Default Colours

M

Michael QC

I am able to copy a custom set of colours from an existing worksheet to a
new one. However I would prefer to change the default colours in all future
worksheets. I cannot find a "Normal" document as in MS Word. How can I do
this?

Michael Q
 
B

Bob Phillips

Save a workbook with the custom palette in the XLStart directory as a
template, named Book.xlt.
 
M

Michael QC

Hello Bob,

Thank you I now have all new worksheets with the new default colours.

However on opening Excel instead of the woorksheet name being Book1 (and no
path) it appears as
"My Documents\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\Book.xlt.xls"

Michael Q
 
D

Dave Peterson

It looks like you didn't really save that file as a template. Make sure you
choose that option from the "Save As Type" box at the bottom of the File|SaveAs
dialog.

(and don't forget to clean up that other file (book.xlt.xls, that is).)
 
P

Piranha

Hi,

On this subject, i have a Book.xlt in this directory.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Applicatio
Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

The only other thing in the folder is my Personal.xls

When i open Excel, the "Book1" does not open.
I have to go to File/New and click on workbook to open it.

The "Personal.xls" file does open as hidden, like it should.

Any ideas why?

thx
Dave
PS i am signed on as Owner
 
D

Dave Peterson

You've double checked that there is nothing else in that XLStart folder except
for personal.xls and book.xlt.

This is a guess...

How are you starting excel?

If you've created your own shortcut to excel.exe, is there any chance you told
it not to start with an empty workbook.

Using a command like:
c:\yourpathto\excel.exe /e
would stop the empty workbook (/e is that flag)

Maybe you could try:
close excel
windows start button|run
excel
and hit enter

does that work ok?

====
And one more guess--book.xlt hasn't been saved as a hidden workbook, right?

try: Window|Unhide
do you see anything
 
P

Piranha

Hi Dave,
Thx for your reply. See below:
Dave said:
You've double checked that there is nothing else in that XLStart folde
except
for personal.xls and book.xlt.

_Only_thing_in_the_XLStart_folder_is_Personal.xls_and_Book.xlt._Snap_of_it,_is_attached._

This is a guess...
How are you starting excel?

If you've created your own shortcut to excel.exe, is there any chanc
you told
it not to start with an empty workbook.

_I_have_a_short_cut_to_\"Excel.exe\"_on_a_button_on_my_keyboard.
Double_checked,_it_is_just_\"c:\yourpathto\Excel.exe\"_

Using a command like:
c:\yourpathto\excel.exe /e
would stop the empty workbook (/e is that flag)

Maybe you could try:
close excel
windows start button|run
excel
and hit enter

_I_did_this._Excel_opens_but_the_workbook_does_not_open._

does that work ok?

====
And one more guess--book.xlt hasn't been saved as a hidden workbook
right?

_No,_just_the_\"Personal.xls\"_

try: Window|Unhide
do you see anything

_Just_the_Personal.xls_

http://www.excelforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=475636
Click to expand...

+-------------------------------------------------------------------
|Filename: XLStart.jpg
|Download: http://www.excelforum.com/attachment.php?postid=3909
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
D

Dave Peterson

I connect directly to the MS newsservers--so I don't see your snapshot. And
since this is a text only newsgroup, it's better to describe in words than post
binary attachments (pictures or files).

And you're sure book.xlt was saved as a template file--not as a normal workbook?

(I'm all out of guesses in any event.)
 
P

Piranha

Hi Dave,
Yes, its a ".xlt" extention, no doubt about it.

Excel works fine, no problems with it, so it's not hindering my work.
It's just annoying cause it opens it without a workbook and have to
file/new every time.

Thx for your time and wisdom.
Dave
 
D

Dave Peterson

Just one more guess...

Do you show the extensions of known file types?

This is a windows setting. One way to check/change is:

Start windows explorer
Tools|Folder Options|View Tab
Make sure you have "Hide extensions of known file types" unchecked.

If you have this checked, then that book.xlt file could be named book.xlt.xls

In fact, if you open windows explorer and traverse to that XLStart folder, then
show the details (view|details), do you see "Microsoft Office Excel Template" or
do you see "Microsoft Excel Worksheet"?

If you see Worksheet, then this would be a problem.

And just one more guess <vbg>...

Depending on how you upgraded excel, you could have multiple XLStart folders.
Use windows start button|search and look for "extra" folders named XLStart.

If you find more than one, then I'd move everything I needed into the "current"
XLStart folder. (And delete the other stuff--or move it to a nice backup
folder.)

You can find this by starting excel
hit alt-f11 (to get to the VBE)
hit ctrl-g (to see the immediate window)
type this and hit enter:
?application.startuppath
For me (winXP and xl2003), I get:
C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART
Hi Dave,
Yes, its a ".xlt" extention, no doubt about it.

Excel works fine, no problems with it, so it's not hindering my work.
It's just annoying cause it opens it without a workbook and have to
file/new every time.
Click to expand...
<<snipped>>
 
D

Dave Peterson

First, it's very difficult for me to pick out your responses. You may want to
try another technique in the future.

But now I'm out of guesses.
 
D

Dave Peterson

Ok, one more guess...

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets the windows registry to excel's
factory defaults.
 
P

Piranha

Hi Dave,

Sorry about my format for the responces, I don't know what you are
seeing on the screen.
I don't think you see colors right? Thats why i was underlining it?

I would welcome a suggestion from you, as how to format replies in the
future.

Thx Dave
 
D

Dave Peterson

I like the top posting that you did with this response.

What I saw in your previous replies looked like:
Make sure you have "Hide extensions of known file types" unchecked.
_I_looked_at_it_and_it's_UNchecked._
If you have this checked, then that book.xlt file could be named
book.xlt.xls
_\"No.xlt.xls\"_-_\"Yes_.xlt\"_
Click to expand...

Since all the lines started with >, it was difficult to pick out your responses
from the quoted lines.

But....

I would stop reading/posting through excelforum. (If your company doesn't allow
you to connect to the newsgroups, then all of this won't help...)

Saved from a previous post:

If you have Outlook Express installed, try clicking on these links (or copy and
paste into MSIE).

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.excel.setup
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.excel.misc
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.excel.worksheet.functions
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.excel.newusers
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.excel.programming

(and a few more for MSWord)
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.word97vba
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.newusers
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.pagelayout
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.vba.addins
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.vba.beginners
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.vba.customization
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.vba.general
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.vba.userforms
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.word6-7macros

(You can always connect to more later)

Here are some links that explain it better:

Chip Pearson has some notes written by Leonard Meads at:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/DirectConnect.htm

David McRitchie's notes at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/xlnews.htm
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/oe6.htm
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/oe6nws01.htm

Tushar Mehta's notes at:
http://www.tushar-mehta.com/misc_tutorials/oe_ng/index.htm

And if you're looking for old posts:

Or you can use google to search for stuff you've posted (and find the replies,
too)

http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search
http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=group:*Excel*&num=100

Ron de Bruin has an excel addin that you may like:
http://www.rondebruin.nl/Google.htm
 
P

Piranha

Hi Dave,
Oh yeah, that looks terrible. I had no idea thats what it looked like
to you.

Thx for all the info and thx for all the help and time you have given
here.

Dave
 
D

Dave Peterson

And if you ever find an answer that works, please post back. Then google will
have it for the next person.

Good luck,
 
P

Piranha

Hi,
Well Dave Peterson gave me a whole bunch of much appricated help here

and i have now found the answer to my problem.

The problem:
I have a Book.xlt in this directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Applicatio
Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

When i open Excel, the "Book1" does not open.
I have to go to File/New and click on workbook to open it.

The "Personal.xls" file does open as hidden, like it should. only othe
thing in the folder
is my Personal.xls

The Answer:
I have an alternate Start up folder, in which i have several regula
.xls workbooks.
Some are hidden and start up with Excel as hidden, along with m
Personal.xls.

That all works fine, but it blocks my "Book1" from opening. When
close those hidden workbooks
so they are not hidden, then my "Book1" DOES open with Excel, alon
with Personal.xls
opening as hidden.

So its a either / or situation, but not both.
 
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