How to change the default properties for new MS Excel 2003 workbooks

If you get tired of having to always delete the extra blank worksheets in a new excel workbook, or tire of having to set up the same headers and footers you always do, you can just change your default workbook to match your preferences.  Below, I give you two methods.

Method One: Roll your own.

1. Open a new worksheet, and make your favorite starting settings
2. Save the file with the name book.xlt to the following location:
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\XLStart\

Method Two:  Use My Template

1. Download book.xlt
2. Save the file with the name book.xlt to the following location:
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\XLStart\

Here's the settings I used:

1) Deleted two or the three default sheets (so I start with just one)

2) Set Page Properties (File > Page Setup)

    a)    Page Tab

• Orientation:  Landscape
• Scaling: Fit to 1 page wide, 100 tall

    b)    Margins Tab

• Left and right margins reduced from .75 to .5

    c)    Header/Footer Tab

• Header:  Sheet Name
• Footer:  File Path\File Name | Blank middle | Page X of Y

    d)    Sheet Tab

• Print Titles: Rows to repeat at top (I choose the top row, or $1:$1)
• Print:  turn ON Gridlines

3)    Set Cell Properties

    a)    Highlight the entire worksheet by clicking in the top left corner
    b)    Format > Cells > Alignment Tab

• Text Alignment: Vertical = Top
• Text Control = select Wrap Text