Snapshot view of .xls files in perhaps File Manager

[jimsunz]

I have created many excel files over the years. I wish to review all
these, but I cannot remember what the content is from just the file
names on many of them.
Is there a way of seeing just say 'the top of each spreadsheet'
without having to open and close each file?

I seem to remember somewhere, it may not be Excel, where you could
just click on a file name to see just a brief view of the file.

I am just trying to work out a quick way of going through all my
files, and deleting unwanted files.

Many thanks to all you very helpful people out there. Jim.

 

[JulieD]

Hi Jim

you can do this with excel IF you have saved a preview picture of each file
when you created it (file / properties - tick save preview picture) .. these
can be seen when you do file / open and change the view type in this window
to preview.

i also remember something in explorer called quick view (i think) where you
could view a bit of the file without opening but i can't find anything on it
in help ... might be worth an internet search.

Cheers
JulieD

 

[Dave Peterson]

You can toggle an option under File|properties|summary tab

Look for "save preview picture" at the bottom.

Then when you do a file|open, you can toggle that view to show preview.

(Win98 doesn't support previews in windows explorer--I don't know if winXP
does.)

This is something that you have to save for each workbook.

But you can make it the default for new workbooks (not existing) by:

Start a new workbook.
put in all the settings you like (including preview picture--and
headers/footers/etc)

Then save this as Book.xlt in your XLStart folder. Then every workbook that is
based on this template will inherit its settings.

Not applicable, but still useful:

You can set up another workbook named Sheet.xlt (also in XLStart). A worksheet
added to any existing workbook will inherit its settings.

 

[JulieD]

Hi Jim

http://www.avantstar.com
produce a product called Quick View Plus which allows you to look at the
workbook from explorer without opening .. you can download a trial version
to see if it is what you're after.

Regards
JulieD

 

[Max]

(Win98 doesn't support previews in windows explorer
--I don't know if winXP does.)

Think it does, Dave !
Could see the preview under View > Thumbnails

 

[Dave Peterson]

Thanks for the info.

I've heard of the thumbnails in winXP, but thought they applied to picture files
only.

I'll remember that when I get that new pc <vbg>.

 

[David]

Max wrote

Think it does, Dave !
Could see the preview under View > Thumbnails

Hmm... All I see is a large XL icon in a box.

 

[David]

Max wrote

Think it does, Dave !
Could see the preview under View > Thumbnails

And when I choose File > Open > Views > Preview I get 'Preview not
available.' for each file I click

 

[David]

David wrote

Max wrote


And when I choose File > Open > Views > Preview I get 'Preview not
available.' for each file I click

Oops. Seems you have to view Properties of the file once open and check
'Save preview picture' in Summary tab. Noted this bloats the file, so I'll
live without this feature.

 

[Max]

Oops. Seems you have to view Properties of the file once open and check
'Save preview picture' in Summary tab.

Noted this bloats the file, so I'll live without this feature.

Out of curiosity .. light testing done on a couple of excel files of various
sizes revealed that the bloat from activating 'Save preview picture' in the
Summary tab wasn't significant: the feature added only about 25K to 30K to
the original file size (so it may be quite ok, not exceedingly restrictive)

 

[Max]

I'll remember that when I get that new pc <vbg>.

Christmas is just around the corner ..
Make that a wish to Santa .. who knows ? <vbg>

 

[Gord Dibben]

David

You have to save each file individually with the "save preview picture".

QuickView Plus(US$35.00) is a third-party tool which does the job of the
earlier Windows Versions "QuickView"

Too bad MS did away with it.

http://www.avantstar.com/intradoc-c...e=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=QuickViewPlusOverview

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Dave Peterson]

First, make sure you only use your floppy for transportation.

Copy the files to your harddrive (or network drive) and work on those
copies--lots of things can go wrong if you work directly off floppies.

And you may want to invest a little money in one of those thumb drive
thingies--if you have USB ports at both pcs.

You can get 128 meg version for less than $20 (USA). And I just saw the 256 meg
version for $35 (IIRC) in the Sunday ads.

I used to use floppies, too. But these things seem less susceptible to
corruption.