# Microsoft Knowledge Base

## Excel: Window Size Changes When Using Two Monitors

Last reviewed: September 12, 1996 Article ID: Q101891
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0

## SUMMARY

You can use Microsoft Excel in a two-monitor environment where one monitor contains one worksheet and the second monitor contains a second worksheet. When you switch between the two worksheets on the two different monitors, the size of the active window may change to match the size of the previously active window on the other monitor. This is expected behavior.

## MORE INFORMATION

When Microsoft Excel is running in a one monitor environment, the size of a newly activated spreadsheet is based on the size of the recently deactivated spreadsheet. For example, if Worksheet1 is maximized, and you create a new worksheet in by choosing the New command from File menu, you will produce a new maximized worksheet. These same sizing rules apply when you use the Window menu to switch between worksheets. If Worksheet1 is maximized and then you switch to another worksheet, the newly activated worksheet becomes maximized. If the worksheets are in normal sized windows, then Microsoft Excel moves between the worksheets in their normal size and creates spreadsheets in normal window sizes.

NOTE: A maximized window is one that is full screen in Microsoft Excel such that no other windows can be seen beneath it. A normal sized window is one where other documents can be seen either underneath it or are tiled with it on the screen.

The following scenarios may occur when Microsoft Excel is used in a two monitor environment:

- If the size of the active worksheet on the first monitor is maximized and the worksheet on the second monitor is not, when the worksheet on the second monitor is activated, it will be maximized.
- If the size of the active worksheet on the first monitor is normal, and the size of the worksheet on the second monitor is maximized, then activating the second worksheet will cause it to shrink to normal size.
- If the size of the worksheets on both monitors is the same, (that is, both windows are maximized or both windows are normal), then switching between the two worksheets will show no difference.

To keep the worksheet windows from changing sizes, both windows must be either maximum size or both sheets must be normal window size.

> KBCategory: kbenv
> KBSubcategory:

> Additional reference words: 4.00 3.00 2.20

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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
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