# How to open two projects side-by-side

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-open-two-projects-side-by-side/30643>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [March 5, 2024, 9:18am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-open-two-projects-side-by-side/30643 "2024-03-05T09:18:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/51bf81/32.png) [@zach](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/zach)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 9:18am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-open-two-projects-side-by-side/30643/1 "2024-03-05T09:18:02Z")

</div>

I would like to open two projects simultaneously, so I can go back-and-forth between them. For example, different versions of the same part.

Currently it seems only one Shapr3D window is allowed, and only one project can be opened a time. This is quite inconvenient.

I am new to Shapr3D and on macOS. Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 9:35am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-open-two-projects-side-by-side/30643/2 "2024-03-05T09:35:16Z")

</div>

At the moment multi-window mode is not supported.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rpcraft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5ac83/32.png) [@rpcraft](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/rpcraft)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-open-two-projects-side-by-side/30643/3 "2024-10-15T17:45:26Z")

</div>

Probably not a common request but I found myself wishing to do this today with the ability to copy a body and paste it on the new drawing canvas. My specific reason was so that I could change dimensions on the individual body and do test 3d prints without having to affect the entire drawing. I’m still pretty new at CAD design and I am sure there is a way I could to this in one window but ultimately it is far easier for me to process the body individually so I can duplicate the step I need on the main drawing without having to backstep too much.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bigthump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@bigthump](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/bigthump)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 2:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-open-two-projects-side-by-side/30643/4 "2024-10-20T14:42:51Z")

</div>

Late reply, but I came here looking for this as well. I was looking for a way to copy sketches and parts between two projects easily, without having to do an export or duplicate.

This is not currently possible, it seems. Shapr3d team, it’d be _awesome_ if we could cmd-C, cmd-V selections (be they sketch parts, faces or objects) between projects.

That said, a tip (hack?) for those on MacOS: if all you want to do is _reference_ another project in a separate window, you can open two instances of the app in MacOS by running the `open` command in terminal with the `-n` as follows:  
`open /applications/Shapr3D.app/ -n`

Unless someone from Shapr3d chimes in and says it’s ok, I’d personally avoid working on the same project in two windows. I don’t know if that would cause syncing issues.