Add the path and filename to Excel Documents

Have you ever picked up a document from your desk and wondered 'where in the world' it was stored on your computer? The easiest way to keep the connection between hard copy and soft (electronic) source is to insert a path and filename into each document that you create.

If you are unfamiliar with the "path" terminology, here is an example:

m:\Microsoft Office\Excel\budget 2005.xls

The document "budget 2005.xls" is located in a folder named "Excel", which is contained within another folder called "Microsoft Office". The Microsoft Office folder is located on the m: drive, which is normally associated with your personal network volume. Each network volume or drive is a small area on one of our network servers that has been reserved for a user to store documents. The official name for a Windows XP network volume is a "share". Network shares are created by UW - Green Bay network administrators. As users, we are given 'rights' to access some of these shares, and with that access, we can usually create and\or delete folders and files within these shares. Windows Explorer shows both the letter and the share name is its hierarchical display.

In Microsoft Excel, do the following to insert the path and filename into your document as a Header or Footer:

• On the View menu, click Header and Footer.
• Click Custom Header or Custom Footer.
• Click in the Left section, Center section, or Right section box.
  
  Header and Footer selection box.
  
  On the row of buttons in the Header or Footer dialog box, click File Name .
• If you want, do one or more of the following:
  • To insert a path and file name or a worksheet tab, click Path & File or Sheet Name on the row of buttons in the Header or Footer dialog box.

  • To start a new line, press ENTER.

  • To delete a file name from a header or footer, select &[File] and then press DELETE.

  Note   Make sure the header or footer margin allows enough space for the custom header or footer.

Will the path and filename update automatically?

Absolutely! If you rename, resave, or move the Word or Excel documents, the path and filename will automatically update. Now finally, when you print the document and let it lay on your desk for weeks, you'll still know 'where in the world' it is!