Opening and Closing Workbooks

Opening a file retrieves it from storage and displays it on your computer screen.

To open an existing workbook:

1. Click the Open button on the standard toolbar.
2. The Open dialog box appears; make sure the location in the Look in: box is correct.
3. Select the workbook name in the large list box.
4. Click the Open button in the dialog box.

Closing a workbook removes it from your computer screen and stores the last saved version for future use. If you have not saved your latest changes, Excel prevents you from losing work by displaying a dialog box that asks if you want to save the changes you made before closing. You must click one of the three options in the dialog box before Excel will close the workbook.

To close a workbook and save your latest changes:

1. Click Close Window on the menu bar.
   Be careful not to click the Close button above the Close Window button — they look the same, but the Close button will exit the application.
2. Click Yes in the dialog box.

• When the Open dialog box appears, the last location you used appears as the default location in the Look in: box. If this is not the location of the workbook you want, click the Up one level button to the right of the Look-in: box until the correct location is displayed (you may have to double-click a different folder or drive). Another method is to click the arrow to open the Look in: drop-down list, which displays different drives. Next, click the desired drive and double-click folders until you see your workbook name in the large list box.
• If you have made no changes since the last time you saved the workbook, it will close immediately. If changes have been made, Excel displays a dialog box asking if you want to save the changes you made before closing. Click Yes to save the changes. Click No to close the workbook without saving your latest changes. Click Cancel to keep the workbook open.

To open a workbook, you can also:

• Press + on the keyboard.
• Click Open... on the File menu.

To close a workbook, you can also:

• Press + on the keyboard.
• Click Close on the File menu.