Why three sheets?

[Shinano]

Does anybody know why Excel workbooks open with 3 sheets as the standard? I googled it, but did not find an answer.

Is there any of you out there that happen to know?

Regards,

 

[Jon von der Heyden]

I can't tell you why, but I can tell you how to change it (in xl2003):

Tools > Options > General (tab) > Sheets in new workbook:

 

[Shinano]

Thanks for the reply, Jon, I appreciate it.

I know how to change it, but thanks anyway. Your advice is always appreciated.

I am just puzzled by the number three, as a start up standard. I mean why not just one, or ten for that matter?

Anyway, discussing it with a coworker some time ago, it came to me that often three is actually the number of sheets that one will end up using.

One sheet for raw data.

One sheet for data manipulation.

One sheet for presentation of the result.

Does this make sense?

It may be an idealistic way of thinking, when considering how Excel is often handled by the average user. But, this what I came up with.

Anybody else with an idea, comment or knowledge on this one?

Thank you very much in advance.

 

[Gerald Higgins]

One reason that it is more than one, could be to show novice users that it is possible to have more than one.
If it only gave you one sheet, I suspect many people would never progress beyond single sheet workbooks.

Having said that, I have set mine to 1 by default, and prefer to add sheets as I need them. It always seems to me a bit "wasteful" to receive a spreadsheet from someone else that contains a few entries on sheet 1, and then empty sheets 2 and 3. It can also be a little time consuming, if you have to check them to see if there is anything on them.

 

[Peter_SSs]

One reason that it is more than one, could be to show novice users that it is possible to have more than one.
If it only gave you one sheet, I suspect many people would never progress beyond single sheet workbooks.

Having said that, I have set mine to 1 by default, and prefer to add sheets as I need them. It always seems to me a bit "wasteful" to receive a spreadsheet from someone else that contains a few entries on sheet 1, and then empty sheets 2 and 3. It can also be a little time consuming, if you have to check them to see if there is anything on them.

I agree with Gerald and also have mine set to one.

At least things have improved... My recollection is that some years ago (Excel 97??), the default was 16! Boy, did we have a lot of empty sheets hanging around wasting space then.

 

[Norie]

Peter

I really don't think that's right.

The first time I used Excel, and it was the 97 version, the default number of sheets was 3.

 

[Peter_SSs]

Peter

I really don't think that's right.

The first time I used Excel, and it was the 97 version, the default number of sheets was 3.

Could it have been Microsoft Works before that?

 

[Norie]

Peter

I honestly don't know.

I've only 'worked' with Works when I've bought a new computer.

And that's for about 5 minutes and I just install Excel and use that.

Mind you on this computer I think it's still installed, I think I'll have a shifty though.

Normally I'd remove it, but I don't think I bothered this time - lazy b.

Just found it - opens up with just 1 sheet and I'm still looking for an option for number of sheets in a new workbook.

Also found OpenOffice.org Calc, don't know why I installed it in the first place.

Anways, that also defaults to 3 sheets but, again, i can't find an option to change that.

I think I might need to 'clean' up the machine, seems like I've got a lot of redundant stuff on it.

 

[Peter_SSs]

Looks like it might have been Excel 95 (I had forgotten there even was one with that title). See
1) Setting Up the Workbook here: http://www.edferrero.com/ExcelTutorials/ExcelDatabaseTutorialPart1/tabid/90/Default.aspx

 

[Oorang]

Hmmm if I recall correctly works doesn't allow more than one sheet to a file.

cheap shot: For some reason everytime I see "Microsoft Works" I just want to shout "It does not!"