Sub OpenExcel()
'References Microsoft Excel Object Library
Dim exlApp As New Excel.Application
Dim exlWks As Excel.Workbook
exlApp.Visible = True
Set exlWks = exlApp.Workbooks.Open _
("C:\Docs\Tek-tips.xls")
Debug.Print exlWks.Worksheets.Count
exlApp.Quit ' close the application
Set exlWks = Nothing
Set exlApp = Nothing
End Sub