new default workbook question!

[gobbles414]

Hi all,

I have created a new template called Workbook (no extension) and placed
it in the directory called: Applications/Microsoft Office
2004/Office/Startup/Excel. My modified default template now loads
whenever I activate Excel 2004. It also activates when I use the
Project Gallery.

However, the original default template appears if I do FILE --> New
Workbook. Is there anything that I can do to make Excel load my
modified default Workbook with the FILE --> New Workbook command?
Thanks in advance...!

 

[Geoff Lilley]

Hi all,

I have created a new template called Workbook (no extension) and placed
it in the directory called: Applications/Microsoft Office
2004/Office/Startup/Excel. My modified default template now loads
whenever I activate Excel 2004. It also activates when I use the
Project Gallery.

However, the original default template appears if I do FILE --> New
Workbook. Is there anything that I can do to make Excel load my
modified default Workbook with the FILE --> New Workbook command?
Thanks in advance...!

Yes. Record a macro of your creating a new workbook from that template.

My code looks like this, for example:

Sub createNewWB()
Workbooks.Add Template:= _
"Macintosh HD:Applications:Microsoft Office
2004:Office:Startup:Excel:MyTemplate.xlt"
End Sub

Then, go to Tools->Customize->Toolbars and Menus. Click on the File
menu, and control-click on "New Workbook." From the context menu,
choose "Assign Macro."

Assign your macro to that menu command.

You can also assign the button in the upper-left hand corner of the
Standard toolbar for "New Workbook" to use your template as well, using
the same control-click method.

 

[gobbles414]

Geoff,

Thank you! While your tip worked, I am left with a new question.

I applied my macro to the NEW WORKBOOK command as you suggested.
Everything worked just as you said it would. Then out of morbid
curiosity, I deleted my macro and the accompanying personal macro
workbook file. Surprisingly, the macro's changes held despite the
macro itself having been deleted.

So here's my question: For future reference, how can I delete the
changes that my macro made to the NEW WORKBOOK command? Thanks again.

 

[Geoff Lilley]

Easy. Tools->Customize->Menus and Toolbars. Click on "Toolbars."

Click on "Worksheet Menu Bar," and click "Reset."

That'll set "New Workbook" back to its default behavior.

Cheers
Geoff

 

[gobbles414]

Geoff,

I agree that resetting the WORKSHEET MENU BAR should by definition
reset the NEW WORKBOOK command, but it is not resetting for me. I am
following your directions exactly.

The only way that I have been able to reset the command is by deleting
my customized default workbook. If I recreate the customized workbook
again, the modified NEW WORKBOOK command is reactivated as well. Might
a copy of the macro be hidden somewhere in the NEW WORKBOOK command
itself? Best Regards...

 

[Geoff Lilley]

Geoff,

I agree that resetting the WORKSHEET MENU BAR should by definition
reset the NEW WORKBOOK command, but it is not resetting for me. I am
following your directions exactly.

The only way that I have been able to reset the command is by deleting
my customized default workbook. If I recreate the customized workbook
again, the modified NEW WORKBOOK command is reactivated as well. Might
a copy of the macro be hidden somewhere in the NEW WORKBOOK command
itself? Best Regards...

Hmmmm...that's a weird one. But here's something to try:

Quit Excel.

Go to this directory:
Macintosh HD/Users/[your user name]/Preferences/Microsoft/

There'll be a file in there called "Excel Toolbars." Mine has an (11)
at the end, b/c I use Office 2004.

Trash that file.

Restart Excel.

Let me know if that works. That would delete the toolbar settings, and
set them back to factory default.

 

[gobbles414]

Geoff,

Thanks for the new idea, but it did not work either. Indeed, I have
even uninstalled Office 2004 (trashed Office 2004 folder, secure
emptied trash, ran Office uninstaller from CD, secure emptied again)
and then installed from scratch. After customizing my template, Excel
once again loads the customized template with NEW WORKBOOK. Do you
think that:

(1) There is a hidden copy of the macro in my system?
(2) A valid Office 2004 installation does not require a macro to load a
customized template from the startup folder via NEW WORKBOOK...? Maybe
my first installation was corrupt and/or misconfigured?

Even though you solved my problem several day ago, I am still
interested to read any explanations you have for all of this. Best
Regards...

 

[JE McGimpsey]

A valid Office 2004 installation does not require a macro to load a
customized template from the startup folder via NEW WORKBOOK...? Maybe
my first installation was corrupt and/or misconfigured?

You should NOT need a macro to load a customized default template (named
"Workbook" - no quotes, no extension) from the startup folder (or
alternate startup folder, if you have one specified) using File/New
Workbook.