Microsoft KB Archive/183757

= XL98: How to Change the Alternate Startup Folder =

Article ID: 183757

Article Last Modified on 9/11/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q183757



SUMMARY
This article explains how to change the alternate startup file location in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.



MORE INFORMATION
When you specify an alternate startup file location, Microsoft Excel opens any files in the specified location. The Alternate Startup folder is used in addition to the :Microsoft Office 98:Office:Startup:Excel folder.

To set an alternate startup file location in Microsoft Excel, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Click Select Button to Set the Alternate Startup File Location
To use this method, follow these steps:


 * 1) On the Tools menu, click Preferences.
 * 2) Click the General tab. Click the Select button to the right of the Alternate Startup File Location box.
 * 3) Select the folder you want to use and click Select , where  is the folder you have selected.

The alternate startup file location lists the folder you have specified. The next time you start Excel, all of the files in this folder are opened.

Method 2: Manually Type a Path for the Alternate Startup File Location
To use this method, follow these steps:

 On the Tools menu, click Preferences. Click the General tab. In the Alternate Startup File Location box, type the full path to the folder. For example, if you want Excel to open the workbooks in the Documents folder on your hard disk, type the following



where is the name of you hard disk, in the Alternate Startup File Location box. Click OK.

The alternate startup file location becomes folder you have specified. The next time you start Excel, all of the files in this folder are opened.

In some cases, you may type the wrong folder path, for example " :doument" (without the quotation marks). In this case, Microsoft Excel cannot locate the specified folder; so, it clears the Alternate Startup File Location box. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

179858 Alternate Startup File Location Box Is Cleared

The alternate startup file location settings are stored in the Excel Settings (8) file, which is located in the :System Folder:Preferences folder. If you specify an alternate startup file location and you can no longer start Excel, use the following method to clear the alternate startup file location.


 * 1) Open the :System Folder:Preferences folder, where is the name of your hard disk.
 * 2) Drag the Excel Settings (8) file to the Trash.
 * 3) Restart Excel.

The alternate startup file location is cleared.

