The first 2 posts actually turned me on to this thought process, but yes that
is what it was. I simply went to "folder options", "file types", and found
that under the advanced button for excel NEW was the default. I changed to
OPEN and all is right in my excel world again.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ASSISTED

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

(saved from a previous post)

This is exactly the way excel treats template (*.xlt) files.

If you're saving as a template file, then don't do that anymore. Save as a
normal workbook (*.xls).

But if you're saving as a normal workbook...

Are you opening .xls files by doubleclicking them in windows explorer?

And do the workbooks that are opened look like:
mybook1
mybook2
....
mybookN
(no extension at all???)

If all that's true, then it sounds like windows thinks that the file should be
treated as a Template. If you rightclick on that file in windows explorer, do
you see Open in bold or New in bold?

If you see New in bold, then the first thing I'd try is to reregister excel.

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

Then test it out.

If that doesn't work...

Close excel
start windows explorer
tools|folder options|file types tab
scroll down to the xls extension (microsoft excel worksheet)
click the advanced button
click on the Open item in the Actions box
click set as default
(ok your way out)


pcgurudude wrote:

I have EXCEL 2003 SP3.

Whenever I open an existing Excel spreadsheet, Excel automatically adds a 1
to the end. Then when I do a simple "save" it defaults back to "my
documents" instead of the original loacation of the file. Then I have to
navigate back to the original location pick the original file name and then,
of course, confirm that I want to over write it. This has got to be a simple
option that I am missing somewhere. HELP!!!

--

Dave Peterson