Microsoft Office

Understanding Excel’s Files 8
Starting Excel Without an Empty Workbook
If you prefer to avoid the empty workbook displayed when Excel starts up, you can do so by editing the command
line that is used to start Excel. You need to create a new shortcut to excel.exe and then modify the
properties:
1. Use Windows Explorer and locate the excel.exe program. The default location is
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\
2. Press the right mouse button, drag the excel.exe filename to your desktop, and release the mouse
button. When you release the right mouse button, you’ll see a shortcut menu.
3. Choose Create Shortcut Here. Windows creates a new shortcut icon on your desktop.
4. Right-click the shortcut icon and choose Properties.
5. In the Properties dialog box, click the Shortcut tab.
6. Edit the Target field by adding a space, followed by /e, to the end. For example:
“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\EXCEL.EXE” /e
7. Specify a Shortcut Key, if desired. If you provide a shortcut key, you can use that keystroke combination
to start or active Excel.
8. Click OK.
After making that change, Excel doesn’t display an empty workbook when you start it by clicking that shortcut
icon. In addition, you won’t see the normal “splash” screen.
FIGURE 8.2
Use the Open dialog box to open any of your Excel workbook files.
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