This information can be viewed as one of the file properties (contents) from the file manager. But it is a question whether you can retrieve it programmatically with less pain than when open document via automation.

Actually the sheet names stored in the XLS file as is. So you may try :
?lower(SHEET_NAME)$lower(filetostr(...))

For excel versions above 5 you may try import command and catch an error.

on error wait wind "Sheet does not found"
import from .... XL5 SHEET SHEET_NAME



>Assuming an excel file exists,does anyone know how to tell whether a particular sheet (name) exists, without opening the Excel File ?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Regards,
>
>Steve.