auto-formatting from various menus

**eastmanannie** · 11-01-2009, 07:51 PM

How can I create a short cut for a particular page layout that I've created?

I produce numerous spreadsheets that always share the same layout attributes: wrapped text (from format menu) and gridlines, adjusted margins, and landscape-orientation (from page setup menu) and font size 14 (from font size menu).

Do I always have to go through the steps of formatting on each one of these spreadsheets or can I set up a short cut to auto-format it this way?

thanks

**teylyn** · 11-01-2009, 07:56 PM

Hi,

you can format the perfect spreadsheet and then save it as a template, with the .xlt extension. Delete all the data input before saving, to make sure it's just the formats (and maybe formulas) you want.

When you open an Excel template, Excel will create a new workbook based on the template, similar to Word and .dot files.

hth

**eastmanannie** · 11-01-2009, 08:27 PM

thanks for the reply! I didn't quite get it yet.

I saved the template as a .xlt. closed it and opened it again.
With it open I chose File - New Workbook, and the New Workbook had none of the same formatting attributes.

What did I do wrong?

**teylyn** · 11-01-2009, 08:33 PM

Hi,

I just realized that you're probably using Excel 2008 for Mac, so I won't be able to tell you the steps you need to take there. But in Excel 2003 it goes like this.

- Format your spreadsheet
- save as - and select the file type "Template", which will give it the .XLT extension and also save it in the Office templates folder
- in Excel, click File - New
- on the Task Pane select "on my computer" under the templates heading
- select the template file in the following dialog and hit OK

now you will see a new workbook that is based on the template file.

Sorry that I cannot describe the steps for Mac, but maybe you can use them anyway.

cheers

**eastmanannie** · 11-01-2009, 08:43 PM

OK - thanks! I just realized that this feature is apparently not available in the 2008 version.

That's too bad - Why would the software become less robust with subsequent versions!!

**teylyn** · 11-01-2009, 08:55 PM

Yah, well, Mac and Excel certainly have issues. What also works on a PC is to right-click an Exel.xlt file (when you see it in a list of files) and select "New" from the context menu. Maybe this is something that would work in a similar way on the Mac.

hth

**eastmanannie** · 11-02-2009, 12:38 AM

Thanks for trying.
Your hints lead me to some answers. I found instructions in the Help menu that is part of the Excel software on macs. I still haven't solved it, but getting closer.

**teylyn** · 11-02-2009, 12:42 AM

Great. Hope you'll find what you're looking for. If you do, it would be great if you could post here how it works.

cheers

**eastmanannie** · 11-02-2009, 12:49 AM

OK - here's where I'm at.
1. create a workbook that contains one sheet. Make all your custom formats to it.
2. choose SAVE AS and choose .xltx
3. name it WORKBOOK and clear the append file extension check box
4. save it in Microsoft Office 2008/office/startup/excel
5. quite Excel and open again.

The instructions told me to do this, but they were wrong about one thing. They said name it Sheet, but I found it has to be Workbook