How to use PT9 on two screens? [solved]

Question

Often I have the blessing of two physical screens, next to each other. Tech details at the end.

Now while I was on PT8, I asked something related and was encouraged to move to PT9, like this:

How to restore my extra windows in PT8? (solved)

Managing multiple windows and windows on multiple monitors is built in to Paratext 9

Now I am in PT9 for a few years (it feels) and I have not found any native or “built in” features to help me spread out my layout each morning over my two screens. Each time I open PT9, it starts maximized, but just on one monitor.

I searched the help like “dual screens”, “screens”, “monitors” and found nothing.

What I want is simple: A not-clumsy way to make my PT span all accross both my screens (or my three screens when I can grab that of my spouse) and not hide the bottom-part behind the windows task-bar (because certain panels like the Hebrew text are displaying useful stuff at the very bottom).

Here are some details, almost a TL/DR:

• I am on Windows 10, but I have other users I look after and one machine is Windows 11.
• That W11 machine has got two desktop screens (same brand, same size, full HD, same connector-technology) sitting next to each other. All properly set up by Windows display settings.
• I have one full HD screen in my notebook and a mobile USB-screen - also full HD - next to it. Same size, and fully supported by Windows display settings. No hacks. I have several tools, not just PT that I use in “total surface mode”. No issues ever with the fact of running two screens.
• When I manually drag the PT window like I want it over both screens that works to a degree. But it is clumsy, takes time and I always loose/miss/waste a few pixels because it is hand-work.
• So presently I am using a script and AutoIt technology. Maintaining an extra script over several computers and memorizing shortcuts is a chore, when I was told “managing multiple monitors is built in”. I feel that I am missing something good and simple.
• All the computers that I look after are on version 9.3.103.10 at the moment (actually I do not know about the tablets, but I have never tried using two Android-tablets next to each other for PT; that would be a separate thread; one may always dream; seems some users are already talking to their hardware…).
• I did some testing with the window-corner-menu on PT, the one you get when you hit ALT+Space: It gives me options to move (by keyboard or mouse) and that works fine. It also gives me an option to “size” but that does not work well with my keyboard-arrows, sadly. If that would work, I could more precisely size my PT and never waste any screen-area.
• What I really need is (to find) the feature where I can reliably and quickly bring PT back to the good size and window-arrangement I had on the previous working day. Normally I want “total surface mode” over both screens. I would be happy to have a “re-create last layout” or a “use all space available”.
• Just to be clear: I appreciate and use a lot the inbuilt feature of storing and calling the “layouts”. But those only cover the inner arrangement of ressources inside the PT window. They do not include the size and position of the PT window in relation to the physical screen(s).

Answer 1

Yes, dealing with full screen secondary windows with multiple panels, etc inside is going to be easiest.

Are you saying you want to actually stretch the main Paratext window across two screens? I don’t think Paratext is going to be able to do that with a saved layout. It would probably be better to work with multiple windows and have them in the specific spots you want them. It seems that if save the layout, then move the main Paratext window, it (the main Paratext window) may not restore to the saved layout position.

If that doesn’t work, could you please share a screenshot of what you’re looking for?

Comments

Thank you for trying to clarify: I only wanted to stretch across both my screens, because I was unaware (so far) that I could have a team of two “main-windows” side by side.

Only very observant guests will notice that one window is the main-main-window and the other is a not-floating-floating-sub-main-window from now on.

I am very happy, which you can see, since I marked my question solved.

I still like to get input from other users about their best practises for a good and ergonomic layout and optimal screen use. Or good PT use in general.

Answer 2

It is possible to have multiple PT windows: start with a single PT window and open a resource or project as a floating window. Then, when this window is active, press Ctrl+O (there’s no “Open” button in floating windows) and open other resources or projects; opening multiple resources as a text collection is also possible. Drag the panes around to create a layout to your liking so it becomes an (almost) full-fledged second PT window, and save the two windows as a layout. Each window can easily be maximized on one screen.

I don’t know if this is what you’re looking for, and I’m not sure if the two PT windows will be distributed correctly over your screens when you restart PT. But just to be sure – exploiting floating windows is a pretty useful feature.

Paulus+Kieviet

Comments

Dear @Paulus+Kieviet this is muchly helpful, I have just tried it out.

I had not mentioned but I am working with several floating windows for a long time: I have some special friends that deserve the size of one entire screen like biblical key terms, wordlist and interlinearizer. So I have those as floating and I bring them up efficiently with ALT+TAB when needed.

But for me your idea is new and is a great step towards my request: Have a second window, maximise it easily (via Windows throw-upwards feature) on a second screen, and then drag more ressources into that one. I had never tried to plopp several ressources into one of those floating windows.

My new other-main-window will be like one of those floating house-boats in Amsterdam that never really go anywhere. They are big and cosy, and have flower pots on deck and a fixed mail box on the pier.

In what I consider my “main PT window” I have a lot of stuff like probably most users. And it is this main window that I want to span over both physical screens.
Now with your input things are much better, since Windows can very easily und properly (and without hiding anything behind the taskbar) manage two full-HD-windows running for one application.

I have already done the tests with closing the program and re-launching it (simulating a fresh work day). Yes, I can confirm, that each “sub-main-window” gets placed to its respective screen, like on the previous work-session. And the ressources inside get properly arranged anyway, had no doubts about that.

I also tried dragging a window to the side and re-applying the inbuilt “layout” that I made for my test:

All the arrangements over both new “partner-main-windows” get correctly re-applied as expected. Joy. The only detail that is not yet covered is the position-on-screen of each window. But since I want “full screen coverage” it is always easy to throw any widow upwards and have it snap to full screen, if it gets ever dislocated.

Thank you for having taken the time to share. I could mark my question as solved now. But I get “greedy” and will wait a little longer if other experienced users want to add their own advice or tricks.