XLStart folder questions

[Bill in Verona, WI]

My Excel98 (5 years old this month) has C:\Program
Files\MSOffice\Office\XLStart showing one entry, Mscreate.dir (a Macromedia
Director Movie). Is that suppose to be there? (dated 10/13/98).

I've always had an Alternate startup file (c:\Bill\New Excel File) called
Book.XLT.XlS. Don't remember why I called it "Book" and I don't know why,
when I save it as a template, the .XLS extension is tacked on at the end.

Should I be using the XLStart folder and not the Alternate startup option?


Finally, there is one lone Excel file in the path C:\WIndows\Bill8.XLB. I
deleted it and it came back on its own. I also lost all by button settings
around that time, so I suspect it has something to do with button settings?
But how does it get the name Bill8.XLB?

Thanks for any help!

Bill

 

[Ron de Bruin]

Hi Bill

The Book.xlt is a template for all the new workbooks you add.
All the things you change in this workbook will be also in each new workbook you create
It must be saved in the XLstart folder.
You can also use Sheet.xlt for each new worksheet you add.


8 is your Excel version number in the filename
The .xlb file has all Toolbar customization in it.
If you make your own toolbars or add buttons to the others
This file is important (backup it so you can restore it)

Deleting the file or renaming will do no harm on your system
Excel will create a new one for you.
(You lost your customization like you notice)

 

[Gord Dibben]

Bill

BOOK.XLT should be in the XLSTART folder.

Open a new workbook. Customize as you wish. File>Save As Type: scroll down
to Excel Template(*.XLT) and select. Name your workbook "BOOK"(no quotes).
Excel will add the .XLT to save as BOOK.XLT.

Store this workbook in the XLSTART folder usually located at(Windows 98,
Office 97).........

C:\ProgramFiles\MSOffice\Office\XLStart

This will be the default workbook for File>New>Workbook. It will not open
automatically.

Another point.....

to stop Excel from opening BOOK1 whenever you start: append a /e to your
shortcut. "C:\your path\to excel\excel.exe" /e (note the space between " and
/e)

You can also open a new workbook and delete all but one sheet. Customize as
you wish then save this as SHEET.XLT in XLSTART folder also. It now becomes
the default Insert>Sheet.

More can be found on this in Help under "templates"(no quotes).

The Bill8.xlb file is where all your Toolbar and Menu customizations are
stored.

It is named Bill8 because the default name is username8. You are the user so
Bill8.xlb

You have deleted all your customizations as you have found out. You will have
to re-build.

Make sure you save a copy frequently to a secure spot.

Gord Dibben XL2002

My Excel98 (5 years old this month) has C:\Program
Files\MSOffice\Office\XLStart showing one entry, Mscreate.dir (a Macromedia
Director Movie). Is that suppose to be there? (dated 10/13/98).

I've always had an Alternate startup file (c:\Bill\New Excel File) called
Book.XLT.XlS. Don't remember why I called it "Book" and I don't know why,
when I save it as a template, the .XLS extension is tacked on at the end.

Should I be using the XLStart folder and not the Alternate startup option?


Finally, there is one lone Excel file in the path C:\WIndows\Bill8.XLB. I
deleted it and it came back on its own. I also lost all by button settings
around that time, so I suspect it has something to do with button settings?
But how does it get the name Bill8.XLB?

Thanks for any help!

Bill

Gord Dibben XL2002