XL98: How to Create a Template in MS Excel 98

ID: Q185224

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition provides several ways for you to create and use a template. This article contains information about creating a template, creating a new workbook based on a template, and editing existing templates in Microsoft Excel 98.


CREATING A TEMPLATE

To create a sample template, follow these steps:

  1. Start Microsoft Excel 98 and create a new workbook.


  2. Type the following in cell A1 in the new workbook:
    A1: This is an Excel sample template.


  3. On the File menu, click Save As.


  4. In the Save Files as Type box, click Template.


  5. In the Save as box, type My Excel Template.


  6. Switch to the <hard disk>:Microsoft Office 98:Templates folder, where <hard disk> is the name of your hard disk.


  7. Click Save.


  8. On the File menu, click Close.


You have created a sample Excel template. Microsoft Excel 98 provides several different ways to create a new workbook that is based on a template. The following are different ways to create a new workbook that is based on a template in Microsoft Excel 98.


CREATING A NEW WORKBOOK THAT IS BASED ON A TEMPLATE

Method 1: Use the Templates That Are in the Templates Folder

In the previous example, you save a template called My Excel Template in the <hard disk>:Microsoft Office 98:Templates folder. To create a new workbook that is based on this template or that is based on other templates that are stored in the Templates folder, click New on the File menu, select the template you want to use, and click OK.

Note that you can find My Excel Template on the General tab in the New dialog box. Any template that is stored in the <hard disk>:Microsoft Office 98:Templates folder appears on the General tab. You can also create your own tabs on the new dialog box. To do this, create subfolders in the <hard disk>:Microsoft Office 98:Templates folder, and then place your templates in the folder. To create a sample tab on the New dialog box, follow these steps:

  1. Start Microsoft Excel 98.


  2. In a new workbook, type the following:
    A1: This is a test


  3. On the File menu, click Save As. Switch to the <hard disk>:Microsoft Office 98:Templates folder.


  4. Click the New button and create a new folder.


  5. Type MyTab in the name of new folder box, and then click Create.


  6. In the Save As box, type Test.


  7. In the Save File As Type box, click Template. Click Save.


  8. On the File menu, click Close.


  9. On the File menu, click New.


A new tab called MyTab is in the New dialog box.

NOTE: If there are no Microsoft Excel templates in the folder that you have created, you do not see a tab called MyTab in the New dialog box.

Method 2: Use the Templates That Are in the Excel Startup Folder

When you save a template in the Excel Startup folder, you can create a new workbook that is based on that template by clicking New on the File menu in Microsoft Excel. A template that is stored in the Excel Startup folder always appears on the General tab.

The Excel Startup folder is in the following location on the hard disk: 

   <hard disk>:Microsoft Office 98:Office:Startup:Excel

Method 3: Use the Alternate Startup Folder

The alternate startup folder works the same way the Excel Startup folder works. However, the alternate startup folder is a folder of your choice. To specify the alternate startup folder location for Microsoft Excel, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences.


  2. Click the General tab in the Preferences dialog box.


  3. In the Alternate Startup File Location box, specify a path to a folder that you want to use.


After you save the file in the alternate startup folder, you can create a new workbook that is based on 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.

For additional information about the alternate startup folder, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q183757 XL98: How to Change the Alternate Startup Folder

Method 4: Use a Macro

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If you store a template in a folder other than the folders that are listed in the first three methods, you must use a macro to create a new workbook that is based on a template. To open the template, use the following line in a Visual Basic macro: 

   Workbooks.Add Template:= &lt;template path and file name&gt;
Example:

This example assumes you have saved a template workbook in the <hard disk>:Xlfiles folder and have called the template Template. 

   Sub Open_Template()

       Workbooks.Add Template:= "&lt;hard disk&gt;:Xlfiles:Template"

   End Sub
Note that <hard disk> is the name of the hard disk on your computer.


EDITING AN EXISTING TEMPLATE

To edit an existing template in Microsoft Excel 98, use the following steps:

  1. On the File menu, click Open.


  2. Open the <hard disk>:Microsoft Office 98:Templates folder.


  3. Click My Excel Template. Hold down the SHIFT key and click OK.


  4. Continue to hold down the SHIFT key until the template is open.


  5. Type the following into the worksheet:
    A2: This is a test


  6. On the File menu, click Save.


  7. On the File menu, click Close.


The template has been modified and saved. To use the updated template, click New on the File menu and click My Excel Template. A new workbook that is based on the template is created.


REFERENCES

For more information about using templates, click Contents And Index on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

templates, creating and editing
and then click Show Topics. Select the "Customize the defaults for a workbook or worksheets by using a template" topic, and click Go To. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

Additional query words: XL98 xlstart

Keywords : kbprg kbdta OffVBA xlmac
Version : MACINTOSH:98
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: November 9, 1999
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