Splitting Windows in NetBeans
I've found from talking to many people that it isn't common knowledge that you can split a window in NetBeans. That is, displaying multiple editor windows at a time by dividing up the display. You can split windows horizontally and vertically, just like any good editor or IDE. This is very easy to do in NetBeans.
To split a window horizontally, you simply click and hold the mouse button on a tab at the top of the editor and drag it to the bottom (or top) area of the editor. As you do this, you'll see an outline of where the window will be placed. Let go of the mouse button and the window will split and display at the bottom. You can then click and drag the area between the bottom window's tab area and the top window's status bar area to resize the window.
To split the window vertically, do the same thing as above, except drag to the right (or left) side of the editor window and let go. Again, you'll see an outline letting you know where the window will be placed.
You can continue to do this and keep splitting windows as you like. Of course, with the amount of space the window takes up (tab area, toolbar area, status bar area, etc.), you're real estate diminishes quickly. BTW, you can get rid of the toolbar to free up more space (right-mouse click on the area to the left of the edit window and de-select 'Show toolbar').
You can add multiple files to the split window as well. Just make your first split, then drag and drop a second tab into the middle of the target split area. The file will be added.
To get rid of a split, drag a tab from the split area back to the middle of the main area. The file will be moved to the main area. If the file is the last one in the split area, the split will disappear.
You can also view different sections of a file at the same time. Simply right-mouse click on the tab of the file and choose 'Clone Document'. You'll see another tab show up with the same name. Then use the cloned window to split the window. You now have the same document displayed side by side. You can scroll both windows independently.
To split a window horizontally, you simply click and hold the mouse button on a tab at the top of the editor and drag it to the bottom (or top) area of the editor. As you do this, you'll see an outline of where the window will be placed. Let go of the mouse button and the window will split and display at the bottom. You can then click and drag the area between the bottom window's tab area and the top window's status bar area to resize the window.
To split the window vertically, do the same thing as above, except drag to the right (or left) side of the editor window and let go. Again, you'll see an outline letting you know where the window will be placed.
You can continue to do this and keep splitting windows as you like. Of course, with the amount of space the window takes up (tab area, toolbar area, status bar area, etc.), you're real estate diminishes quickly. BTW, you can get rid of the toolbar to free up more space (right-mouse click on the area to the left of the edit window and de-select 'Show toolbar').
You can add multiple files to the split window as well. Just make your first split, then drag and drop a second tab into the middle of the target split area. The file will be added.
To get rid of a split, drag a tab from the split area back to the middle of the main area. The file will be moved to the main area. If the file is the last one in the split area, the split will disappear.
You can also view different sections of a file at the same time. Simply right-mouse click on the tab of the file and choose 'Clone Document'. You'll see another tab show up with the same name. Then use the cloned window to split the window. You now have the same document displayed side by side. You can scroll both windows independently.
Posted by John Gooch on November 30, 2006 at 03:50 PM PST #
Posted by Darryl on November 30, 2006 at 04:19 PM PST #
But can you split 2 windows editing the same file?
Posted by 220.241.42.67 on June 17, 2008 at 06:29 PM PDT #
Yes! Open a file. Right-mouse click on the file's tab and choose 'Clone Document'. You'll have a copy of the same file. Now use the actions above to split the window and you'll be able to see different parts of the same file in different windows.
Posted by Darryl on June 18, 2008 at 09:44 AM PDT #
awesome , this is exactly what I was looking for, too bad netbeans UI isn't a bit more helpful here.
Posted by 69.146.94.219 on February 15, 2009 at 03:16 PM PST #