Excel Template: 6 Steps to Make and Use It

Instead of using a blank workbook, you can use an Excel template (built-in or custom) to speed up your work.

Currently, there are lots of built-in Excel templates that are available for free and of course, you can use them.

Apart from free templates, you can also create your own (custom) templates according to your needs.

Important! Before following this Guide, you should at least know how to create a new Blank Workbook or Excel File. If you don’t know yet, please follow the Excel Workbook Guide.

How to Use Excel’s Built-in Templates?

To use the default Excel template, please follow these steps:

1. Click the File Tab on the Ribbon.
2. Click the New menu.
3. Please search for the template you need in the search field (in English). For example, I’m looking for Invoice. Note: Make sure your computer is connected to the internet network.
4. Click on one of the cool templates (for example the Blue Invoice Template). Then a pop-up template will appear containing a description and size.
5. Click Create to create a new Workbook using this template.

Note: After clicking Create, Excel will download the template data first and then copy it to the Blank Workbook. After the data is downloaded, a new Workbook will open including a template name such as Blue Invoice1.xlsx.

Look at this, the image above shows the contents of the Blue Invoice template (default in Excel). When using a template, Excel will display “Property Views and Options” above the Formula Bar.

Now you can use and change the contents of the template.

If you want to save it, you can also use Save or Save As Workbook.

How to Make and Save Your Own Custom Excel Template

To make and save your own Excel template from a Workbook, please follow these steps:

1. Please design your template content. Of course, designs will vary depending on needs. You can also use the default Excel template, and then change it according to your needs.
   
2. After creating the template contents, click the File Tab on the Ribbon.
   
3. Please save your template by clicking the Save As menu. Then, select the folder where you saved the custom template.
   
4. In the Save As Dialog, please type your Template Name. In this example, I named the Excel template as “Invoice M Jurnal”
   
5. Change the Save As Type to Excel Template (*.xlst). Note carefully, that to save the Workbook as a template, you must change the Save As Type to Excel Template (*.xlst). When you first save a custom template, Excel activates a template folder that is usually located on disk: C:\Users\\Documents\Custom Office Templates. Note: Don’t change this default folder.
   
6. Click Save to save the custom Excel template.
   

Note: If you are using Excel 97-2003, please use the Excel 97 – 2003 Template type (*.xlt). However, it is better to upgrade your Excel software to get the latest support and features.

Now you can use the Custom Template at any time without fear of the file changing.

How to Use Your Own Custom Templates in Excel?

DON’T OPEN YOUR EXCEL TEMPLATE MANUALLY IF YOU DON’T WANT TO CHANGE THE CONTENTS OF THE TEMPLATE.

ROLAN MARDANI

If you want to use your own Custom Template in Excel, don’t manually open the template via Windows Explorer (File Manager) or Open File Menu in Excel Software.

To use a Custom Template that has been saved in a new Workbook without changing the template, please follow these steps:

1. Create a New (Blank) Workbook then click the File Tab on the Ribbon.
2. Click New Menu.
3. Click Personal.
4. You will see a list of your own Custom Excel Templates. Please double-click on the template you want to use. And automatically the contents of the template will be copied to the New Workbook.

Is it true that the Template File will not change if I change the contents of this Workbook?

That’s right!

As proof, try looking at the name of the Workbook that is being opened, namely “Invoice M Jurnal1” (see red circle in the image). Meanwhile, the name of the template used is “Invoice M Jurnal”.

That is, the “Invoice M Jurnal” Template Data is copied to the “Invoice M Jurnal1” Workbook.

So, the original template file will not change when changes are made to your new Workbook.

Note: If you want to change the contents of the Excel Template, please open it via the File Tab > Open > Find Your Template Storage Location.

How, easy, right?

Next, in the next Sub-Chapter, I’ll give examples of Excel Custom Templates that officers, businesses, and teachers most often use.

Such as calendar templates, receipts, notes, agendas, sales and so on which can be downloaded for free.