Workbook

 

Open an Existing Workbook  |  Close a Workbook  |  Create a New Workbook  |  Turn off the Start screen

A workbook is another word for your Excel file. When you start Excel, click Blank workbook to create an Excel workbook from scratch.

Open an Existing Workbook

To open a workbook you've created in the past, execute the following steps.

1. On the File tab, click Open.

2. Recent shows you a list of your recently used workbooks. You can quickly open a workbook from here.

Backstage View in Excel

3. Click Browse to open a workbook that is not on the list.

Close a Workbook

To close a workbook (and Excel), click the upper right X. If you have multiple workbooks open, clicking the upper right X closes the active workbook.

Close Excel Workbook

Create a New Workbook

Sometimes you want to start all over again. To create a new workbook, execute the following steps.

1. On the File tab, click New.

2. Click Blank workbook.

Create a New Excel Workbook

Turn off the Start screen

When you start Excel, it shows a start screen that lists recently used Excel files and templates. To skip the start screen and always start with a blank workbook, execute the following steps.

1. On the File tab, click Options.

2. Under Start up options, uncheck 'Show the Start screen when this application starts'.

Turn off the Start screen

3. Click OK.