Split Screen apps not filling space

[jasonrhoads]

Hello. New to Windows 8. I've figured out the split screen, which will make my work easier.

My issue is with the apps in split screen view. When I have the screen at 50:50 the desktop will fill its half of the split. The app on the other hand seems to only fill about 1/3 of its half. I don't know how to allow the app to fill its half of the split.

Thoughts would be very helpful!

 

[OldGuyGeek]

A snapshot would help. Plus which app you are talking about. Does it happen with all, or just one?

If the black bar is already at half-way, then the app probably hasn't written correctly. This happens with some apps when you have the split around the 1/4 screen.

Also include your screen size and resolution. The lower resolution laptops can affect this as well.

 

[jasonrhoads]

Here are two screen shots. the 1/3; 2/3 is the first. The second is when I drag the bar over. It is with the Kindle app. It's one I use will be using most at this point.

 

[paulsalter]

you need to alter the border and font size from within the app view settings (double page view to get the borders option)

the app will either display one page view or two page, when you split screen and resize it anything between these two options you get the big borders
it wont auto adjust to fill the size of the app split

if that makes sense

 

[jasonrhoads]

How do I get to the settings? I've looked around.
Also, where do I go to resize? Is this done for the machine or per app?
Only had Windows 8 since Friday afternoon.

Thanks for the help so far. Looking forward to getting this squared away.

 

[paulsalter]

It all depends how the app was made, with the kindle app you either get one page or two page view, the size of the page is fixed (based on font size/borders) so as you reduce the size of the app you go from 2 pages, down to one page with big borders, then eventually just the one page (this is how amazon designed this app)

If you open the app into full screen view, and open your book, then right click anywhere on the page and you should get options down at the bottom, click the one labelled View, from here you can reduce the size of the borders/font, if you reduce them far enough you get a better view when using split screen (but will still show borders)

It's not totally what you want as you cannot eliminate the borders, but it might look more readable in split screen this way

 

[jasonrhoads]

I tried adjusting settings in the kindle app and no change. I did make it a bit more workable. I tried going through different apps, they all have this sizing issue.

I noticed when I first put an app into split screen it defaults to the 1/3; 2/3 size. The open portion of the app stays at the same size regardless of the ratio on the screen. (see pictures I posted earlier in the thread)

Is there a way I can adjust the ratio to be 50:50 when initiating split screen? Maybe that would work?

 

[paulsalter]

The 50:50 split is app dependant, when you use split screen it initially shows the optimized size for the app (some apps do go 50:50 as default but not kindle)

Something has changed since I last looked at split screens, they used to give a slightly more customised view for the smaller size, now they doesn't

The best solution is probably to use the original Kindle desktop app which will resize, need to pick win 7 version from the amazon site, this is the original desktop version, unfortunately apart from that its either the thin strip 1/3rd screen or expand it out till you get the two column view, anything in-between will give big black borders

 

[jasonrhoads]

I'll give that a try. I'm guessing it won't be an app, but rather a desktop icon or taskbar icon.

Final question then (I hope): Can I use splitscreen for two desktop items? The Kindle and a webpage open side by side? I guess I could do it the old fashioned way and just set them up that way on the desktop...

 

[paulsalter]

Splitting works find for desktop items, display desktop app and then use Window Key+Left/Right cursor this will snap it to that side of screen, or you can drag from the header to the left/right

Here is an example of me using Word & IE

 

[jasonrhoads]

Sweet! Thanks for all your help!

 

[paulsalter]

You're Welcome

Shame the app didn't do what you wanted (it might be better when Windows 10 comes out late next year, they are improving this feature in it), I have the test version of it installed, will try and test Kindle in the next few days, see how it performs

 

[jasonrhoads]

Great. If you remember, let me know how it performs.

 

[OldGuyGeek]

My Kindle does the same thing. You may want to change the internal view settings for Kindle. Just right-click on the book and chose view from the bottom menu. Change your margins, font size, # of columns.

It will still be pretty skinny with just a few words on a line, but a bit more readable. Don't even try it with Nook, it doesn't display ANYTHING in split screen.

 

[OldGuyGeek]

Just saw the post about Windows 10. The Kindle App just comes up on the Desktop in the new format, framed in a Window. You can snap it left or right to 50% but that's about it. You can get it down to about 40%, but the Window won't resize smaller. I'm guessing it will change later.