I use the code on the following link to check if Excel is currently running
or not:

http://www.mvps.org/access/modules/mdl0006.htm

The link above shows automation of Excel, and includes a link to the
fISAppRunning module. I also found a need of the fIsAppRunning module to
keep my VBA routine in a loop until after an application closes so a second
sheet would update BEFORE being imported into Access. It's nifty. Hope
this helps.

Scott


"Nigel" wrote in message
...
Hi All
I have an application that takes control of Excel. That works ok.
However
if the user already has Excel running, with or without an open workbook,
my
application which controls the menu and command bars also affect the
current
workbooks as well. to avoid this I need to detect if this situation exists
as my application loads.

What I would like to do is as follows....

1. If an instance of Excel is running, then open another instance - do not
use the current one. This is my preference as my application opens in its
own environment and does not affect the current open workbooks.

2. If the above is not possible, provide a controlled shutdown of the
existing open workbook(s), asking the user to either save or close them.
If
their choice, on any open workbook, is 'No' then do not open my
application
and tell the user as much.

Is this possible?


--
Cheers
Nigel