Tim,
I've been using this code with Excel 7 (Office 95)

tmpsheet = getObject('','excel.application')
XLApp = tmpsheet.application

xlApp.workbooks.Open(cFile )
with xlapp
    .Rows("1:1").Select
    .Selection.Font.Bold = .T.

......
endwith
xlapp.workbooks(1).close(.t.)
xlApp.quit
release xlapp
release tmpsheet

If you want to SEE the spreadsheet, you'll have to add a VISIBLE command

XLApp.Visible = .t.

HTH
Barbara

>Thanks for the replay but...
>That did not work...
>I tried ooObject=CREATEOBJECT("Excel.Application")
>But I get:
>
>OLE Error code 0x800020006: Unknown Name.
>
>Anymore suggestions...Here is the code:
>ctext=getfile('XLS',cdisplay,'OK',1)
>oObject=createobject("Excel.Application")
>oObject.AppMinimize
>oObject.FileNew
>oObject.FileSaveAs(ctext)
>
>thanks