Customize the default workbook in MS Excel

You get a current default workbook when you create a new Excel workbook. But what should you not enjoy that workbook? For example, perhaps you have a standard header that you just always (or nearly always) use on printed pages of your workbook. Or maybe you favor an alternative default font style or size, number format or you frequently change the layout of column widths when you create a new worksheet.

As it happens, Excel gives you a bit of control over the look and layout of your worksheets. It is pretty straightforward to create a completely customized default workbook. The trick behind this magic in Microsoft Excel 2010 and Excel 2007 is creating a template file named novel. Xltx (or book.xltm if your default workbook contains macros), and then saving this file to the appropriate place on your hard drive.

To create a new default workbook template:

Open a new Excel workbook that is blank.

Next, customize the workbook that is clean just as you need it to appear.

Save the workbook with a particular file name in a designated folder. Additional ideas and measures are provided below.

Some Excel workbook elements you might change:

Font design and font size: Highlight the portions of the worksheet choose, and you want to change your settings for an amount, alignment, and font formatting from your Font group in Your Home tab.

Print settings: 

Some sheets: Delete or add worksheets, rename sheet tabs, and even change worksheet tab color. 

If you favor distinct column widths, select the columns or perhaps the entire worksheet and then modify the column width.

NOTE: Any new sheets you insert into your custom default workbook will revert to the original formatting and layout. You might want to incorporate extra worksheets to the original workbook or reserve a master or new sheet you're able to replicate as wanted.

How you can Implement Changes to Worksheets or Multiple Cells

To use formatting changes to every cell, column, or row, first, highlight all cells with Select All (press [Ctrl] A). When you're done, press [Ctrl]

To implement changes like print or formatting settings right-click on any sheet tab then left-click on Select All Sheets. When you've finished your changes, left- the worksheet grouping to clear.

In Excel 2010, choose File ">> Options, pick the General category, and set the desired number of sheets in the Contain this many sheets setting. In Excel 2007, select click Excel Options then the Microsoft Office setup Button. Choose the favorite class and specify the desired number of sheets in the Include this many sheets setting.

To save your default workbook:

When the new default workbook is set up to your settings, select the File tab or Microsoft Office Button and after that Save As ">> Excel Workbook.

Name the file as book.xltx

The file needs to be saved in your XLSTART directory that is on your local C: drive. The location of this directory varies depending on your version of Windows and Microsoft Office; search your hard disk.

You can close it after you save the template file.

Close Excel.

Start Excel to see your workbook.

Now, every time you start Excel, the new blank workbook will be according to the template you created. Additionally, when you click the New toolbar button (or press [Ctrl] N), the new workbook will be created from your template.

As always, this or every other default workbook can still be individually customized as needed.

Saving and creating a custom default Excel workbook directly changes the default workbook on the powerful computer and doesn't influence the workbook used by others on your PC network. You can, nevertheless, share your default workbook by duplicating your book.xltx file to the proper place on another computer.

You may not have permission to save files if the XLSTART directory is on a network. Instead, you can create a startup list all on your system with any name you desire and save the novel.Xltx files in this new alternate startup directory. You'll need to tell Excel where it is, although the directory name you choose does not matter.

To save your default workbook in an alternative directory:

Create a brand new folder on your C: drive where you'll keep your book.xltx file.

In Excel 2010, pick File ">> Options, and after that click the Advanced category. Click the Microsoft Office Button, in Excel 2007, select Excel Options, then choose the Advanced group.

If a workbook with the same name is in the XLSTART folder and the alternate startup folder, the file in the XLSTART folder opens.

Caveat: Ensure you define a folder which has only files that Excel can open and only files you want to see every time you start Excel because Excel will attempt to open every file in the alternate startup folder.

Create your custom workbook now to help you save time and effort in Microsoft Excel.