Difference between .xlt and .xls files

Anonymous
2018-02-17T18:55:25+00:00

For some reason I have created a file and saved it as .xlt.  I understand it is a template but do not understand the differences between a .xlt or .xls, or which I should use and why.  Appreciate your advice.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. HansV 462.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-02-17T22:31:27+00:00

    When you double-click a .xls file in File Explorer, Excel opens that .xls file. If you then select File > Save or press Ctrl+S, Excel saves the changes to the existing .xls file.

    When you double-click a .xlt file in File Explorer, Excel creates a new, unsaved workbook in memory that is a copy of the .xlt file. If you then select File > Save or press Ctrl+S, Excel displays the 'Save As' dialog, letting you save the workbook as a .xls file.

    You can create a template if you frequently need to create a new workbook with the same design and/or formatting. Let's say, for example, that you need to produce a monthly report. The data will change from month to month, but the layout must be the same each time. You could save a workbook with the required layout as a template. Each month, you can double-click the template to create a new report.

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