Excel: Opening a Worksheet so That it Fills the Workspace

ID: Q72576


The information in this article applies to:


SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, the initial worksheet (Sheet1 in Windows or OS/2, or Worksheet1 on the Macintosh) always opens in a window which does not fill the workspace. There is no setting to change this.

You may use a macro to maximize Sheet1 every time Microsoft Excel is started.


MORE INFORMATION

  1. Type the following into a macro sheet:

    
          A1: =NEW(1)
          A2: =ARRANGE.ALL()
          A3: =RETURN() 

    Note: If you want to open Microsoft Excel so that Sheet1 is maximized (that is, full-screen), change line A2 to:

    =FULL(TRUE) ; for version 3.0 =WINDOW.MAXIMIZE() ; for version 4.0

    Note: If you have a custom template (sheet.xlt for example), you will need to change line A1 to:

    =OPEN("c:\excel\xlstart\sheet.xlt")

    Without this change, Microsoft Excel opens a new sheet based on the default styles and not on the custom template.


  2. Define the macro as an Auto_Open macro.


  3. If you have Microsoft Excel version 4.0, from the File menu, choose Save As. If you want, type a new name for the macro sheet. Be sure you are saving your file in the XLSTART subdirectory. Microsoft Excel will automatically add the .XLA extension. In the Save File As Type box, select the Add-In option, Choose the OK button.

    If you have Microsoft Excel version 3.0, save the file as Add-In format. Do this by choosing Save As from the File menu, and selecting the Options button. You will find the Add-In option in the drop-down list. In Microsoft Excel for Windows or OS/2, place the file in the XLSTART directory. On the Macintosh, place the file in the Microsoft Excel Startup folder.

    If you have Microsoft Excel 2.x for Windows, save the macro sheet. Edit the [Microsoft Excel] section of the WIN.INI file by inserting the line:

    OPEN=MacrosheetName


  4. You will see the change the next time you start the Microsoft Excel program.



REFERENCES

"User's Guide 2," version 4.0, chapters 7 and 8
"Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 26 and 31
"User's Guide," version 3.0, chapters 19 and 20
"Function Reference," version 3.0, pages 16 and 159

Additional query words: 2.00 2.01 2.10 2.20 2.21


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Last Reviewed: March 21, 1999