When excel opens..
 

With Excel 2002 open, click on 'Tools'
Then click 'Options'
Among the tabs along the top, click on the 'View' tab
Place a checkmark in the box for 'Startup Task Pane'

This should place the New Workbook box along the right-hand side of the
window. It could also show one of these following windows:
- Clipboard
- Search
- Insert Clip Art

If so, then click on the drop down arrow next to the name of the window and
change it to the one you prefer.

"Wald1907" wrote:

how do you get the window that shows your recent documents and other options (like 'new') to automatically be there when it opens. Mine flashes for a second then my Book1 opens and that's it.

I am using Windows Xp Professional with Excel 2002 I beleive.

Thanks so much!