Templates Create and Use © EIT, Author Gay Robertson, 2017

What is a template? If you have an Excel workbook that you use time and time again with new data entered each time, then a template is what you need Templates save time, there’s no need to re-create the workbook from scratch each time

An example … A good example of this is an Invoice We use it for each sale We don’t want the format or formulas to be altered Making an Invoice into a template ensures that our constant data, format and formulas are protected and each sale can be easily entered and saved

Look at your invoice .. What is constant data? What is variable data? Work this out before you begin (planning)

Saving a template You need to save into the correct folder – automatically will save templates onto your C drive and then you probably won’t be able to find it!!! This is where you will save your templates File type must be .xltx OR .xltm

Using a template Navigate to your folder Double click on the template New file will open – check name Enter the variable data and template formulae will automatically calculate

Editing a template If you find an error in a template, you need to OPEN the template file Use File, Open Navigate to the template folder and open the template Check the title bar you are editing the template itself Save and close the template file when editing is complete

Let’s hope that helped! But, if it didn’t make much sense – I can go through this again!

Why would I use a template? In business, your workbooks will be generally a lot more complex and a lot larger than the little exercises you are working with

Why else? If you have a worksheet that contains lots of constant data and only requires a minimum of variable data then the use of a template is time saving and efficient You don’t want to do things again and again