Opening Excel with no workbook open

[The Jointer]

Is there a simple way to have Excel 2003 open without it creating the default
Book1.xls or opening the Task Pane, ie.just a blank screen? I can do it via
VBA and a workbook in the XLSTART folder but this intuitively seems overkill.
Don't ask why I am asking the question!
--
TIA

The Jointer

[sunnyland]

Do a shortcut to excel on your desktop then right right to see the property then in target add to shortcut a space
then /e

similar way to below:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\EXCEL.EXE" /e

Using this shortcut Excel will open without template.

Bye for Now

Francoise