Excel 2010 Bible

161

CHAPTER

Using and Creating

Templates

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding Excel templates

Working with the default

templates

Creating custom templates

A

template is essentially a model that serves as the basis for something
else. An Excel template is a workbook that’s used to create other
workbooks. This chapter discusses some of the templates included
with Excel and also describes how to create your own template files.
Creating a template takes some time, but in the long run, doing so may save
you a lot of work.

Exploring Excel Templates ................................................................................................

The best way to become familiar with Excel template files is to jump in and

try a few. Excel 2010 gives you quick access to hundreds of template files.

Viewing templates ...................................................................................................

To explore the Excel templates, choose File ➪ New to display the Available

Templates screen in Backstage View. You can select a template stored on

your hard drive, or a template from Microsoft Office Online. If you choose a

template from Microsoft Office Online, you must be connected to the

Internet to download it.

The Office Online Templates section contains a number of icons, which rep-

resent various categories of templates (see Figure 8.1). Click an icon, and

you’ll see the available templates. When you select a template thumbnail,

you see a preview in the right panel.