Create a new workbook

A Microsoft Excel workbook is a file that contains one or more worksheets (worksheet: The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook.), which you can use to organize various kinds of related information. To create a new workbook, you can open a blank workbook. You can also base a new workbook on an existing workbook, the default workbook template (default workbook template: The Book.xlt template that you create to change the default format of new workbooks. Excel uses the template to create a blank workbook when you start Excel or create a new workbook without specifying a template.), or any other template (template: A workbook that you create and use as the basis for other similar workbooks. You can create templates for workbooks and worksheets. The default template for workbooks is called Book.xlt. The default template for worksheets is called Sheet.xlt.).

ShowOpen a new, blank workbook

ShowBase a new workbook on an existing workbook

  1. On the File menu, click New.
  2. In the New Workbook task pane (task pane: A window within an Office program that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.), under New, click From existing workbook.
  3. In the New from Existing Workbook dialog box, browse to the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the workbook that you want to open.
  4. Click the workbook, and then click Create New.

ShowBase a new workbook on the default workbook template

When you use this method to start a new workbook, it will automatically be based on the default workbook template, which is usually located in the XLStart folder (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\XLStart).

Tip    You can also press CTRL+N.

ShowBase a new workbook on another template

  1. On the File menu, click New.
  2. In the New Workbook task pane (task pane: A window within an Office program that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.), under Templates, click On my computer.
  3. On the Spreadsheet Solutions tab in the Templates dialog box, double-click the template for the type of workbook that you want to create.

 Note   The Spreadsheet Solutions tab lists the templates installed on your computer. If you don't see the template that you want to use, make sure it is installed and located in the correct folder. For more information, click Create templates in the See Also section of this topic.

Tip    To obtain more workbook templates, you can click Templates on Office Online under Templates in the New Workbook task pane.

 
 
Applies to:
Excel 2003