time -
             I've tried minimizing one document but it closes on its own
when the next document is opened -

       the computer is always a step ahead of me :wink:

Hi:

#13

Umm, if two Text (.odt) documents have not changed dramatically, does not the

  Edit | Compare Document ...

menu dialog provide a way of seeing how the currently open document is changed from another document?

- Dennis

#14

Hi. I can see 2 other interpretations from Anne-ology message.
1. She wants to be able to open the file twice, to visually compare the instance initially (and still) on disc with the instance edited in ram.
2. She wants to be able to visually compare 2 parts (paragraphs) in the same document.

I used to do this many years ago on OS/2 in lotus or staroffice.
Steve

#15

well, now you've lost me :wink:

Umm, if two Text (.odt) documents have not changed dramatically, does not

#16

Yes, that's my idea.

       Seems sensible to me, yet the computer just doesn't seem to like my
idea :wink:
            the computer seems to have another idea - well, I guess it gets
back at me for referring to it as a 'glorified typewriter' :wink:

Hi. I can see 2 other interpretations from Anne-ology message.

#17

If you want to compare one document with an earlier version, and you have both, do the following.

Open the first document in LibreOffice Writer.

When it is open, go to the menu above the document.

Click Edit

On the pull-down menu, click Compare Document ...

A file open dialog will appear.

Use it to open the earlier document. Writer now has a document that shows the changes from one to the other.

Scroll through the result and see how the changes to the older document that result in the newer one.

You can save this as a third document if you want. Or you can always make another comparison again.

This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but it is very useful to know about.

- Dennis

Also, in working with a document, you can record changes as you do it. You can see the changes (show them as you type), or you can simply record them. Then you can show them whenever you want, change your mind, etc. This is on the Edit | Changes dialog. Turn on Edit | Changes | Record and the changes you make from then on are remembered and can be shown.

#18

Hi :slight_smile:

People have discussed various different ways that tabs could be implemented in LibreOffice.  I would really like to see either of the main ways.  The only one i could understand was having each tab as a different document but there was an old word-processor that had something very useful for working on documents longer than 1 page or so.  Something like an advanced Navigation tool.

In MS Office you can open more than one document and each one is opened inside the type of shell you see if you open LibreOffice without opening any document and just get the splash screen.  That way you can maximise the Word window and have 2 or more documents in any arrangement you like without having multiple instances of their ribbon-bar and menus taking up even more excessive screen real-estate.

Regards from

Tom :slight_smile:

#19

That feature (the MDI interface) of Microsoft Office appears to be going, going, gone ... in Office 2013/365 [;<). It still exists in Office 2010 although in my work it is more annoying than helpful.

In the Office 2013 preview, the Windows are separate and the side-by-side feature is gone from Excel. Even if you are in Excel with an open document, and you open another, it opens in another Excel window. This makes sense for the ways that Windows 7 and Windows 8 operate. It also has the Office Apps usable in consistent ways whether running from the Web, on a desktop, or on other devices. I don't know what the considerations were, but the simplification and consistency are apparent.

- Dennis

#20

Maybe you can view 2 different documents, but for me the first one
closes when I open the next one - it is listed in the 'recent' log,
            but I'm unable to open more than 1 document at the same time.

       For instance, a while back I was composing a letter which I wanted
to begin & end in much the same way; I typed it out to the first person ...
it's saved,
            then for the next person, I could either delete the mid-section
and type in the message to that person or copy & paste to a new document
... then delete the mid-section, ... BUT I could not keep the first letter
open and revert back and forth ... ... ...

       Maybe that's what all those ~lock files are; I delete these as they
appear, because I have no clue as to why they are appearing ...
             am I deleting the ability to view documents side-by-side ???

       the more I learn of these machines, the stupider I feel :wink:

       Oh, BTW, LO quit working again last night ...
             but once again after clearing the caches, turning off the
machine for the night, it's operational again this morning :wink:

       Is it me or the machine ... I think the machine is winning ... I
think I belong in the horse 'n buggy era ... ... ... :wink: :wink: :wink:

If you want to compare one document with an earlier version, and you have