Creating Workbooks from Templates

Start from a proven structure

A blank grid is flexible, but most business spreadsheets follow familiar shapes. StretchSheets ships four templates that pre-fill the right columns and a sample row so you can start capturing real data immediately instead of designing a layout from scratch.

The four templates

Budget tracker (Finance) Plan, actuals, variance, approval status, and forecast deltas. - Columns: Category, Planned, Actual, Variance, Owner - Sample row: Media, 12000, 9500, =B2-C2, Finance - The Variance column ships with a live formula (=B2-C2) so you can see planned-minus-actual update as you type.

Sales pipeline (Revenue) Stage, owner, value, close date, and next best action. - Columns: Account, Stage, Value, Close date, Next action - Sample row: Acme, Proposal, 24000, (close date), Send revision - A clean list for tracking open opportunities and the very next step on each.

Inventory count (Operations) SKU counts with reorder flags and location accountability. - Columns: SKU, Location, On hand, Reorder at, Status - Sample row: ST-100, Main, 42, 25, OK - Use the Status column to flag anything at or below its reorder point.

Project plan (Delivery) Tasks, owners, dependencies, dates, status, and launch risk. - Columns: Task, Owner, Status, Due, Risk - Sample row: Kickoff, PM, Done, (due date), Low - A lightweight plan you can share with a delivery team.

How to create a workbook from a template

1. Open StretchSheets and click Templates in the left navigation rail.
2. Browse the four cards. Each shows its title, business category (Finance, Revenue, Operations, Delivery), and a short description of what it captures.
3. Click the template you want to use.
4. Give the new workbook a name if prompted (for example, 2026 Q3 Budget for the Budget tracker).
5. StretchSheets creates a new workbook pre-filled with the template's header row and sample data, then opens it in the Editor.
6. Replace the sample row with your real data and add rows below it. Click Save when you're done.

A realistic example

You need a pipeline for a new sales rep. Go to Templates, click Sales pipeline, and name it West Region Pipeline. StretchSheets opens a workbook with Account, Stage, Value, Close date, and Next action already set up and a sample Acme row. You overwrite the sample with your first real deal, then add one row per opportunity. To total the open value, click an empty cell under the Value column and type =SUM(C2:C50). Save, and the rep has a ready-to-work pipeline in under a minute.

Tips

• Templates are starting points, not locked forms — add, remove, or rename columns freely once the workbook is created.
• The Budget tracker's Variance formula (=B2-C2) is a pattern: copy it down the column so every row calculates automatically as you fill in Planned and Actual.
• Set a template-based workbook's status to Draft while you flesh it out, then switch it to Active to signal it's ready for the team.
• Put template-based workbooks in a matching folder (for example, Budget trackers in Finance) so your library stays organized from day one.

FAQ

Can I change a template's columns?
Yes. Once the workbook is created it behaves like any other — edit headers, insert data, add formulas and charts, and delete columns you don't need.

Does using a template affect my other workbooks?
No. Each template creates a brand-new, independent workbook. Editing it never touches the template or any other sheet.

Can I make my own template?
Build the structure you want in a workbook, then create fresh copies from your export (CSV/XLSX) or by duplicating the layout. The four built-in templates cover the most common business shapes; for anything else, start from a blank grid and save it as your team's standard.