>>A program I have been using that gathers data using Foxpro 9 then export the
>>needed fields to an Excel spreadsheet is acting up when I try to open the spreadsheet
>>using Excel 2010.
>>
>>Excel reports that the spreadsheet is protected and can't be edited
>>
>>Open in Excel 79 or 2003 is OK
>
>You could check to see if anything in the following link applies:
>
>http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/what-is-protected-view-HA010355931.aspx
>
>Maybe your export utility is putting the file in a folder not considered "safe", or the file is failing "validation".

thanks you lead me to the fix.
By default office 2010 locks out older excel files type by default
Changed setting in Excel and all is well
Help/Option/Trust Center / trust center setting uncheck older files types