Frequently Asked Questions

Template Related

I downloaded the template, but it is in ZIP file format. How do I open it to access its contents?

ZIP is a commonly used file extension for compression and security purposes. To ensure faster downloads and convenient email delivery, we often package our Excel templates and Google Sheets download links in .ZIP files. Think of it as packaging for the items you purchase. All you need to do is unpack or extract the ZIP file to access its contents.

How can I extract a ZIP file?

Saving and extracting ZIP files in Windows and Mac involves slightly different procedures. Here's how to do it on each platform:

Windows:

1. Saving a ZIP File:

Download the ZIP file from the internet or receive it as an attachment in an email.

Choose the location on your computer where you want to save the ZIP file.

Click on the "Save" or "Save As" button to save the ZIP file to the selected location.

2. Extracting a ZIP File:

Locate the ZIP file on your computer.

Right-click on the ZIP file.

In the context menu that appears, select "Extract All."

Choose the destination folder where you want to extract the contents of the ZIP file.

Click "Extract" to start the extraction process.

Once the extraction is complete, you will find the contents of the ZIP file in the destination folder.

Mac:

1. Saving a ZIP File:

Download the ZIP file from the internet or receive it as an attachment in an email.

By default, the ZIP file will be saved to your "Downloads" folder. You can also drag the ZIP file to a specific location on your Mac to save it there.

2. Extracting a ZIP File:

Locate the ZIP file on your Mac.

Double-click on the ZIP file to automatically extract its contents to the same location. Alternatively, you can also select the ZIP file and press "Command" + "Shift" + "O" on your keyboard to extract it.

Once the extraction is complete, you will find the contents of the ZIP file in the same location.

Keep in mind that both Windows and Mac have built-in tools to handle ZIP files. If you need more advanced features, you can also use third-party file archiving software such as WinZip (for Windows) or The Unarchiver (for Mac).

Is it possible to use your template directly from the ZIP file without unzipping it? And what happens if I use them while they are still in the ZIP format?

If you attempt to open the file directly from the ZIP file without unzipping it, the spreadsheet will open in Read-Only mode. In this mode, you won't be able to save any changes, rename, or edit the file. To ensure smooth usage and avoid any issues, we highly recommend starting with the unzipped version of the template. Keeping the ZIP version aside as a backup is a good practice. If, by any chance, you encounter problems or make unintended changes to the template, you can always extract a fresh copy from the ZIP file to start anew.

How To access the sheets and workbook, and what is the process for unlocking them? What password should I use?

Our templates are designed to be ready for immediate use, and you do not need to unlock them. However, certain sections of our templates are password-protected to prevent accidental alterations that may affect formulas or crucial calculations.

Typically, you won't need to unlock the Excel sheet or workbook for regular use.

However, if you wish to make customizations or modifications to the template, you are free to unlock it using the provided password.

You will find the password in the zip file that was sent to you after purchase.

How to go about unlocking an Excel sheet with the password I received?

Open the Excel file containing the locked sheet.

Navigate to the specific sheet you wish to unlock.

Locate and click on the "Review" tab in the Excel menu.

A prompt will appear, asking you to enter the password. Type in the provided password for the sheet and click "OK."

The sheet will now be successfully unlocked, granting you full access to make changes.

Remember to save any changes you make to the sheet after unlocking it.

Similarly you can unprotect the Workbook Protection as well as shown below..

How to remove protection from my Google Sheets file?

When attempting to modify a protected section in your Google Sheets files, you will receive a warning to prevent accidental changes. If the changes are intentional, you can proceed by clicking "OK." However, if they are accidental, you have the option to cancel.

If you wish to entirely remove the protection from a specific sheet, follow these steps:

Open your Google Sheets document.

Click on the sheet or range that you want to unprotect. If it's a sheet, click on the sheet's tab at the bottom of the document. If it's a range, highlight the cells within the range.

Go to the "Data" menu in the top navigation.

From the "Data" menu, select "Protected sheets and ranges."

A sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of the screen showing the protected sheets and ranges.

Find the sheet or range you want to unprotect and click on it.

Click on the "Remove" button (it looks like a trash can) next to the protected item you want to remove.

A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you want to remove the protection. Click "Remove."

The selected sheet or range is now unprotected, and you can freely make changes to it.

What is a macro? How can I enable macros in Excel templates?

Macros are small programs written in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) coding language that run inside a document. They are designed to automate complex tasks, eliminating the need for manual effort. In some of our more intricate templates, macros (VBA code) are embedded to streamline the workflow and enhance user experience.

The macros are already incorporated into the template, so there is no need to install anything separately. However, for security purposes, macros are disabled by default when you initially open the file. To utilize the macros and benefit from their automation capabilities, you must enable them as needed.

Alright. To enable macros in Excel, follow these steps:

For Windows users:

When you open the file, a yellow message bar will appear at the top of the Excel window.

Click on "Enable Editing" in the message bar.

Next, you'll see "Enable Content" as an option next to "Enable Editing."

Click on "Enable Content."

For Mac users:

When you open the file, a message window will appear, asking if you want to enable macros.

**Please note that the following screenshots were captured in Office 365 Excel Version. The messages you encounter may differ based on your computer's system settings and Excel version. In some cases, you might not receive any notification, and macros could be disabled. In such instances, you can manually enable macros by navigating to File > Excel Options > Security Settings, and then enabling macros from there.

For additional information, refer to Microsoft's support page: Microsoft Website - Enable or Disable Macros in Office Files.**

When I open the file, a "Security Risk" warning appears. If I encounter this warning in your templates, what steps should I take to address it?

If you encounter a "Security Risk" warning when opening our templates, don't worry; it's a standard notification that appears due to the presence of macros in the file. Our templates might include macros to automate certain tasks and enhance the user experience.

To proceed safely, follow these steps:

When you download any template that includes VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) from an external source, Microsoft Excel automatically blocks the macro for security reasons. To unblock the "Security Risk" warning and run the file, follow these steps:

Open the downloaded file in Microsoft Excel.

Go to the "File" tab.

From the left-side menu, select "Save As."

Save the template as a new file on your computer.

By saving the file as a copy, you convert it into a file that is not considered external anymore. After completing this process, you will be able to open the file and run the macros without any issues or security warnings.

Rest assured that our templates are created with utmost care and security in mind. We thoroughly test them to ensure they are free from harmful content.

Only enable macros from trusted sources, like our templates, to avoid any potential security risks.

By following these steps, you can safely use the macros in our templates without compromising your system's security. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact our support team for further assistance.

Are there any security risks associated with enabling macros? Do you conduct virus checks on your files?

While we ensure the cleanliness and thorough testing of all our templates during development, we can only provide a guarantee for the templates downloaded directly from our official website, lazinessandexcel.com. It's important to note that we cannot control the entirety of the internet, so we strongly advise downloading software, including our templates, exclusively from reputable and trusted sources. This precaution is applicable not just to our templates but to all types of software to ensure a safe and secure experience for our users.

I have bought a Google Sheets template, but it seems to be restricted to "View Only" mode. What should be my next course of action to gain complete access to the template?

Upon clicking the download link for the Google Sheets template, you will be directed to the original file in "View Only" mode.

To gain full access to the template, follow these steps:

Open the Download pdf file.

Locate the "Download Your Template" button on the page and click it. This will take you directly to our template (as shown in the example image below).

From there, go to File >> select Make A Copy >> and save your own copy to your Drive.

Rename the file if desired before clicking on the "Make a copy" button.

Once you have completed these steps, you can begin working with your personalized template.

Please refrain from requesting edit access to the original file as there is no need for it. You are free to create as many copies as you like for your personal use.

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