Thanks Cetin and Ed,

I guess great minds think alike. I'll try fopen() code.

I want to use the same name and directory for the file since it is easier for users to find the file.

Thanks again,

Paul


>
>

---

Paul,
>You could check it with lowlevel functions (fopen(), fcreate()) :
>
>

lcExcelFile = "c:\myPath\myExcel.xls"
>handle = fopen(lcExcelFile,12)
>if handle < 0 and ferror() = 5 && In use - access denied
>*....
>else
>=fclose(handle)
>endif

But what I prefer is to create xls file with a unique name :
>lcTempXLSFile = sys(2015)+".xls"
>
>Cetin