>I have an excel workbook where i would like to do the following using automation. The excel file has data in the A B and C columns.
>I would like to search for a string in the A column
>If found, i would like to get the string from the corresponding C column.

Whatever you want to accomplish in Excel through automation, your best choice is to fire up the macro recorder (Tools|Macros) then record your actions. Then press Alt-F11 tro see the VBA Editor. Under Module1 you will see the VBA code. It is not the most efficient code but it works and it is fairly easy to translate to VFP.

If you then have specific VBA snippets that youi can translate you can always ask here.

HTH