When I use excel at work, 99% of the time, all of my preferences are the same for font, cell size, alignment, footer, etc. I've got my printing preferences set up - but that's through the printer/faxes section of MS. Does anyone know if there's a way to set up preferences w/in excel for formatting - so that anytime I use it, it will automatically default to those settings?

Another question. When saving a file from a certain progam, I only have an option of saving it to a txt file - which is fine. I can then go to the actual file and rename it with .xls at the end. For some reason, if I do any formatting - it can't save those changes in the xls file. BUT, it then gives me the option to save it as an XML spreadsheet in the drop down menu when I hit save as. The xml spreadsheet will keep all the formatting. BUT it won't let me rename it as an xml to begin with instead of the xls? So, to summarize, I always end up renaming it as xls, making my changes, then saving as xml, then deleting the xls file. Seems like there should be a way around it.

Okay had to do a little research, but i hope this will help. i found this in the help area of excel if you need to follow the links.

File format converters supplied with Microsoft Excel

The file formats listed in the Save As dialog box vary, depending on whether a worksheet, chart sheet, or other type of sheet is active. For most file formats, Microsoft Excel converts only the active sheet. To convert the other sheets, switch to each sheet and save it separately.

Microsoft Excel contains most of the file converters you need. If you do not see the file format you want in the Open dialog box (File menu), you can install the converter. For more information, click .

Microsoft Excel formats

The Microsoft Excel 97-2000 & 5.0/95 Workbook format saves a workbook in Excel version 97-2000 file format and Excel versions 5.0/95 file formats in the same .xls file. Users of Microsoft Excel 2000 can continue to work in the workbook and use any of the features or formatting unique to this version. Users of Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or Microsoft Excel 95 can open and use the workbook without having to convert the file; it is recommended that they use the workbook read-only. If users save the workbook in the earlier version of Microsoft Excel, features and formatting unique to Microsoft Excel 2000 are lost. For more information, click .

Formats that save the entire workbook
File name extension

(Windows only)


Microsoft Excel Workbook (Microsoft Excel 97-2000)
.xls


Template (Microsoft Excel 97-2000)
.xlt


Workspace (Microsoft Excel 97-2000)
.xlw


Microsoft Excel 97-2000 & 5.0/95 Workbook
.xls


Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook
.xls


Microsoft Excel version 4.0 workbook

(saves only worksheets, chart sheets, and macro sheets)
.xlw

SLG, Do you have excel installed on your computer? If so, what version/year is it? Could it be that you have an older version that's not compatible w/ the versions/files you're trying to open?

slg says ...

i am unable  to open xls files on my computer, anyone have a suggestion on that?

Do you get any error message when you try to open an excel document?Describe to us what happens when you click on an excel document.