How to Open a Copy of a Template in MS Excel 7.0, 97 (133137)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q133137

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel provides several ways for you to create a copy of a template. However, if you use the Open command on the File menu to open a template, the template opens in edit mode. In earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, when you click Open on the File menu to open a template, a copy of the template opens instead.

This article discuss ways you can create a copy of a template.

MORE INFORMATION

Method 1: Use the Templates folder

  1. Save the workbook template in the Templates folder or in a folder located inside the Templates folder.
  2. When you save the file in the Templates folder, you can create a copy of the template by clicking New on the file menu in Microsoft Excel.


The template will be located on the General tab.

NOTE: If you save the template in a folder that is located inside the Templates folder, you can still create a copy of the template by clicking New on the File menu in Microsoft Excel. However, the template will be located on the tab that has the same name as the folder in which that template is stored.

Method 2: Use the Xlstart folder

  1. Save the Microsoft Excel workbook template in the Xlstart folder.
  2. When you save the file in the Xlstart folder, you can create a copy of the template by clicking New on the File menu in Microsoft Excel. A template stored in the Xlstart folder always appears on the General tab.
Method 3: Use the alternate startup folder

  1. Save the Microsoft Excel workbook template in the alternate startup folder.

    The alternate startup folder is a folder of your choice. You can specify the alternate startup folder for Microsoft Excel by clicking Options on the Tools menu. On the General tab of the Options dialog box you can specify a folder that behaves just like the Xlstart folder.
  2. After you save the file in the alternate startup folder, you can create a copy of the template by clicking New on the File menu in Microsoft Excel.

    A template stored in the alternate startup folder always appears on the General tab.
Method 4: Use a Macro

If you store a template in a folder other than those listed in methods 1 through 3, you must use a macro to open a copy of the template. To open a copy of a template, use the following line in a Visual Basic macro: 

             Workbooks.Add Template:= <template path and filename>

Example

This example assumes you saved a template workbook in the c:\Xlfiles folder and called the template Template.xlt. 
         Sub Open_Template()

             Workbooks.Add Template:= "C:\Xlfiles\Template.xlt"

          End Sub

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129279 XL7: Open Command Without SHIFT Opens Template for Editing

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/15/2005
Keywords:kbdtacode kbhowto kbProgramming kbualink97 KB133137
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