view library items simultaneously

[Stewart]

I have a home group set up for desktop and laptop; working OK.
I want to compare a folder in the desktop with same in laptop; for example a
picture folder with 30 photos of Amy in the laptop with 26 photos of Amy in
the desktop so that I can update what I want.
There does not seem to be a way of opening 2 libraries at the same time.
Can this be done?
Thank you

 

[Tim Slattery]

I have a home group set up for desktop and laptop; working OK.
I want to compare a folder in the desktop with same in laptop; for example a
picture folder with 30 photos of Amy in the laptop with 26 photos of Amy in
the desktop so that I can update what I want.
There does not seem to be a way of opening 2 libraries at the same time.
Can this be done?

You can open two instances of Windows Explorer, and have each point to
a different directory. Or are you talking about some specific program?

 

[Dave]

I have a home group set up for desktop and laptop; working OK.
I want to compare a folder in the desktop with same in laptop; for example
a picture folder with 30 photos of Amy in the laptop with 26 photos of Amy
in the desktop so that I can update what I want.
There does not seem to be a way of opening 2 libraries at the same time.
Can this be done?
Thank you

Like Tim said you can have two windows at the same time side by side, each
pointing to a different directory. After you open the first, grab the top of
the window with a left mouse click and hold. Quickly drag it to one side of
screen and it will change into a small window. You can then open the second
and do the same on the other side of the screen, now they are side by side.
Another way to do this is with MS Synctoy. It will synchronize any two
folders so they both contain the same files. Don't know if it will do it on
a network device, haven't tried that yet, but I do it all the time with a
thumb drive. Whenever I create a document for any of my classes I will sync
it with the thumb drive then sync that with my other computer. This keeps my
laptop, desktop and thumb drive the same all the time for when I go to class
and I have a good backup.
HTH,
Dave

 

[Stewart]

Dave, I know I can do that but it is folders that I am trying to compare.
If I open "C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\Amy" that is in my desktop then I would
like to also open the "C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\Amy" that is in my laptop and
compare them side by side. I could then see what pictures are in one but
not in the other.
I know I can use syncback to save to my external hard drive and then match
them up from there but it would be a lot handier if I could do it direct.
Thanks again.

 

[Bob Hatch]

Dave, I know I can do that but it is folders that I am trying to compare.
If I open "C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\Amy" that is in my desktop then I
would like to also open the "C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\Amy" that is in my
laptop and compare them side by side. I could then see what pictures are
in one but not in the other.
I know I can use syncback to save to my external hard drive and then
match them up from there but it would be a lot handier if I could do it
direct.
Thanks again.

Stewart. Do what Dave told you to do. Open one instance of Windows
Explorer and navigate to the "C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\Amy" on the
desktop and place that on the left side of the screen. Open a second
instance of Windows explorer and navigate to
"C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\Amy" on the laptop and place that on the right
side of the screen. Compare images.

Not rocket science.


--
"Never argue with an idiot, they will knock you
down to their level and beat you with experience."
Unknown

http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

 

[Dave]

You didn't specify in your OP if you laptop is networked so I tried to cover
either way. I haven't tried this, but don't see why it wouldn't work since
you can access files on a networked computer with explorer. If your explorer
opens in a window that's not full-screen then you don't have to do the
click-and-drag, just drag it to one side of screen. Open another explorer in
another window and point each to different directories, one to the
directories on your networked laptop.
If your laptop isn't networked then the only way you can do it is to get the
media to the desktop by thumb drive, external drive or etc.
HTH,
Dave

 

[Stewart]

Thanks all, I have got it now. What I did not know was that I had to right
click windows explorer to get the additional window opened. I now have them
on each side of the screen and can compare.

 

[Char Jackson]

...I do it all the time with a
thumb drive. Whenever I create a document for any of my classes I will sync
it with the thumb drive then sync that with my other computer. This keeps my
laptop, desktop and thumb drive the same all the time for when I go to class
and I have a good backup.
HTH,
Dave

Thanks for confirming that you're a student. That confirms my
suspicions and explains some of your comments in the other thread.

 

[Dave]

Thanks all, I have got it now. What I did not know was that I had to
right click windows explorer to get the additional window opened. I now
have them on each side of the screen and can compare.

Good catch, I missed putting that in my post, even though I was doing it to
make sure explorer would collapse when mouse-drug (or drunk :-D ) like other
programs will.
Dave

 

[Bob Hatch]

Good catch, I missed putting that in my post, even though I was doing it
to make sure explorer would collapse when mouse-drug (or drunk :-D )
like other programs will.
Dave

I have a shortcut to Windows Explorer on the desktop and I didn't have
to right click. Just open 2 instances with left click mouse.

--
"Never argue with an idiot, they will knock you
down to their level and beat you with experience."
Unknown

http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

 

[Dave]

I have a shortcut to Windows Explorer on the desktop and I didn't have to
right click. Just open 2 instances with left click mouse.

--
"Never argue with an idiot, they will knock you
down to their level and beat you with experience."
Unknown

http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

Good point, I just tried it and you're correct. Also, from the start menu
you can just left click and it will open a new window every time you
left-click. I have explorer tied to my taskbar and it won't work that way,
when you left-click the second time it minimizes explorer and when you right
click you can open another window.
Dave

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I have a shortcut to Windows Explorer on the desktop and I didn't have
to right click. Just open 2 instances with left click mouse.

You can also open a second instance of Windows Explorer from the "Computer"
shortcut on the Start Menu, but only if the first window no longer points
to the starting location. If you click that shortcut before changing the
directory viewed in the first instance, nothing happens. I guess some
programmer thought you'd never want two windows on the same folder ;-)

Vista did this too, IIRC.

 

[Zaidy036]

I have a home group set up for desktop and laptop; working OK.
I want to compare a folder in the desktop with same in laptop; for example a
picture folder with 30 photos of Amy in the laptop with 26 photos of Amy in
the desktop so that I can update what I want.
There does not seem to be a way of opening 2 libraries at the same time.
Can this be done?
Thank you

Try free Q-Dir from http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/Q-Dir

One can have up to 3 directories open at once.