Excel 2003 template opening as .xlt instead of xls

**ABY** · 06-06-2010, 05:03 PM

All of a sudden, my excel templates are opening as .xlt instead of .xls. My Word 2003 templates are still correctly opening as .doc instead of .dot. I'm not sure what changed with my excel templates and don't know how to get back to having them open as .xls.
I'm on Windows 7, Office 2003.

**shg** · 06-06-2010, 06:12 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Open a file browser, Tools > Folder Options > File Types, scroll down to select XLT, click Advanced, select New, click Set Default

**ABY** · 06-06-2010, 06:38 PM

shg - thanks for your help but I need a little more instruction. I go to Templates folder and click on Tools, Folder Options but I don't see File Types. I'm using Windows 7 and Office 2003. thanks

**shg** · 06-06-2010, 08:01 PM

Can't help, I use XP.

**ABY** · 06-06-2010, 10:17 PM

I was able to change the file association on my Windows 7 computer by going to: Control Panel, All Control Panel Items, Default Programs, Set Associations. I selected .xlt and changed the Default Program to .xls however, this didn't solve my problem. I still get .xlt when I open a Template.

**ABY** · 06-09-2010, 04:09 AM

Another source pointed me to a discussion in this forum: excel-general/491611-How do I set the default to open or new for a template.
I followed the instructions, unregistered excel and then reregistered it.
It works great now.

Thanks for your time.