Keep unnecessary files out of sight, but close at hand (Excel 2000/2002/2003/2004/2007)

When you're working with data from several workbooks, it's easy to get overwhelmed with extraneous windows in your Excel workspace. You probably need to view just a few files at a time, but you want to keep them all open so that they're readily available when you need them. Rather than close and reopen the files, which can be a tedious process, simply hide the ones that you don't immediately need. Hidden workbooks are also handy when you have a file contains macros or custom functions that you want to use with another file, but you don't want to expose users to the containing workbook.

To hide a workbook, ensure that it's selected and choose Window | Hide from the menu bar. (In Excel 2007, go to the View tab and click the Hide button in the Window group.) To redisplay a hidden workbook, choose Window | Unhide from the menu bar. (In Excel 2007, go to the View tab and click the Unhide button in the Window group.) Then, select the appropriate workbook name and click OK.

If you hide a workbook, remember that you'll usually want to unhide it before you exit Excel. Otherwise, if you respond Yes when Excel prompts you to save changes, the workbook remains hidden when you subsequently open it. Of course, you can always unhide a workbook that has been saved as a hidden workbook, but it could cause a few moments of undue panic when you try to open a file and are greeted with an empty workspace.