TEMPLATES AND NAMES (MS EXCE)

Using Templates
Templates make it easy for you to create workbooks that share common characteristics. Once you’ve created the template workbook, you’ll be able to use it as a basis for future, similar workbooks. Templates should contain only labels and formulas, and not raw data. Templates are also most useful when they do not include specific dates or references to the time of year. E.g. with Procedures: press the Delete key to delete the raw data in the selected range. Edit cell A3 to read Quarter? You need to save the generic workbook as a template. Template workbooks are saved to the Template system folder. Choose File, Save As. The Save As dialog box will display. From the Save As Type list, select Template (*.xlt). when you specify the Template format, Excel automatically changes the current folder to the Templates folder. All templates should be saved to this folder. Change the file name to ---------. Click on Save. Close the file.

You can now open a new Excel workbook by using the template you just saved. When you open a template file, Excel opens a copy of the template file and leaves the original intact. Excel also creates a default file name by using the template name and a sequential umber. Choose File, New. The New dialog box will display, providing you with a choice of templates on which to base your new workbook. Select My Expense Report.xlt. click on Ok.

Notice that when you edit a template and save to another name it does not affect the original file.  

Using Names

A name is a description that you assign to a group of cells as an alternative to its cell reference. You can use names to make formulas more powerful and flexible. Names should follow these guidelines.

The first character must be text or an underscore character. The remaining characters can be text, numbers, periods, and the underscore character. Names can consist of up to 255 characters.
A name cannot contain spaces.

You can use lowercase letters in names; however, Excel does not distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters when using names.

E.g. Cell F6 contains a formula that calculates a commission. The commission rate and quota are contained within a box on the worksheet. The values in the Bonus column are based on the bonus table data. The formula in cell F6 uses the name Comm_Rate instead of a number or cell reference. In the Name Box drop-down list, select Comm_Rate. Choose Insert, Name, Define. The Define Name dialog box enables you to define new names and to see names that are already assigned.

Commission_Rate is displayed in the text field because Excel assumes that you want to use the text in the cell adjacent to the active cell to define a new name. however, Comm_Rate has already been define. In the Names In Workbook list, select Comm_Rate. Click on Close.

Regards,

BEM T.