Adding files to the menu

[mallured]

I would like to customize the menu bar in excel to list files that I
often open. I can get a new menu item in the menu bar, but I don't
know how to get a list of files there that I can choose from. Is this
possible?

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

I would like to customize the menu bar in excel to list files that I
often open. I can get a new menu item in the menu bar, but I don't
know how to get a list of files there that I can choose from. Is this
possible?

In the general tab of preferences, set the recently used file list to 9, the
maximum. Then the most recently opened files will appear at the bottom of
the file menu. Note that there is an outstanding Excel bug whereby if you
open Excel and then close it without doing anything, the most recent file
list is erased.

Other than creating a macro to modify the menu bar, the above is your only
option.

 

[gimme_this_gimme_that]

Maybe I'm not understanding what Bob means by menu bar.

Other than creating a macro to modify the menu bar, the above is your only
option.

I say you can.

So we're on the same page, you know how when you go into Entourage you
see the "script" icon on the same bar where you see your Airport icon,
and the time, and sound, and fax? Up there by spotlight?

Well you can create a directory, store Applescripts in it, and when
you go into Excel there will be a scroll icon and you'll be able to
open your files from a list of scripts available in that "menu".

The act of creating the directory and filling it with scripts will
make it so that when you're in Excel you'll see the script icon in the
menu bar.

If that's a solution that would be satisfactory to you I can provide
details, or tell you where to get them.

 

[CyberTaz]

If the MRU idea doesn't appeal to you, how about File>Project Gallery -
Recent? Trying to hack something into the application menu bar is far more
volatile - you'd need a separate macro for each file & add each macro to the
menu as a separate command. That isn't something which dynamically updates
on the fly & won't provide anything more convenient than the Gallery

There are also any number of OS X features that should provide a workable
alternative, such as adding the folder containing the files to the Dock ot
the Finder window Sidebar.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[mallured]

The recent items doesn't do it for me, these files are not always on
the list. I do use the recent files list a lot, but there are certain
files that I would always like to see. I think that the scripts idea
is the most feasible. If Microsoft is listening, it would be nice if I
could just drag the icon in the title bar of an open document into my
newly created menu item or have a menu item called favorites. Perhaps
I could add aliases of the files into the "My Templates" folder and
get at them from there.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Mike

 

[gimme_this_gimme_that]

Trying to hack something into the application menu bar is far more

volatile - you'd need a separate macro for each file & add each macro to the
menu as a separate command.

I think it's OK for this task otherwise why did M$ go to the trouble
to build it into Excel and release it?

A 3 line AppleScript to open a file isn't hacking. Creating a folder
with AppleScripts isn't hacking.

And you can make the menu cascade.

 

[CyberTaz]

I think it's OK for this task otherwise why did M$ go to the trouble
to build it into Excel and release it?

Wellll... I appreciate the point you are making, but if you think in terms
of other "features" MS has included & released - such as Versions & Master
Documents in Word, just to name a couple - perhaps the answer isn't quite as
clear-cut as one might prefer Anyway...

A 3 line AppleScript to open a file isn't hacking. Creating a folder
with AppleScripts isn't hacking.

Nor did I say that it is My reply was to the way the OP was approaching
it from the direction of a customized Excel menu, not in response to your
suggestion. Your approach is totally different from that, and I have no
argument against the use of scripts.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I would like to customize the menu bar in excel to list files that I
often open. I can get a new menu item in the menu bar, but I don't
know how to get a list of files there that I can choose from. Is this
possible?

I've got an add-in that creates a menu similar to Word's Work Menu. One
version is here:

ftp://ftp.mcgimpsey.com/excel/workmenu1.0.xla

 

[jpdphd]

I've got an add-in that creates a menu similar to Word's Work Menu. One
version is here:

ftp://ftp.mcgimpsey.com/excel/workmenu1.0.xla

This link does not seem to work!

 

[JE McGimpsey]

ftp://ftp.mcgimpsey.com/excel/workmenu1.0.xla

This link does not seem to work![/QUOTE]

Hmmm... works fine for me, but my anonymous ftp isn't working.

I'll see if I can get it back up, but for the next couple of days or so,
if someone wants a copy, send me an email.

 

[Hilena Hailu [MSFT]]

We're listening, and we've made a note of your request. Let us know if the
suggestions you've received thus far meet your needs.

Thanks,
Hilena Hailu
Macintosh Business Unit
Microsoft Corp.