New workbook/sheet defaults

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msnews.microsoft.com - 01 Oct 2007 20:10 GMT

I'm using Excel 2003 and have put two files Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt in the
startup folder whose path is specified in:

Tools|Options|General|At startup open all files in:

Sheet.xlt works fine for adding new sheets and Book.xlt works fine for new
workbooks created by clicking the New icon on the Standard toolbar, but not
if I create it using File|New then select Blank Workbook from the New
Workbook task pane or if I click Templates|On My Computer then select
Workbook.

How do I have these actions use the Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt files that I've
created for the purpose?

JF.

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Gord Dibben - 01 Oct 2007 21:23 GMT

I would place Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt in my XLSTART folder rather than the "At
startup open all files in"

That is how Excel works............File>New...(note the ellipsis) brings up the
task pane.

Select Blank Workbook and you get Excel's default workbook, not your Book.xlt.

Use the File>New without the ellipsis or the New File Icon or CTRL + n

Insert>Worksheet will use sheet.xlt

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

>I'm using Excel 2003 and have put two files Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt in the
>startup folder whose path is specified in:
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>JF.

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msnews.microsoft.com - 02 Oct 2007 12:24 GMT

Thanks Gord, but I'm not sure what you mean.

My template files for new book and sheet are in a network folder
Data\Excel\Templates\Start and this folder is specified under
'Tools|Options|General|At startup open all files in:'. This seems to work
fine for new files created using the icon and Ctrl+N, but not when using
File>New via the task pane, selecting New>Blank Workbook. Are you saying
that this behaviour can't be changed so that when using File>New via the
task pane, then selecting New>Blank Workbook, I'd get a new blank workbook
based on my template?

Where is the XLSTART folder and what difference will it make putting my
templates there? I assume I'd have to have the path to this folder
specified in 'Tools|Options|General|At startup open all files in:' in order
for my template to be used for new workbooks created by using the icon and
Ctrl+N?

Ellipsis - Is this the dots after the File command indicating that further
choices will be needed?

JF.

>I would place Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt in my XLSTART folder rather than the
>"At
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>>
>>JF.

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Gord Dibben - 02 Oct 2007 16:04 GMT

See in-line responses...................

>Thanks Gord, but I'm not sure what you mean.
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>task pane, then selecting New>Blank Workbook, I'd get a new blank workbook
>based on my template?

Yes.......using File>New...Blank Workbook will give you the default Excel
workbook. No way to change that.

>Where is the XLSTART folder and what difference will it make putting my
>templates there?

Generally located at

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

I would put just the Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt in that folder, no other Templates.

> I assume I'd have to have the path to this folder
>specified in 'Tools|Options|General|At startup open all files in:' in order
>for my template to be used for new workbooks created by using the icon and
>Ctrl+N?

No......Most leave that dialog box empty so's not to potentially create any
problems with extraneous file opening when Excel starts up.

>Ellipsis - Is this the dots after the File command indicating that further
>choices will be needed?

Yes.

>JF.

Gord

>>I would place Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt in my XLSTART folder rather than the
>>"At
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>>>
>>>JF.

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msnews.microsoft.com - 02 Oct 2007 19:17 GMT

Thanks again Gord, but the reason I have my templates located in shared
network folder is so others can use them too. If I put them in the default
local folder, any changes I make will have to be made to each user's local
template file.

I don't have any problems with extraneous file opening when Excel starts up
and putting the templates in the local folder will not make new workbooks
created by using the New>Blank Workbook link on the task pane use them for
new workbooks so I'm not quite sure why you suggested this.

It's a pity, but I'll just have to put up with Excel working this way unless
there's a way to remove the link from the task bar. Removing the New
command from the menu seems a little extreme, but would avoid new workbooks
being made with Excel's defaults, I guess.

In case you're wondering why I use templates as opposed to the default
settings, it's a simple case that, like a lot of users, I use Excel mainly
for list management and on-screen apps that display and print with the grid
lines showing. I find Excel's default row height too small for optimum
clarity. Using a value of 15 looks much better with bog standard Ariel or
Tahoma 10pt text. Using Book.xlt and Sheet.xlt as default templates is the
only way I can see to achieve this, but please let me know if there's a
better way.

Is Excel 2007 any different in this respect?

JF.

> See in-line responses...................
>
[quoted text clipped - 82 lines]
>>>>
>>>>JF.

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Gord Dibben - 02 Oct 2007 19:27 GMT

I did not suggest that using File>New>Blank Workbook would open your Template
workbook.

I suggested just the opposite.

Gord

>Yes.......using File>New...Blank Workbook will give you the default Excel
>> workbook. No way to change that.

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msnews.microsoft.com - 03 Oct 2007 10:40 GMT

I appreciate your help, Gord, but I'd already said in my original post that
new files created using the icon worked fine. I hadn't tried the Ctrl+N
shortcut, but confirmed in my reply that this also worked.

What I don't understand is the stuff about the location of my template
files.

As far as I can see, everything's working the way it's supposed to and there
isn't any way to have new workbooks created using File>New...Blank Workbook
use the templates no matter where they are located.

I've explained why I keep my templates in a network folder, but if there's
something I'm misunderstanding about the location of template files, please
let me know.

JF.

>I did not suggest that using File>New>Blank Workbook would open your
>Template
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>Yes.......using File>New...Blank Workbook will give you the default Excel
>>> workbook. No way to change that.

Reply to this Message

Gord Dibben - 03 Oct 2007 18:59 GMT

You can keep your template files wherever suits you.

No problem with that. I just pointed out the usual folder to store Book.xlt and
Sheet.xlt. Not all templates, just those two.

With you being on a network, "usual" does not apply.

Correct. You cannot change the behavior of Excel when you hit File>New...Blank
Workbook.

You will always get the default workbook, not your Book.xlt

Thanks for listening.

Gord

>I appreciate your help, Gord, but I'd already said in my original post that
>new files created using the icon worked fine. I hadn't tried the Ctrl+N
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>>>Yes.......using File>New...Blank Workbook will give you the default Excel
>>>> workbook. No way to change that.

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msnews.microsoft.com - 04 Oct 2007 11:35 GMT

Cheers Gord.

Thanks for the help.

JF.

> You can keep your template files wherever suits you.
>
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
>>>>Excel
>>>>> workbook. No way to change that.

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