Templates and csv files

[rustym]

Friends,
I'm new to this group and have run into a problem that's over my head. I
have a folder with csv files that are created via some other software. They
need to be csv files as the data in this file is tranferred automatically to
a giant piece of woodworking equipment. The csv files must be also be printed
(from Excel 2003). I have been asked to standardize font formats for headers
and footers of all computers that could print these files. I have a template
created that works well to do this when I create a new file in Excel. We want
our people to be able to double-click a csv file in this folder to open it in
Excel. When we do this, the formats specified in the template (book.xlt) are
not applied when viewed in print preview. Any ideas on how can I make this
work?

 

[Beth Melton]

When you open a CSV file in Excel a new Excel workbook isn't exactly being
created. You're seeing the content of the file displayed in an Excel
workbook but the file type is still a CSV file, which is really nothing more
than a text file. You can save it as an Excel workbook and only then will
Excel functionality, such as formatting, will be saved with the file. With
that said, the CSV file type will not use your defaults.

What you need to do instead is create a new workbook and then import the
data into the new workbook using the Data/Import External Data/Import Data
command. Now, this task can be automated using a macro. For example, users
click a button, they are prompted for the file to import, then data is
returned in the workbook. For assistance with creating the macro I suggest
posting to the Excel Programming newsgroup.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[rustym]

Beth,
The CSV files are actually cutlists generated by a 3rd party software that
were created uniquely for transmission to a giant piece of woodworking
equipment. The CSV files are processed transparently by yet another piece of
3rd party software taking the CSV data and converting it to machine code. Our
only use of MS Excel in this application is that these cutlists must be
printed for sorting and quality checks of the parts that are made on our
equipment. The dilemna is that thousands of these lists are printed every
week, by up to 7 different people, and they don't all use the fonts and
formats in the headers and footers of these printed csv files. I wanted to
created a default format so that all printed cutlists would look exactly the
same. By the way, of the thousands of cutlists, everyone is unique in a
number of ways. Hence, every header and footer is unique, as well. I tried a
fomatting macro for the headers and footers, but it would apparently only
work if all my cutlists had the same information in the headers and footers.

Thanks again,

 

[Beth Melton]

If you are able to accomplish what you want using a new file then a macro
should work for you. Either use the method I suggested or your header/footer
macro. Why not pop over to the Excel newsgroup and ask them? Make sure you
post the code you have so they can help you refine it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[nancyyy2]

Where is the program that shows HOW TO USEa templates and set up something
for your personal needs

 

[nancyyy2]

Qhat is CSV files and why can't you direct me to training on templates?

 

[JoAnn Paules]

She did - the Excel folks can help you with your questions.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"