New workbook/sheet defaults

[msnews.microsoft.com]

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.

 

[Gord Dibben]

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

 

[msnews.microsoft.com]

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.

 

[Gord Dibben]

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

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?

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.

 

[msnews.microsoft.com]

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.

 

[Gord Dibben]

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

I suggested just the opposite.


Gord

 

[msnews.microsoft.com]

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.

 

[Gord Dibben]

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

 

[msnews.microsoft.com]

Cheers Gord.

Thanks for the help.

JF.

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