Jason,

Try this:

Dim XLApp As object
Dim XLWB As Excel.Workbook

Set XLApp=getobject(,"Excel.Application")
with XLApp
.Windows("WorkbookName.xls").activate
set XLWB = .Activeworkbook
with XLWB
Msgbox "The shape name is: "
& .Worksheets(1).Range("A1").Value
end with
end with

David Miller