You can use the clsid to try the different versions.

Untested, but it would go something like this

Dim oXL as object

'excel 10, clsid from
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Applicat ion\CLSID
on error resume next
Set oXL = GetObject("clsid:00024500-0000-0000-C000-000000000046")
on error goto 0
if not oXL is nothing then msgbox "excel 10 installed"
set oXL = nothing

Robin Hammond
www.enhanceddatasystems.com

"Peter T" <peter_t@discussions wrote in message
...
I want to get or create a referenced instance of all other versions of
Excel
that might exist, besides the current running version.

Set xl = CreateObject("Excel.Application.8")

The above picks up the default version, not necessarily XL97.

I can get full path's to Excel.exe versions by reading the registry from
...Office\version\Excel\InstallRoot\
but following fails entirely (even if an instance of the version in sPath
is
running).

Set xl = Getobject(sPath & "Excel.exe")

Any ideas appreciated,
Peter T

PS, this question has been asked before but not answered, at least not
that
I've been able to find.