Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Saving a Workbook with a Preview.
When you use the Open dialog box in Excel, you can configure what you see in the dialog box. One of the settings you can make is for Excel to display a preview of whatever workbook you select in the left side of the dialog box. (Click on the drop-down arrow next to the Views tool, then choose Preview.)
You may have already noticed that some of your workbooks do not have a preview available in the Open dialog box. If this is the case, and you want to have a preview available, you need to make sure that the workbook is saved with the preview enabled. If the workbook is loaded in Excel, follow these general steps:
If you are using Excel 2010 or Excel 2013 the steps are slightly different, with the biggest difference being in how you display the Properties dialog box:
Figure 1. The Summary tab of the Properties dialog box.
At this point you can close the workbook. Now when you display the Open dialog box, and you have the preview feature turned on, the workbook displays a preview in the dialog box.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (6173) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Saving a Workbook with a Preview.
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2020-07-23 10:32:56
Mark
Thanks Ronmio. I did eventually find it.
2020-07-22 13:19:53
Ronmio
I have no idea what the "Office button" is but, in Excel 365 (aka Excel 2019), you can get to Properties via File > Info the same way the article says for Excel 2010 and Excel 2013. The Properties dropdown will be in the upper-right corner of the window.
2020-07-22 11:52:25
Mark
I just got a link to this today, 7/22/20. It says last updated 8/1/15. I am using the 2016 version and cannot find the "Office button, click Prepare, and then click Properties" Maybe doesn't apply to 2016?
2016-07-18 09:46:34
James
Make sure you save the document after changing the properties. After saving and closing the document, give it a few monments and than the icon will convert.
Also, if the file is not on your desktop, make sure you are not using list view in file explorer.
2015-08-01 14:25:43
Molleen
Hi
I tried the tip in Exc 2013 and it didn't work
Please help
2015-08-01 09:48:34
Douglas Ellis
How do I turn on the "Preview Feature" in Excel 2013?
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