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Edit Excel's "normal.dot"

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11 replies

by brelf 1 view

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I am trying to find a way of editing the Excel 2000 equivalent of Normal.DOT. I have a spreadsheet linked to other sheets/files stored on a server, when I am away from the office I want to be able to review the sheet, only when I open it, it asks ifwant to update the links, now whether I say yes or no, cells with the links return a "#REF" symbol. The only workaround I have found so far is to open a blank spreadsheet and go to TOOLS, OPTIONS and the CALCULATION tab and set the calculation to MANUAL, then open the sheet and it is fine, but I would like to permanently set this option to MANUAL. This used to work fine in Excel 97.

11 replies

by proselyte

The equivalent is called "book.xlt" (or "sheet.xlt" for sheets).
More information can be found in microsoft help (F1->template->"Create a workbook template for new workbooks").

Best regards,

by brelf

Tried that but it will not hold the Calculation setting to Manual, it always reverts back to Automatic. Sorry.

by fletchni

I don't think you really want to edit Excel's defaults. The "Calculation" method is saved with the workbook... although depending on what else you do in that Excel session, it can act unpredictably.

What I suggest you do is, while on the Network,set the document to Manual Calc, and ensure recalc on save is selected. Then save the Workbook.

If you open the workbook direct from Internet Explorer (i.e. don't start Excel from the start menu first) it will always work.

If Excel is alreadyrunning, then you have 50/50 chance of the workbook opening correctly with it's setting. You won't get better than this, so please don't reject my answer!!

Nic.

by brelf

That's fine if I have access to the all the linked sheets in the first place. OK my scenario wasn't correct, if I am the recipient of an email with an Excel attachment and am not responsible for the rest of the linked sheets... apart from getting the originator to resubmit his sheet with the correct calc settings there must be a way round this, you could change the defaults in 97, how come it sets the default file location OK and not the calculation?

by sankulpune

Hello,

In your case, if you want the calculation setting to be manual every time you open a workbook :
1) Open a new workbook.
2) Set the calculation option to manual.
3) open the file save as dialog box by clicking 'Save As' menu.
In the 'Save as type' list select 'template (*.xlt)'.
Type book.xlt as the name of the file.
In the 'Save in' list select the directory xlstart.(...\office\xlstart)
click 'OK'.
From this point onward, if you open a workbook the calculation setting will be manual by default.

By default the template book.xlt does not exist. You need to create it.
For more details see the topic 'Create a workbook template for new workbooks' in the on-line help.

SanganakSakha.
Simple And Effective Solutions To Small Problems, No QuickFixes

by sankulpune

Hello,

In your case, if you want the calculation setting to be manual every time you open a workbook :
1) Open a new workbook.
2) Set the calculation option to manual.
3) open the file save as dialog box by clicking 'Save As' menu.
In the 'Save as type' list select 'template (*.xlt)'.
Type book.xlt as the name of the file.
In the 'Save in' list select the directory xlstart.(...\office\xlstart)
click 'OK'.
From this point onward, if you open a workbook the calculation setting will be manual by default.

By default the template book.xlt does not exist. You need to create it.
For more details see the topic 'Create a workbook template for new workbooks' in the on-line help.

SanganakSakha.
Simple And Effective Solutions To Small Problems, No QuickFixes

by martinitek

HERE IS ONE SIMPLE WAY:
You most probably have a customized toolbar in excel at work...
The equivalent of normal.dot (in word) is excel.xlb (for excel). What you do is, at work search or your excel.xlb file - if you cannot locate it, open your excel (new blank worksheet)and save it as excel.xlb, this will save YOUR excel toolbar settings. Then look for the file. Once you located the file "excel.xlb" copy it to a disk. Bring the disk home, open your excel on your pc at home, select "File, open" go to the a:\ drive and select & open your excel.xlb. Once this is done click on file (in excel) and save. Close Excel, re-open it and try your worksheet (the one that was giving you trouble) and all should work well.

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