Use of Option Tab

What is the first thing we do once we open Excel for new file? May be changing the font type, font size, etc. Would it be easier if we can decide the default excel settings? You can change most if the elements of the Excel workbook, sheet, workspace and window display. You can also turn many features of Microsoft Excel on or off, or change the way they work to best suit your working style.

Options You Can Change
You use the tabs in Options dialog box to change Excel defaults and settings. Choose the Options command from the Tools menu to display the dialog box.

Tools >> Options


1. View Tab: Change the way workbooks, sheets, objects and windows are displayed. Some important settings include hiding of gridlines, deciding the colour of gridlines, viewing sheet tabs, scroll bars, etc.

2. Calculation Tab: Change how and when Excel recalculates data, how it manages links to data on other sheets and the date system it uses. An important setting for precision as displayed is available here.

3. Edit Tab: Change how you enter, edit, copy and move data. Few important setting useful in day-to-day operations include edit directly in cell (also useful as tracing tool) and number of decimal places.

4. General Tab: Change options such as the number of sheets in a new workbook, the standard font, recently used file list, etc. This is one of the most useful tab for users who want all their files to be in a specific font style and specific font size.

5. Custom Lists Tab: Create custom lists that can be used with AutoFill feature and with custom sort orders.

6. Chart Tab: Define how empty and hidden cells are plotted for line charts and how charts are sized with windows.

7. Colour Tab: Change the default colour palette, including the colours that are used for chart fills and lines, and copy colour palettes from other workbooks.

8. International Tab: Change the default decimal and thousands tab from “.” and “,” respectively and other print and view options.

9. Save Tab: Automatically makes a workbook recovery file at the interval you enter in the Minutes box (enter a number from 1 to 120). If your computer hangs (stops responding) or you lose power unexpectedly, Microsoft Excel opens the AutoRecover file the next time you start Excel. You can also change the default auto recovery location.

10. Error Checking Tab: You can modify the error checking setting here. The default colour is green, which can be changed in error indicator colour.

11. Spelling Tab: Change the default dictionary language. Select English (U.K.) to accept words like colour, recognising, etc. instead of color and recognizing. The autocorrect button in this tab also helps you to decide the spellings that excel would automatically change. You can add CA with Chartered Accountants and the next time you type CA excel will automatically convert it to Chartered Accountants.

12. Security Tab: Provide the security password to open or modify files.

For more information about the choices in the Option dialog box, you can click the Help button on any of the tabs.