You can use a macro:

Option Explicit
sub auto_open()
application.goto worksheets("Instructions").Range("a1"),scroll:=tru e
end sub

If you're new to macros, you may want to read David McRitchie's intro at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

bennyob wrote:

by default excel opens a workbook with the wosksheet that was visible the
last time the file was saved. How do you set a workbook to open at a default
worksheet, say where there are a list of instructions for the user?

--

Dave Peterson