how do I delete a workbook in excel?

Anonymous
2018-08-31T19:57:58+00:00

I have a worksheet in Excel I don't want.  when I try to delete it I get a note that says "the workbook must contain at least one visible worksheet" so this cannot be deleted.  There us only one worksheet in this workbook.  So how can I delete the workBOOK?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-09-01T19:41:18+00:00

    Lets find out exactly which Office bundle you have.

    So start Office normally

    Open an application, ie Excel

    Go to File menu > Account command

    On the right side it will display:

    • the Office logo
    • activation status
    • full bundle name,
    • icons for apps included in bundle
    • below the "About" title it displays the Version and Build numbers

    Give us all of that information.  A screen cap may be easiest.

    With that spreadsheet open do a File > Save As.  Make note of the location it has been saved to.   Click in the address bar at the top of the SAVE AS dialog and copy the path there. It will look something like this:

    https://d.docs.live.net/e9a781234557256f/Public

    If you paste that path into a new tab in your browser it will open up the appropriate onedrive folder. You can then delete the file.

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  1. DaveM121 816.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2018-08-31T20:01:19+00:00

    Hi ruthanno38

    If you have not saved that Workbook ,just close it and it will be gone

    If you have saved that workbook, you must go to that folder and delete it manually

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-09-01T01:52:29+00:00

    You can't delete an open Workbook from inside Excel. That is why you are getting the error about trying to delete the last worksheet.

    Close the workbook, then find the workbook in File Explorer, or even in the Excel File Open dialog (it is a subset of File Explorer). When you find the file:

    • right click on it and select delete from the context menu

    or

    • single left click on it and press delete button
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  3. Anonymous
    2018-09-01T01:53:48+00:00

    Hi ruthanno38

    If you have not saved that Workbook ,just close it and it will be gone

    If you have saved that workbook, you must go to that folder and delete it manually

    Thank you.  I have indeed saved that workbook,  and I don't know what you mean by "go to that folder"  Where would I find that folder?  It has been saved to my "one drive" account.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-09-01T04:41:21+00:00

    Hi Ruthanno38,

    Did you store your workbook in personal OneDrive or OneDrive for business?

    To delete the file residing in OneDrive for business, follow the steps below:

    1. Open a browser, go to OneDrive for business, you might have to sign in with your work or school account.
    2. Select the file you want to delete by pointing to it and clicking the circle check box that appears.
    3. On the bar at the top of the page, select Delete.

    Reference: Delete files or folders in OneDrive

    Thanks,

    Neha

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