You can copy out to CSV and than use Excel automation to conver to XLS. Sample code

SELECT mytable
lcCsvFile = "H:\temp\something.csv"
lcExcelName = FORCEEXT(lcCsvFile, "XLS")
COPY TO (lcCsvFile) TYPE CSV
oExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
*oExcel.Visible = .T.
oWorkbook = oExcel.Workbooks.Open(lcCsvFile)
IF FILE(lcExcelName)
	ERASE (lcExcelName)
ENDIF	
xlExcel5 =	39
oWorkbook.SaveAs(lcExcelName,xlExcel5)
oExcel.Quit()

* Launch Excel with file created
RUN "&lcExcelName"

>thnx sylvain for your reply but aie aie i'm now in big troubles now....
>cvs is no alternative because the user wants them in a excel file... and i can't update to vfp9 ....
>
>Maybe there is another solution to my problem. Can't be i'm the only one with this issue or am i so unique lol
>