Overview: When an Active Workpapers binder is saved while Excel's New Window feature is active, the file retains both windows and reopens them each time the binder is launched. This article explains how to identify and resolve this state.
Why this happens
Excel includes a built-in feature under View > New Window that allows a single workbook to be opened across two separate windows simultaneously useful for working across multiple tabs at once. If the binder is saved while both windows are open, Excel remembers this state and will reopen both windows on every subsequent launch.
You can identify this by checking the file name in the title bar. When two windows are open, Excel appends :1 and :2 to the file name to distinguish them. No duplicate file is created in SharePoint it remains a single file.
Note: This behaviour is native to Excel and is not caused by Active Workpapers itself. It can affect any Excel file saved in this state.
How to resolve the issue
Closing the duplicate window and saving
Open the affected binder.
Check the title bar of each open Excel window. The window displaying :2 at the end of the file name is the duplicate.
Close the window showing :2 in the file name.
In the remaining window (showing :1 or no number), click Save.
Close and reopen the binder to confirm only one window now opens.
Tip: If you are unsure which window is which, check the title bar at the top of each Excel window the duplicate will have a :2 suffix after the binder name.