Tip 4 showed you how to set an option in Word '97 so that you can be sure to save your work to your home (H) directory. In this issue of Technology Tip of the Week, we will continue that theme for Excel '97.

Tip #5:
File, file - Where did I save that Excel file?

Saving Options - Problem revisited. You may recall that Microsoft applications save your files in a standard folder called My Documents, located on the local hard drive. Because the default location for file saving is the local hard drive, your files remain on the local workstation - not the network.

Definitions: Preferences/Options: Preferences and options allow the user to modify the existing program for his/her personal style. A separate software file is used to keep track of such housekeeping items including standard fonts, colors, toolbars and file saving.

I. Saving Locations in Microsoft Excel: Like Word '97, Excel '97 allows you to change many of its local options to make the software more user-friendly. To locate these options in Excel, launch the program using either: the Tools folder on your desktop or pressing the Start button, move to Programs and then to Microsoft Excel.

The Excel '97 menu bar appears at the top of the screen and looks like the following:

Select Tools, Options... The following tabbed screen appears:

Choose the General tab. Your screen changes to:  

In the Default file location: field type in: H:\ to designate your home directory as I have done below:

Unlike Word '97, Excel does not offer the same folder flexibility. If you wish to change the location of where you save your files, you must type the name of folder in the Default file location: field. For example, if I choose to save my work in the Training folder, I would type: H:\TRAINING - then I would press the OK button. Or, as before, halt this process by pressing the Cancel button.

FOne last item: The screen above also allows you to change the default font (and size) for your spreadsheets - something to remember if you use Excel '97 for a grading program as well as a signature name (User name:) The default on this last item is Arlington High School in my example. You can change this field to your name to personalize your worksheets.

Finish out by clicking OK on this Options screen.