I constantly get csv files from another party which I have to do a lot
of formatting on in order to use. I do all this formatting and then save
them in XL format.

The format I use is always the same (column widths, coloring, and the
like, nothing complicated but it takes several minutes to do it every
time) so I'd like to use a template to pull this off.

I made a template with all my formatted and then did File/New and
selected my template. To bring in a csv file I did File/Open and
selected a csv file. It made a separate workbook with the csv data in
the usual XL default format and ignored my template. I can't find any
other options on how to input the file or use the template.

Surely I'm missing something and XL will do what I need. Can one of you
XL wizards give me some clues here? Thanks a lot.