XL: How to Enable AutoSave

ID: Q147778

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.x, 4.x, 5.x
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.x, 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel includes an AutoSave feature that periodically saves your file as you work on it. AutoSave does not save data into a separate file; therefore, the AutoSave feature does not prevent file corruption. However, AutoSave protects your data in the event that Microsoft Excel unexpectedly quits.


MORE INFORMATION

When you start Microsoft Excel, AutoSave is not running by default. To start AutoSave, use the following procedure that is appropriate for your version of Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows,

Microsoft Excel version 7.0, or Microsoft Excel version 5.0

To make AutoSave available, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Add-Ins.


  2. In the Add-Ins dialog box, click to select the AutoSave check box, and then click OK.


You can modify AutoSave settings, including how often to save, which workbooks to save, and whether to be prompted before saving. To do this, on the Tools menu, click AutoSave, and select the options you want in the AutoSave dialog box.

Microsoft Excel version 4.0 for the Macintosh

To make AutoSave available, follow these steps:

  1. On the Options menu, click Add-Ins.


  2. In the Add-Ins dialog box, click the Add button.


  3. In the dialog box that appears, click the Macro Library folder, select the AutoSave macro in that folder, and then click the Open button.


  4. In the Add-in Manager dialog box, click Close.


To modify the AutoSave default settings, on the Options menu, click AutoSave, and then select the options you want.

Microsoft Excel version 4.0 for Windows

To make AutoSave available, follow these steps:

  1. On the Options menu, click Add-ins.


  2. In the Add-Ins dialog box, click Add.


  3. In the dialog box that appears, select the Library folder, select Autosave.xla in that folder, and click OK.


  4. In the Add-in Manager dialog box, click Close.


To modify the AutoSave default settings, on the Options menu, click AutoSave, and then select the options you want.

Microsoft Excel version 3.0 for the Macintosh

To make AutoSave available, follow these steps:

  1. Copy the Auto Save macro from the "Macro Library" folder to the "Excel Startup Folder" folder (located in the "System Folder: Preferences" folder).


  2. Restart Microsoft Excel.


To modify the AutoSave default settings, on the Options menu, click AutoSave, and then select the options you want.

If you are using Microsoft Excel version 3.0 for Windows

To make AutoSave available, follow these steps:

  1. Copy the Autosave.xla file from the Library folder to the XLStart folder.


  2. Restart Microsoft Excel.


To modify the AutoSave default settings, on the Options menu, click AutoSave, and then select the options you want.

NOTE: Use care when you set the duration between saves. For instance, if you set the duration between saves to one minute, when you edit a large file, you may inadvertently lock up Microsoft Excel because it will continually save the file.

For additional information about preventing file corruption, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q149235 : Excel: How to Prevent File Corruption

Additional query words: 8.00 98 XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5 XL4 XL3 back up backup lose

Keywords : kbtool xlloadsave
Version : MACINTOSH:3.0,4.0,5.0,98; WINDOWS:3.0,4.0,5.0,7.0,97
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo


Last Reviewed: April 20, 1999
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