>Hi everybody,
>
>Suppose, I have an Excel file that may or may not be protected with a known password. What should I do to be able to do APPEND FROM it?
>
>Thanks in advance.

Using automation you can pass the password as one of the parameters:

oXL = CREATEOBJECT("Excel.Application")
oXLBooks = oXL.Workbooks				
oXLBooks.Open(cFileName [, nUpdateLinks [, lReadOnly [, nFormat ;
      [, cPassword [, cWriteResPassword [, lIgnoreReadOnlyRecommended ;
      [, nOrigin [, cDelimiter [, lEditable [, lNotify ;
      [, nConverter]]]]]]]]]]])

From:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160064

I'm assuming you've tried the append from command and it fails?

APPEND FROM [My Server or Path To\MySpreadsheet.xls] TYPE XL5 && or the appropriate type you are reading from

I don't think there is anyway to remove a password programmatically though without already knowing it in advance to connect and open the spreadsheet. That would defeat the purpose of a password.