Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 21, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Those familiar with Word may know how to use the Version feature of that program to save different versions of the same document, all within the same file. You may wonder if such a feature was built into Excel, as well.
Excel does not have such a capability; there is no versioning feature. You can, however, use custom views (View menu) to create different ways of looking at your worksheet. Custom views are described fully in other issues of ExcelTips; they basically allow you to specify things such as which rows and columns are visible, row height, column width, formatting characteristics, etc. While not a true "version," custom views do provide a way that you can show different information to different people.
Another approach is to periodically create copies of your worksheets (use Edit | Move or Copy Sheet). Each copy you create can represent a different version of the worksheet. You could also just make copies of your entire workbook periodically, and then name each copy so that it represents a different version of your data.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2879) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
Some easy steps to rename the worksheets in your Excel workbook.
Discover MoreYour workbooks can contain many, many worksheets. Which of those worksheets are the largest, however? Here's some ideas ...
Discover MoreWhen you work on older workbooks in Excel, you may notice that the name of the worksheet tab and the workbook itself are ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments