Can I open two solutions with Visual Studio for Mac at the same time?

Question

That's it. Can this be initiated two times to open two separated solutions at the same time?

Spent not 30 sec, maybe a little more time then I asked. Thanks Ken for your comment. — martyndev, Nov 20 '16 at 03:43
I think this is a reasonable question, it's not obvious you can do this via the IDE in an obvious way unless you navigate to the solution file. The IDE offers you short cuts (e.g. recent solutions) that steer you away from that. — compound eye, Mar 13 '17 at 03:29

SushiHangover · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-27T21:14:09.413

50

By default an .app runs as a single instance/single document mode, its the Cocoa way of life and MonoDevelop/Xamarin Studio/Visual Studio for Mac follow that paradigm.

From the cmd line:

Open a solution in an existing running instance or starts the first instance:

open MySolution.sln

Open a solution in a new instance of the application:

open -n MySolution.sln

-n = Open a new instance of the application(s) even if one is already running.

GUI-based:

From @TomGilder comment:

MS Solution Launcher

Ref: https://github.com/Redth/MSSolutionLauncher

edited Jun 27 '18 at 21:14

answered Nov 20 '16 at 00:06

SushiHangover

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Also see Redth's **MS Solution Launcher** at https://github.com/Redth/MSSolutionLauncher – Tom Gilder Nov 20 '16 at 00:18
@TomGilder +1 I've been using my own Launcher for many years. There are a few posted on the Xamarin forums also.. – SushiHangover Nov 20 '16 at 00:21
https://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/359302/merge-tags-visual-studio-mac-and-visual-studio-for-mac – Hans Passant Nov 13 '17 at 21:49
awww dats sad :) – Nicholas DiPiazza Jun 27 '18 at 21:02

score 25 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 21 '16 at 02:33

25

You can do this in the IDE when an existing solution is open by deselecting Close current workspace when you open the solution through the File -> Open menu:

answered Nov 21 '16 at 02:33

matthewrdev

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When using File > Open, you may need to click the "Options" button to display the dialog shown. IMO this is the better approach, provided you don't mind sharing the same workbench/window for the two solutions. – providencemac May 19 '17 at 15:20
@matthewrdev Do you know which version this was removed in? Thanks. – SushiHangover Oct 10 '17 at 08:56
@SushiHangover Not specifically. I suspect this happened somewhere in the 7.1 version builds. – matthewrdev Oct 11 '17 at 02:00
@matthewrdev Thanks. – SushiHangover Oct 11 '17 at 02:28
Is there a way to have un-check "Close current workspace" by default? – user2884707bond Oct 10 '18 at 15:52

score 15 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 12 '17 at 16:35

15

Open terminal and run the command:

open -n -a "Visual Studio"

edited Jul 12 '17 at 16:35

Bugs

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answered Jul 12 '17 at 16:04

Sanjay Shrivastava

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best answer ever, true coders will follow this solution – Oct 24 '17 at 19:09
ahaha yeah I did not see this answer before but I figured this out.. so yes this is the best solution for me as well thanks!! – Oswaldo Zapata Oct 11 '18 at 01:19

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 24 '17 at 10:41

As a short cut I create a simple automator application that runs a bash script to open a new instance. You can do this with most Apps.

open -n /Applications/Visual\ Studio.app

When done save your automator application I usually call it "VSMac Clone" and give it a funky icon.

You can use the one I created at your own risk VSMac Clone

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 28 '18 at 07:31

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First, open your first solution
go to files and then recent solution then find your solution
ctrl+tick on that solution you want to open

answered Jun 28 '18 at 07:31

SHUBHAM SHARMA

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CTRL+Click on a solution name (from within visual studio) is by far the best solution indeed – Miiite Jan 11 '19 at 09:55
On MS **Code** this is CMD+click – MikeL Feb 14 '19 at 18:41