Getting Rid of the Startup Spreadsheet

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 2, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Every time you start Excel from the Start button or, in older versions of Windows, the Program Manager, the program is started with a blank spreadsheet. This is great if you are ready to start a new file. Most people, however, find themselves working with the same files over and over. If you are tired of closing that opening spreadsheet every time you start Excel, then follow these steps if you are using any version of Windows currently in common use:

  1. Using the desktop browser, display the folder containing the shortcut used to start Excel.
  2. Right-click on the shortcut icon. This displays a Context menu for the shortcut.
  3. Select the Properties option from the Context menu. This displays the shortcut's Properties dialog box.
  4. Click on the Shortcut tab.
  5. At the end of the Target field, add the following: /e (If there are quote marks surrounding the text in the Target field, makes sure you place the /e outside the quote marks.) There should be a space just in front of the slash.
  6. Click on OK.

If you are using an older version of Windows, you can follow these steps from the Program Manager:

  1. Select the Excel program icon; do not open it.
  2. Select the Properties option from the Program Manager's File menu. You will see a Properties dialog box.
  3. At the end of the Command Line, add the following: /e
  4. Click on OK.

Once this change is made, whenever you start Excel there will be no blank spreadsheet.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (1991) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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