Is there such thing as an Excel formatting template thingie?

December 12, 2007 12:03 PM

Excel Experts: Is there a way to apply a custom formatting template to an unformatted worksheet?

I'm hoping there are some hardcore Microsoft Excel experts out there that might be able to help me out with this. Don't know if it matters, but I'm using a Mac version of Office.

In any event, I've been using our company's proprietary program to pull an Excel worksheet on a pretty regular basis. The information within is pretty simple--no formulas or anything fancy, just plain ol' text in cells. Unfortunately, the export does not format the worksheet and I'm left formatting the silly thing by hand each time.

Is there a way to create some kind of formatting template that I can apply to the unformatted worksheet for some instant gratification? And beyond that, would I be able to share this "template" (or whatever it may be called) with my co-workers who experience the same daily plight?

Thanks in advance for any help!

posted by kmtiszen to computers & internet (4 comments total)

yes, to both questions: create a macro. it can store all of your formatting functions, and repeat them upon command. once you perfected it, you can share it with other users.
posted by lester at 12:08 PM on December 12, 2007

If you don't want to go the macro route (and I usually don't, but I'm not usually doing repetitive tasks) you could do the follow: Start w/ a properly formatted worksheet -> Select All (click the box in the top left corner, just next to the A and above the 1) -> Copy -> Go to unformatted worksheet -> Select All -> Paste Formats (edit->paste special->Formats).
posted by mullacc at 12:23 PM on December 12, 2007

Have you tried using the Tools / AutoFormat options?

Dozens of decent formatting options quickly and easily applied.
posted by iam2bz2p at 3:21 PM on December 12, 2007

The proprietary program creates the Excel file? Do you have access to the code? If so, you could try this:

Create a properly-formatted worksheet. Save it. Set the file properties to read-only. Change the proprietary program to export data into this worksheet, but instead of Saving, have it "Save As" with a different file name from the original.

If you put this read-only worksheet on your network, anyone can grab it and put in their own data, but they have to save it with a different name.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 5:41 PM on December 12, 2007