Knowledge Base

XL97: How to Use Excel Startup Folders

Article ID: 259926

Article Last Modified on 8/27/2002

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q259926

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel uses startup folders in two ways:

To load Excel files at startup

-and-

As a reference location for templates

The actual startup folder locations can vary depending on what version of Excel you are using. For more details about Excel startup locations, please see the "More Information" section later in this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Folders That Excel Uses at Startup

If you install Microsoft Excel to the default location, Excel opens files from the following paths:

Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart
The folder specified in the Alternate startup file location box on the General tab in the Options dialog box (on the Tools menu click Options).

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart
The folder specified in the Alternate startup file location box on the General tab in the Options dialog box (on the Tools menu, click Options).

Microsoft Windows 2000

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart
The folder specified in the Alternate startup file location box on the General tab in the Options dialog box (on the Tools menu, click Options).

Accepted File Types During Excel Startup

You typically use startup folders to load Excel templates and add-ins, but you can also use them to load workbooks. When you load these three types of files from a startup folder, they have the following important characteristics.

Templates

Templates <*.xlt> that you place in a startup folder are not loaded when you start Excel, but you can use the templates by clicking New on the File menu.
If you save a workbook called book.xlt and place it in a startup folder, that workbook becomes the default workbook when you start Excel, and when you open any additional new workbooks.

Add-Ins

Add-Ins <*.xla> that you place in a startup folder do not typically appear when you start Excel, but are loaded into memory and run any auto macros.
You can then use these Add-Ins by whatever method the add-in provides (that is, a menu item or toolbar button).

Workbooks

Workbooks <*.xls> that you place in a startup folder are loaded and appear when you start Excel, unless the workbook is saved in a hidden state. For example, the personal macro workbook <Personal.xls> is a global macro workbook that Excel typically loads from the XLStart folder in a hidden state.

Incorrect Use of the Alternate Startup File Location

When using the alternate startup file location, it is important to specify a file path in which there are recognizable file types (such as templates, add-ins, and workbooks).
If Excel finds unrecognizable file types in a startup folder, you may receive an error message. The most common error message is:

This file is not a recognizable format.

Using the Default File Location

In addition to the alternate startup file location, the Default file location setting is also on the General tab in the Options dialog box. This setting is different from a startup folder; it sets the folder location that you want Excel to point to when you open or save a file by using the File menu.

REFERENCES

For more information about startup folders, click Contents and Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Excel Help, type the following text

startup, folders

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Control what happens when you start Microsoft Excel" topic. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

Additional query words: XL97

Keywords: kbhowto KB259926