I often have two workbooks up on two monitors. And of course I have a bunch of other programs open. I used to struggle to view both workbooks at the same time. Using Ctrl + TAB hides the first one as it shows the second one. Two workbooks tiled side-by-side on one monitor have the same issue. The solution I’ve found is to tab “backwards” using Shift + Ctrl + TAB.
The Ctrl + TAB Problem
Below I’m clicking Ctrl + TAB. As soon as the next workbook appears the first one goes away. It seems to go behind the Windows Explorer Window:
Shift + Ctrl + TAB to the Rescue
Below, I’m using Shift + Ctrl + TAB to cycle “backwards” through the workbooks. For whatever reason, now the first workbook stays visible, and I can see both:
This is one of my favorite keyboard tricks. Any explanations of what’s going on would be greatly appreciated, as would any better solutions.
Try seeing whether Ctrl+F6 would meet your needs.
Hi Omar. In my version of Excel 2016, Ctrl + F6 brings up a “Dial Number” dialog.
That’s odd. In Excel 2016 for me, it cycles through the open Excel windows, same as Excel 2013. Must be something reassigning your keys.
Omar, you are right of course. Another program had grabbed those keystrokes for all of windows. Now Ctrl + F6 cycles through workbooks. However the issue is exactly the same as with Ctrl + TAB. And adding Shift solves the issue in exactly the same way.
I’ve confirmed on my Excel 2013 desktop it’s doing the same as for you. What Ctrl + F6 is doing is pushing the Excel window I’m leaving to the bottom of the window stack. Any other windows open on that monitor get stacked on top. But using the shift version leaves the Excel window at the top of the stack.
Strange. I don’t think it worked like this before.
So I’m really confused. You talk of Shift + Tab, but then you say “Below I’m clicking Ctrl + TAB.”
Shift + Tab does nothing for me. I use Ctrl + Tab to activate one then the other, while keeping both visible.
Either you or I have taken a few tabs of something while writing or reading this post…
Thanks Jeff. I’m the one who’s tripping, at least this time. Seriously, I need an editro (ha!).