I have Office XP/2002, so it may be different in 2003, but autosaved copies of the worksheet(s) that are open are only saved and recoverable if Excel crashes. If you close a worksheet normally, whether saving or not, the autosave version is automatically deleted (Excel assumes you won't need it). Autosave is a safety feature in case of crashes, not a replacement for normal user action.

I'm afraid you are correct.  That has been my experience too.  Now I just wish I could have "made" the system crash so I could get the document.  My old computer had a sort of "timed backup" feature that might be what I was hoping for.  Thanks for your reply.

Excel 2003 has the auto-save feature, assuming you've turned it on.

 

1. On the Tools menu, click Add-Ins.

2. Select the Autosave Add-in check box.

3. If you're prompted to install the add-in, click Yes.

 

Set automatic save options: Loading the add-in program turns on automatic save every 10 minutes for the current workbook. You can change the settings to save all open workbooks, adjust the amount of time between saves, and save the workbook or workbooks with or without displaying a prompt.

1. On the Tools menu, click AutoSave.

2. In the Minutes box, type the number of minutes you want between automatic saves.

3. Under Save Options, select whether you want to save only the active workbook or save all open workbooks.

4. If you don't want to respond to a message each time workbooks are automatically saved, clear the Prompt Before Saving check box

In this case, search your hard drive for *.xlk, where * is the name of the file you're trying to recover. If you find it, Excel should open it directly, or just rename it to *.xls

 

Ron

Edit: I can't spell, type, and think at same time today! ;)

Thanks for your ideas.  I must be some "special case."  I tried several times the search feature as you advise, and nothing was found.  I went to the tools menu, add-ins, to see if I could at least set it now, for the future.  There was no autosave option! 

 

Well, I don't want to waste your time; I had better just re-create the document. Thank you for sending your help ideas. 

Sorry you didn't find the file. :( 

 

Click Tools>options

Click Save tab

Make sure there's a check in box next to AutoSave, and set the right amount of time for you. Then make sure Disable AutoRecover is NOT checked on that screen.

 

Ron 

In versions before Excel 2002, there was a built-in add-in that would autosave your files at regular intervals. If you'd like this feature, visit this site and look for the free autosafe utility. It allows you to specify the folder and interval that Excel will auto-save as you work. Also allows multiple versions.

Great idea, thanks a lot. Can use for Word too?

I did this, went to the save tabe under tools-options.  FOund the path where autosave is supposed to save things.  Nothing there.  I guess when I accidentally opted to close w/o saving, that was the end.