Creating Default Formatting for Workbooks and Worksheets

Spent some time to track down ALL template locations after CTRL+N created a new workbook with the DEFAULT Microsoft template instead of my customized version. A version I had already saved to two separate folders. Turns out there is not one template location. There is NOT two template locations. There is NOT three template locations. There are FOUR template locations! At least for Windows 10 with Microsoft 365:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Templates\1033

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART

Only after placing a copy of my version of the sheet and book templates in each of these four folders did Excel provide the workbook formatted as I wanted.

Remember, "There are four lights!"

I tried saving a template but got the message that I had to contact the administrator for permission. It's only me, there is no other administrator. I'm using Excel 365 and I did find the right place to save to.

Henry Noble's solution worked for saving the "Sheet" template but not the "Book" template.

Except when it doesn't. 😒

After following the instructions to the letter, when I open a blank workbook, the default font is Calibri, In both my books, the default font is Arial.

What did I overlook?

Create a desktop shortcut that points to the desired template, e.g "C:\Users\myname\Documents\Excel\Templates\Excel columns override.xltx" with Opens With Microsoft Excel specified.

But, I want to create a worksheet format for a new workbook. This format will apply only to this workbook. i do not want to change the default excel setting which I find to be fine 99.9% of the time.

Only works when you open Excel, if you insert a new Blank Workbook, it is not the same. I put code in the XLStart Book.xlt and then inserted a new Blank Workbook and it was not the same - all code was missing.

Two additions to Allen's tip on customizing the default workbook:

1. Depending on your PC's configuration, you may be unable to SaveAs the Book.xltx or Sheet.xltx files into the XLSTART directory. When you try, a message like this may pop up:

'You don't have permission to save in this location.'

If that happens, simply save the Book or Sheet file to your Desktop. Then open File Explorer, navigate to XLSTART, and drag the file from the Desktop to the folder. Windows will ask for Administrator permission to complete the move. Say yes.

2. The tip gets you the setup you want for workbooks created from the Start menu, but there is more yet to do.

If you like to create new workbooks by right-clicking and selecting New > Microsoft Excel Worksheet, you may find none of your changes has been implemented.

Looking at the Registry entries for Excel files created with Office 2010, we find that ShellNew relies on excel12.xlsx.

That file is stored in C:WindowsShellNew. Open the file, edit as desired, then save to the Desktop. Using File Explorer, drag the edited file into the ShellNew folder, providing Administrator permission if requested.

As Allen often notes, file names and paths vary from version to version, but the procedures outlined here should be substantially similar for the other versions.