How to use overleaf in such a way that the pdf is on a different monitor while the code is on the main monitor?

Question

Basically, I need to do the same thing as this answer but with overleaf instead. I tried the following. I opened two windows of the same project. I placed each one of them on a different monitor. In one I let the code go fullscreen, while in the other one I let the pdf preview go full screen. But the pdf preview doesn't get updated even if the code on one screen gets compiled? I have to separately compile the pdf window too.

Answer 1

As of 15 June 2022, this is now made possible in Overleaf, see the blog announcement: New feature: ready, set… DETACH!

Basically, you just need to click on the upper right button Layout, then PDF in separate tab, see below:

Answer 2

This question has been answered in the FAQ on Overleaf:

On Overleaf v1: Yes, there's actually a trick that lets you do this: if you open the same project in two different browser windows, hide the preview in one, and hide the source in the other, the preview in the second window will still update as you make edits. To hide the editor or preview panes, simply click on the arrow buttons at the top of the vertical divider bar (located between the writing pane and the preview pane).

On Overleaf v2: It is not advisable to edit a project on two windows or tabs at once, especially if you've also enabled Autocompile—this may cause an infinite compilation loop in both windows or tabs.

Answer 3

supersize your browser tab to span both monitor screens, and adjust the divider to fit in the middle of both screens. you will get pdf full screen on the monitor on the right, and source code full screen on the monitor on the left. since it is the same browser tab the pdf will be recompiled automatically.

Answer 4

One way is by injecting custom javascript. Recompile when the window is focused.

You can use CJSv2 plugin for chrome and write a simple JS to recompile on window focus.

// Set up event handler to produce text for the window focus event
window.addEventListener("focus", function(event) 
{ 
    $(".btn-recompile")[0].click();
}, false);

Voila! You can open a pdf preview in a separate tab on a different monitor and whenever you click on it (focus on the window), it recompiles.

Answer 5

Detailed explanation of kingspp's answer:

1. In chrome Install the CJS extension.
2. Make sure that the extension is set in the upper right corner of the browser.
3. Once you are in the window with the overleaf expanded pdf viewer click on the extension icon and insert the code suggested by kingspp.
4. Make sure a version of jQuery is selected and the "Enable CJS on this host" toggle switch is activated.
5. Click on "save" and it's done

Answer 6

I just duplicate the browser tab with overleaf (I use Firefox).
(very similar to Larsson's proposition)
I put one tab on the first monitor where I hide the pdf part, the second (duplicated) tab is put on the second monitor where I hide the edit part.
A little price to pay : instead of the usual ctrl-enter to recompile, I have to type alt-tab before ctrl-enter to select the window with the pdf view and alt-tab again to go back to the editor window.
It works with the present version of Overleaf.

When in error, you may need to recompile the source side to have the error indications on the source file.

Answer 7

1. I copy the project link, open a new tab, and paste it in.
2. At the end of the link I insert /output/output.pdf

Example:

Link of the project I am editing:

https://www.overleaf.com/project/625c3d2477155b3a949525f8

Link in the new tab that I opened:

https://www.overleaf.com/project/625c3d2477155b3a949525f8/output/output.pdf

NOTE: In this case the PDF is not updated automatically, every time you compile you have to update the tab in which the output.pdf is open. But you can do as the above colleagues informed, add the CJS in this tab.

Answer 8

Here's a different JavaScript solution for Overleaf v2:

• In your overleaf window, press ctrl+shift+I to open the developer console

• paste the following code into the console, hit enter, and close the console again:

var win = null; 
let btn = document.createElement("button");
btn.innerHTML = "⛶";
btn.onclick = function() {
    win = window.open(document.querySelector("iframe").src)
    document.querySelector("iframe").addEventListener("load", function(pdf) {
        win.location = pdf.target.src;
    });
};
document.querySelector('[class="toolbar-pdf-left"]').appendChild(btn)

This adds a new button above the pdf preview that will open it in a popup window:

The popup window will automatically update as you recompile. IMPORTANT: if you want to minimize the code preview on the original page, DON'T do it by clicking the ">" button. Instead, shrink it manually with your mouse (dragging the vertical dots to the right). Otherwise the popup can't update.

If you don't want to do these steps manually after every refresh, you can install this chrome extension. Click it while you're in overleaf, tick "Enable on" on the top right, paste the code in, then "Save & Run".