Distinguish multiple sheets in one project file from multiple files

A Prism project can have multiple pages or sheets, divided into five sections. These are all saved in one Prism .PZF or .PZFX file. Of course, you can export individual data tables or graphs, but this is not the same as saving the entire project as one Prism file.

People new to Prism often make the mistake of thinking that each Prism file can only have one data table and one graph. Not so. Each file can contain up to 500 data tables, info sheets, analysis results, graphs and page layouts.

Prism lets you open more than file at a time

While working with Prism, you can open multiple Prism files. The details are slightly different for Windows and Mac.

Prism Windows. Multiple open projects in one overall Prism window.

There are two ways to work on a second Prism project.

If you use the File..New or File..Open commands (or the corresponding toolbar buttons), you'll open a second project within the overall Prism window. You can then open (or create) a third, fourth... project. All are contained within a master (parent) Prism window. This means that even if you use two (or more) displays, all these projects must be shown on one computer display. All open projects share the same toolbar.

Use the Window menu to move from one project to another. Use the Navigator or bottom toolbar to move between sheets in one project file.

Prism Windows. Two open projects in distinct Prism windows.

If you want to open a second Prism window, simply launch Prism again. To do so, you must double-click on the program icon. Double-clicking on a Prism file when Prism is running will always open that file in the instance of Prism already running. To launch a second instance of Prism, double-click on the program icon. It is not possible to launch more than two instances of Prism. (Opening two distinct Prism windows is new to Prism 6.)

Once you have a second copy of Prism running, you can open any file within it. If you open a file that is already open in the other copy (instance) of Prism, then you won't be able to save any changes unless  you use File..Save As and choose a new file name. Any changes you make in one instance of Prism will not be seen in the other. Use the second launch of Prism to view one sheet (say a page of results) while you edit another sheet (the graph) in the original launch of Prism.

The Windows menu of each instance of Prism will only show files open in that instance.

Prism Mac before Sierra

There is no concept of a parent or overall Prism window when you use Prism Mac. Each project file you open or create is in its own window. You can move each project to whatever display you want. The Windows menu lists all open Prism projects.

Prism Mac after Sierra

MacOS Sierra introduces the possibiltiy of putting multiple Prism files into a single tabbed window. The files are distinct (not merged) but they all will be in one window, with a row of tabs that let you choose which file you want to view. This can make it easier to be organized, especially if you work with a small display. Details.