Microsoft Office

Using and Creating
Templates
Atemplate is essentially a model that serves as the basis for something else.
An Excel template is a workbook that’s used to create other workbooks.
This chapter discusses some of the templates included with Excel and
also describes how to create your own template files. Creating a template takes
some time, but in the long run, doing so may save you a lot of work.
Exploring Excel Templates
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding Excel’s templates
Working with the default
templates
Creating custom templates
The best way to become familiar with Excel template files is to jump in and try a
few. Most versions of Excel include template files, but Excel 2007 gives you
quick access to hundreds of such files.
Viewing templates
To explore the Excel templates, choose Office ➪ New to display the New
Workbook dialog box. The templates listed in the New Workbook dialog box are
in three categories:
n
n
n
Those installed on your hard drive (Template Categories ➪ Installed
Templates)
Those that you can download from Microsoft Office Online
Those that you’ve created (Template Categories ➪ Featuring ➪ My
Templates)
In addition, the right side of the dialog box displays a list of templates that you’ve
used recently.
The Microsoft Office Online section contains a number of categories, and some
categories have subcategories. Click a category (or subcategory), and you’ll see
the available templates. Use the View button to change how the templates are
145