>i have the following code
>
>tmpsheet = getobject('','excel.sheet')
>xlapp = tmpsheet.application
>xlapp.visible = .t.
>xlapp.workbooks.open(filename_)
>
>filename_ is '\pinktemp\61332206.xls' gives me an OLE error as File Not Found
>
>but if i give the drive letter 'e:\pinktemp\61332206.xls' then it is works just fine.
>
>my default has been already set as the E drive, so where is it actually looking and how do i make it work without actually specifying the drive letter.

Try storing default drive letter in a variable and building the full path from that?

lcFilename = lcDefDrive + "\pinktemp\61332206.xls"
...
xlapp.workbooks.open( lcFilename)