Transferring customized icon bars in excel and word to new computer

[Anne]

My computer crashed, but I am able to view all data since the drive works as
second harddrive. So I have all my old records.
Where are the iconbars and what are they names Would be nice if I could just
copy them over to the new install.
Thanks,
Anne

 

[Gord Dibben]

Anne

Will you be doing a full install of Office on your new computer?

If not, pick out the parts that pertain to your question(the *.XLB file
mainly)

You thought this was going to be easy, didn't you?<g>

Toolbar and Menu customizations are stored in your xxxxxx.XLB file where
xxxxxx is version-dependent name.

Excel 97.....username.xlb

Excel 2000...Excel9.xlb

Excel 2002...Excel10.xlb

Excel 2003...Excel11.xlb

Note: there may be other customizations you want to transfer at the same time.

Before reading further.......

If upgrading Office version, transferring your *.xlb file from an earlier
version to a later one will reduce the functionality of new version menu
items, although most of them can be dragged onto the old menu.

Read on.........

NOTE: some settings are workbook-specific and would be stored with the
workbook.

For other global stored settings..........

Screen layout, color info, checked Add-ins and many Tools>Options
settings are stored in the Registry, not in the *.XLB file.

To see some of what's stored in the Registry have a peek at this
section in it, if you feel comfortable.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\XX.0\Excel\Options

XX is your version of Excel...8,9,10,11

Assuming you are aware of the precautions taken when editing the
Registry and know how to restore a recent backup of same.......

If not, maybe have a look here first...scroll down to "Registry
editing tips"

http://www.activewin.com/tips/reg/index.shtml

Export all these keys(as a branch group) to a .REG file so's you can
back them up.

Note also: you may want to move over your *.ACL(autocorrect files) and any
*.DIC files.

For a more comprehensive listing see Dave Peterson's posting at

http://snipurl.com/8r7x


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Anne]

I did a search on my computer just searching for *.xlb since I did customize
my current iconbar again, but there were not files found. I guess Microsoft
change something again and in the 2003 version they are hiding it some place
else and did not tell anyone. It must be saving it somewhere, the questions
is where? Now that I have a new install of office 2003, it makes not sense
to no be able to backup your current setup somewhere in case of a harddrive
crash.
Anne

 

[Gord Dibben]

Anne

Windows Explorer>Tools>Folder Options>View>Files and Folders

Make sure Windows is set to "show hidden files".

But I'll hazard a guess that the *.xlb file is in

C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel


Gord

 

[Tenacity]

I know this is an Excel thread, but can you supply the equivalent to the .xlb
for Word 2000 and Powerpoint 2000. This is to transfer toolbar settings to
new computer as in your answer. Can't get a resonse on Office forum. Thanks.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Tenacity

Read the posting by Dave Peterson referenced in my original post.

http://snipurl.com/8r7x Word is mentioned along with Normal.dot

PowerPoint is not a program I use, so have no idea of an equivalent to Excel's
*.xlb


Gord Dibben Excel MVP