Will updating a template update files dependent on it?

[paulkinzelman]

Sorry, this is kind of a fundamental question but I don't see it answered anywhere.

When I use a template to create a new excel file, does the new excel file take a 'snapshot' at the time I create the new file and there's no connection between the new excel file and the template that created it? Or does the new excel file still have a connection to the template, so that if I update the template, all the excel files created from that template get the changes?

If the former (no persisting connection, which is what I suspect), how do people manage templates and the files that depend on the template? In other words, if a template needs to be updated (a bug is found, etc.), is there any painless way to get that bug fix into all the excel files created from that template? Or do you have to manually update each excel file with that same bugfix (yetch)?

And further, if the former, what is the value added of using a template at all? Why not just create a 'master excel' file and then just copy it whenever you want to create a new excel file based on that template?

TIA!

 

[paulkinzelman]

Hello? Any ideas? I didn't figure it would stump the experts.