When it comes to working in Microsoft Excel, one of the most important skills you’ll need is knowing how to save a file. Saving your work can protect you from losing important data and allows you to access it later. In this post, we’ll explore some options for saving files in Excel, including different file types, auto-save settings, and version history.
When you create a new workbook in Excel, it will be given a default name like “Book1” or “Book2.xlsx”. The first thing you need to do is save it. To do this, go to the “File” tab and click “Save” or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + S. When you press Ctrl + S for the first time, it will ask you where you want to save the workbook. You can choose the folder that you want to save it in, give the file a name, and choose your file type. Excel offers several file types to choose from, including xlsx, xlsm, binary, and csv. Once you’re ready, click “Save”.
If you’re an Office 365 user, your workbook is set to auto-save by default. You can toggle this feature on and off using the button in the top left corner. When you make a change, Excel will automatically save a copy of your file to OneDrive or SharePoint, depending on where you’ve saved it. If you’re not an Office 365 user, you’ll want to get into the habit of saving frequently using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + S or by clicking the save icon in the Quick Access Toolbar.
If you don’t like having auto-save on, you can turn it off by going to the “File” tab, selecting “Options”, then “Save”. From there, you can deselect auto-save for OneDrive and SharePoint online files. You can also choose your auto-recovery frequency, decide whether to keep the last auto-recovered version, and choose where to place that file.
When you press Ctrl + S, it will open the dialog box for saving a file. If you want to save a copy, go to “Save A Copy”, give the file a new name, choose the workbook type, and select the location where you want to save the file. You can even access your recent locations or browse to a new location. The keyboard shortcut for saving a copy is F12.
For Office 365 users, you can modify your file name, access the location of your file, and access version history through the link provided. This feature is only available for Office 365 users.
In conclusion, knowing how to save a file in Excel is essential for anyone who wants to work efficiently in this program. By understanding the different file types available, utilizing auto-save features, and knowing how to save a copy of your work, you can protect your data and access it easily later on.