If this app is ActiveX, you could see if GetObject fails.
Or maybe AppActivate would work, if you know the Apps's title.
Or FindWindow API.
Or Enumerate the Processes with APIs.

Here's one way for the ShellAndWait:
http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0004.htm

NickHK

"MarkS" wrote in message
...
I need to start a exernal program before running a excel macro

check the program is not all ready running ??
shell("C:\Program Files\Reuters\kobra\Program\kobra.exe")
wait for program to complete it's startup ??

This first and last steps are where I have a problem

Thanks MarkS