changing default margin settngs

[Guest]

I cannot seem to find where to change the default margin settings for Excel -
I can go in and change them everytime on the page setup but I do not want to
have to manually change the margins everytime. Please help!

 

[Dave Peterson]

Are you related to Amanda?

You could create a workbook that has the settings you want. Then save
this workbook as a template for all new workbooks.

If that's what you want to do:
Start a new workbook.
change the margins
(and modify it to your heart's content)

Also, modify anything else you want as a standard--header/footers, page
orientation, number of worksheets in that workbook???

Now save it as a template in your XLStart folder as book.xlt

Then when you click on that New icon, the new workbook will inherit all those
settings.

=====
If you create another file named sheet.xlt (in the same XLStart location), then
every new worksheet added will inherit the settings from this template.

I set up book.xlt the way I wanted it (one sheet only) and then used windows
explorer to copy it to sheet.xlt. Then they would be identical. (Seemed like
less work, too.)

 

[Guest]

Hi again,

No I am not related to any Amanda. Thanks for the help - I thought I would
have to change the template - but it begs one more question - where do I find
the XLStart Location?

Krinneyd

 

[Guest]

Hi Again,

I found the XLStart folder and saved the book.xlt and sheet.xlt in there but
it did not overwrite the template - I know I am doing somthing wrong - could
u show me the directory where I need to go to make the changes.

Krinneyd

 

[Gord Dibben]

There are usually two XLSTART folders.

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application\Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART is
the usual default.

You will also find an XLSTART folder at....

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\XLStart which Excel doesn't seem to
use.

The Blank workbook that opens using File New...(note ellipsis) is not the
BOOK.XLT you stored in the XLSTART folder.

I'm not sure if there is a method to change this behavior. Maybe a Registry
change. I'll have a look.

I use the other File>New command(the one without the ellipsis...). That will
give you your default BOOK.XLT directly from your XLSTART folder.

If not on your File Menu, go to Tools>Customize>Commands>File and drag the
"New" command to the File Menu or a Toolbar.

Check out the descriptions of the two "New" commands while you're there. You
will see the difference between the two.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Dave Peterson]

Another option (besides Gord's) is to open excel.
hit alt-f11 to get to the VBE
hit ctrl-g to see the immediate windows
Type this and hit enter:
?application.StartupPath

For me (win98 and xl2002), I get:

C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

 

[Guest]

Ok, I have found where to go, and even saved the "new" Book.xlt to the folder
c:\documents and settings\username\application\data\microsoft\excel\xlstart,
then changed the icon on the file menu to open that file but instead of
automatically opening that book - the side menu pops up and gives me a choice
of what to open - ie: blank workbook (original book), from existing workbook
(my new book) templates online - etc.

What a hassle, why could it not be setup like Word where you can just click
a default button and your settings are changed - this is more like
programming and I am not a programmer! Sheesh, is there no easier way to do
this!?

Krinneyd

PS - I really do appreciate the help however!

 

[Gord Dibben]

Read the parts about "note the ellipsis".

In Tools>Customize>Commands>File you have two "New" items.

One has the ellipsis(...) the other has no ellipsis.

The dots(...) means Excel will open a secondary dialog.

Drag the second one to your File menu.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

Ok, I have found where to go, and even saved the "new" Book.xlt to the folder
c:\documents and settings\username\application\data\microsoft\excel\xlstart,
then changed the icon on the file menu to open that file but instead of
automatically opening that book - the side menu pops up and gives me a choice
of what to open - ie: blank workbook (original book), from existing workbook
(my new book) templates online - etc.

What a hassle, why could it not be setup like Word where you can just click
a default button and your settings are changed - this is more like
programming and I am not a programmer! Sheesh, is there no easier way to do
this!?

Krinneyd

PS - I really do appreciate the help however!

 

[Guest]

THANK YOU! I finally understood the instructions!

Corinne