?? Automating Sheet Setup in Excel with Office Scripts

In a fast-paced, cloud-based work environment, efficiency and consistency are paramount. Whether you're preparing financial models, reports, or complex datasets, ensuring every sheet in your workbook starts at cell A1 and has the correct setup can make all the difference in how your work is perceived.

That’s why I’ve developed an Office Script called "Auto Set Sheet", which automates the process of resetting visible sheets in Excel, while also managing freeze panes and ensuring every sheet is properly zoomed. It’s a cloud-first solution that builds on the functionality of the traditional VBA macro but works seamlessly with Excel for the web.

Key Benefits:

• Professional Presentation: The script ensures that all visible worksheets start at the top (A1), with the proper scroll position. This provides a clean and organized look when others open your workbook.
• Efficiency: Automating the repetitive task of resetting sheets saves time and effort, especially when working with larger Excel workbooks.
• Cloud-Ready: Unlike VBA, this script runs in Excel for the web, making it accessible across devices and integrating smoothly with other cloud-based tools like Power Automate.

How It Works:

The "Auto Set Sheet" script loops through each worksheet in the workbook and applies specific actions to visible sheets. It’s designed to handle freeze panes, which are commonly used in complex workbooks, ensuring that users don’t have to manually reset every view.

Here’s what the script does:

• Reset to A1: For each visible worksheet, the script selects cell A1, ensuring the scroll position is reset to the top of the page.
• Manage Freeze Panes: The script checks if freeze panes are active and adjusts the view to ensure both rows and columns are correctly aligned.
• Seamless Sheet Activation: Finally, it activates the first worksheet, providing a consistent starting point.

Here’s the Office Script:

function main(workbook: ExcelScript.Workbook) {
 	
	let sheets = workbook.getWorksheets();
	
	for (let i = 0; i < sheets.length; i++) {
		let sheet = sheets[i];
		if (sheet.getVisibility() === ExcelScript.SheetVisibility.visible) {
			let totalColumns = sheet.getRange().getColumnCount();
			let totalRows = sheet.getRange().getRowCount();
			let freezePane = sheet.getFreezePanes().getLocation();

			if (freezePane) {
				let frozenRows = freezePane.getRowCount();
				let frozenColumns = freezePane.getColumnCount();

				if (frozenRows > 0 && frozenColumns === totalColumns) {freezePane.getRowsBelow().select();}
				if (frozenRows === totalRows && frozenColumns > 0) {freezePane.getColumnsAfter().select();}
				if (frozenRows > 0 && frozenColumns > 0 && frozenColumns !== totalColumns && frozenRows !== totalRows) {
					freezePane.getRowsBelow().select();
					freezePane.getColumnsAfter().select();
				}
			}
			sheet.getRange("A1").select();
		}
	}
	workbook.getWorksheets()[0].activate()
}        

Why Is This Important for Modern Workflows?

• Cloud-Based Efficiency: As work increasingly moves to the cloud, having automation that works across platforms—whether desktop or web—is essential. This script runs perfectly in Excel for the web, making it accessible wherever you’re working.
• Professionalism at Scale: Consistent sheet setup across your workbook ensures that clients, colleagues, or stakeholders see a polished product without unnecessary scrolling or disorganized views.
• Time-Saving Automation: Freeing yourself from manual, repetitive tasks like resetting each sheet allows you to focus on higher-value activities, improving both productivity and output quality.

Final Thoughts:

With the "Auto Set Sheet" Office Script, you can easily automate sheet setup and reset tasks in a way that’s modern, efficient, and cloud friendly. Whether you're collaborating on Excel workbooks in real-time or sharing files across teams, this script ensures your work is always presented professionally.

If you’ve been using VBA for years, consider this as a fresh alternative for a cloud-based environment—one that integrates seamlessly into your Office 365 workflow while still offering the automation benefits you’ve come to rely on.

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