How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

[Autumn]

I have taken over as Programme Secretary of our Photographic Society and have inherited templates and form letters which were made in Microsoft Excel.

Unfortunately these existing templates keep opening in Microsoft Windows Spreadsheet and there are a few incompatibilities.

When I click on a document I should like it to open straight away in Excel instead of my having to right click and click "Open with ... ...".

How can I make Microsoft Excel my default spreadsheet?

[Goatsmilkuk]

Re: How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

Right click on the file type you want to use, then click on properties in the menu that has opened up, then in the general tab choose the button that says change which is next to the type of file and what it opens with, then from the list select the program you want the file to open with.

This works with XP, but if you have another OS then it should be similar, if you get stuck let us know which OS you use then either someone here will have the same or I will have a look around the net for you.


Hope this helps

Stu

EDIT

Here is a page that gives another way of doing it http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307859

[Stephen]

Re: How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

Right click on file, go to Open With, choose program in your case Excel and check the box, Always use this program for this filetype and OK

[Autumn]

Re: How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

Thanks very much boys. It worked.

Now I have another one for you.

I pulled down this particular folder on to my quick launch blue bar at the bottom. I think I must have sometimes used that to work on the programme and correspondence. There is a lot I inherited!

Anyway, I keep looking at what I have done and thinking I thought I had replied to that or I thought I had filled that part of the programme in and I am finding that if I open the programme from the quick launch and edit and save it, it is not transferred to the programme that is opened from my desk top - My documents, Worksop Photo Socy etc, etc.

So I have had the dickens of a job comparing and getting one true copy.

I have now deleted the quick launch and will just use My Docs, etc, etc, - the long way round.

Tell me, should there have been a way for me to have a quick launch to this folder and it to update the whole folder wherever it is?

I hope you understand what I am trying to convey.

Audrey

[Goatsmilkuk]

Re: How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

I think I have got the jist of what your saying.

Basically you want to open the folder without going through my docs..... if that is the case you can either right click on the folder once you have found it and select send to desktop (create shortcut) or drag the folder from where you find it then place it on the desktop, the first will just place a link from the desktop to the folder, which is probably the best one to do, the second will move the location of the folder, you may not want to do this as your programs that use it may no longer be able to find it, unless you tell them where it is.


Do you know what the folder is called that you want to link to, as if you do you can use the search function to locate it and then make a shortcut.


Hope this helps

Stu

[Autumn]

Re: How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

I think I have got the jist of what your saying.

Basically you want to open the folder without going through my docs..... if that is the case you can either right click on the folder once you have found it and select send to desktop (create shortcut) or drag the folder from where you find it then place it on the desktop, the first will just place a link from the desktop to the folder, which is probably the best one to do, the second will move the location of the folder, you may not want to do this as your programs that use it may no longer be able to find it, unless you tell them where it is.


Do you know what the folder is called that you want to link to, as if you do you can use the search function to locate it and then make a shortcut.

Hope this helps

Stu

I think you are right Stu. Another thing, I found I had made two quick launch tabs and must have used both. So there I am saving stuff in three different places!

Anyway I have consolidated the lot to My Docs and deleted the quick launch tabs.

I will find the folder and right click for a desktop shortcut.

I thought the quick launch bar was the same thing, but now I remember seeing "Quick Launch" in the address, so that is why they weren't all saving in one place.

Thanks.

Audrey

[Stephen]

Re: How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

Audrey, one of my most important icons on my Quick Launch tool bar is Windows Explorer. I like to see the whole contents of my HD and especially My Documents. This allows me to see the contents of my folders easily but alsomove them about, drag and drop etc. If you haven't already got it on the toolbar its in the Start menu > Accesories. Just press Ctrl and drag the icon to the Quick Launch toolbar.

[Autumn]

Re: How can I make Microsoft Excel my default

Hi Stephen,

I do have Explorer on my Quick Launch Bar, but forgot about using it to compare and move my documents.

Funny thing is I use it all the time in Adobe Bridge to move and view my photographs! I must start doing a bit of lateral thinking (about other things than photographs)