How to Use WPS Side-by-Side Comparison on Windows

Use Side-by-Side Comparison with 3 how-to topics, including enabling side-by-side comparison, using synchronous scrolling, and resetting window positions. Choose a topic from the How-to Index and follow the entry point and steps.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Enable Side-by-Side Comparison

Entry point: View tab → Side-by-Side Comparison

1. Open the two workbooks that you want to compare.
2. Switch to either workbook window.
3. Click the View tab at the top of the window.
4. Click Side-by-Side Comparison.
5. The two workbook windows will be arranged side by side automatically.
6. To exit this view, click Side-by-Side Comparison again.

Success Criteria

• UI state: Two workbook windows are visible on the screen in a side-by-side layout.
• Next actions: You can continue viewing, editing, or scrolling either workbook.
• No side effects: Turning off side-by-side comparison does not close the open workbooks.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If only one workbook is open, the side-by-side option may not work as expected.
• Environment limits: A wider window or higher screen resolution is recommended so you can see more content in both workbooks.

2. Use Synchronous Scrolling

Entry point: View tab → Synchronous Scrolling

1. Enable Side-by-Side Comparison first.
2. Confirm that both workbooks are visible at the same time.
3. Check whether Synchronous Scrolling is turned on.
4. Scroll one window and see whether the other window moves with it.
5. If you want to scroll one workbook independently, click Synchronous Scrolling to toggle it.

Success Criteria

• UI state: When you scroll one window, the other window moves to a similar position.
• Next actions: You can continue comparing the two workbooks row by row or column by column.
• No side effects: Turning off synchronous scrolling keeps the two windows side by side.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If side-by-side comparison is not enabled first, synchronous scrolling will not be effective for this workflow.
• Environment limits: If the two workbooks have very different structures, the aligned review effect may vary based on layout differences.

3. Reset Window Position

Entry point: View tab → Reset Position

1. Keep both workbook windows in side-by-side comparison view.
2. If the windows have been dragged, resized, or misaligned, click Reset Position.
3. Wait for the default side-by-side layout to be restored.
4. Continue reviewing the workbook content.

Success Criteria

• UI state: The two windows return to the default side-by-side layout.
• Next actions: You can continue using side-by-side comparison and synchronous scrolling.
• No side effects: Resetting the layout does not change workbook content.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If you are not already in a two-window viewing state, the reset effect may not be obvious.
• Environment limits: If a window is minimized or covered by another app, restore it before resetting the layout.