Terry,

Setting loExcel = .null. will get rid of the Excel object (provided it's not in the funky state I ran into), then the VFP memvar loExcel goes out of scope when the method returns. So there's no need to specifically code a RELEASE for the memvar.

>Well in that case:
>

release oExcel

>
>VFP can release it's reference before you close Excel (i think:). I looked at my source, and noticed that the spread sheet was opened in print preview mode:
>

oExcel.Visible=.t.
>oExcel.ActiveWorkBook.PrintPreview() && PRINT PREVIEW SHOW
>release oExcel
>

>
>The task dialog shows NO excel