>I hate the "trap error" routine for trying to make a determination such as this. I'd use the registry class and check for the existence of the Word.Application key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. Then again, that's just me.

Works for me. I was thinking more on the level of using CLSIDFromProgID() in C++. If that function yacks on me, I know I won't be calling CoCreateInstance() on that particular ProgID. My suggestion works along that same line of thought.

OTOH, I guess CLSIDFromProgID() is really just checking the registry anyway, so if there were just one "right" answer, yours is probably closer. Then again, why not just call CLSIDFromProgID(), check the result, and eliminate the middleman? :-)