I want to use Excel as my calendar because I find it easier than other options. I want to set the sheet I make for my calendar as my desktop background, but I don't want to have to screen shot it and apply it to the background every time I change it. Is there a way to make the sheet my background where it will automatically update when I go into excel and edit the sheet, or even allow me to edit it from my desktop? Thanks.

See Excel As Desktop. I confirmed the technique mostly works with Excel 2007, but I could not find the Add Interactivity option as shown, but I didn't look real hard. Perhaps you can find it if that is the version of Excel you are using.

If you implement this, post back if this functionality is stable over the long run as this is the sort of thing I wouldn't expect would get tested extensively.

I watched th video but couldn't find that option either. I am running Excel 2007 and Windows Vista. I saved it as a web page and when I tried to set it as the background it told me it wasn't supported for that function or something like that. In other words, it wasn't a jpeg or other picture file type so it wouldn't work.

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Originally Posted by smokedetector

...it wasnt a jpeg or other picture file type so it wouldnt work.

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It needs to be set under the active desktop options. I don't have a Vista machine handy to reference, but in XP it is set on the Web tab under the Customize Desktop button options.

Im not sure I undestand what you mean. I've saved it as a webpage, but the "this file cannot be used as desktop background" thing still pops up. I don't know where the active desktop options, web tab, or customize desktop options are. Sorry for the ineptitude.

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Originally Posted by smokedetector

I've saved it as a webpage

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Ok, that's half of it. The screenshot below is for XP for anyone wanting to do this with XP. Unfortunately...

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Originally Posted by smokedetector

I don't know where the active desktop options, web tab, or customize desktop options are.

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... I dig some digging for Vista. Active Desktop functionality was dropped in Vista in favor of sidebars. Bummer. I found How-To Geek: "Active Desktop" Replacement for Vista which shows images of web pages, but the link to the software no longer seems to work. Also there is Windows Live Gallery: Eye on the Web. Note that an "image-ized" Excel file would not be edit-able as could be done in XP with Active Desktop. So, basically you're out of luck if edit-ability is desired. I also found a discussion on MSDN regarding a gadget to display a web page which is listed below. Other Vista gadget archives on the Internet may be sources for usable gadgets.

Something like Desktop Calendar may be simpler than trying to beat an Excel format calendar into submission through gadgetry - just saying...

Resources:
Gadgets: Build Your Own Windows Vista Sidebar Gadget
How to just show a webpage in a gadget.

Its working but, the windows of excel file is very small. Is it possible to this funda work in full screen?