Proforma (2nd Sample of Customization)

This is the 2nd sample on how to create a new design for pro forma invoice template, focused on entering company information and replacing InvoicingTemplates logo image.

With the first sample on how to customize the proforma invoice template, we learnt how to unprotect the Invoice worksheet and how to modify Excel color palette to change the color theme of an existing template. This second sample of customizing the pro forma invoicing template will be focused on how to enter your company information and replace the default "InvoicingTemplates" logo image.

Most of the templates available here on InvoicingTemplate.com have the Invoice worksheet protected to avoid accidental modifications on form layout and formula. This is useful and necessary since once the design of the form is finished, you'll not change the design for a long time. However before using the invoice template, you at least need to do two things that are to enter your company information, and to replace the default logo image. Before you do, you first need to unprotect the Invoice worksheet, as detailed in the previous sample.

Once the invoice spreadsheet is unprotected, it's straightforward to enter your own company information. Simply click a text label such as "Your Company Name", and then start typing in your own text. In the sample template that you can download here, we replace the placeholder text labels with our own company name.

The next step is to replace the default "InvoicingTemplates" logo image. To do this, you need to switch the invoice form into design mode, which is done by clicking the "design mode" command on the Developer ribbon tab. If your Excel does not show the Developer ribbon tab, here is how to make it visible.

1. Start Excel as usual. On the File tab, choose the Options button.
2. In the Excel Options dialog box, choose the Customize Ribbon button.
3. In the list of main tabs, select the Developer check box.
4. Choose the OK button to close the Options dialog box.

Now you can find the Design Mode button in the Controls group on the Developer ribbon tab. Click the Design Mode button once to put the template into design mode - in the design mode, Excel lets you change the properties of controls, such as the image control we used for the logo image. If you are using Invoice Manager for Excel, our invoicing software that uses Excel templates as the front-end, the software program stops reaction to clicks on the button.

Now right-click the InvoicingTemplates logo image and choose Properties from the shortcut menu. The Properties box appears. Look for the Picture property, and click the button on that line. Excel shows you a dialog box that allows you to browse to and specify your own logo image. Depending on your Excel version, the supported image file formats may vary, but JPG, PNG and GIF formats are good choices for storing your logo image that are likely supported by your Excel.

Once you have specified your own logo image, exit design mode, and then protect the Invoice worksheet again. Save the invoice template once to make the changes persistent.