Yes, the server is opening an instance of Excel and putting the data into the
spreadsheet.

"Joel" wrote:

The spreadsheet must be set to the proper format before data is put into the
spreadsheet so the leading zeroes are preserved or the import methods need to
be told to keep the zeroes (like the import tool). the question is what is
the behind the scene method. I know a number of ways that it can be done but
which one are they using and how easily can it be modified. Is it a Query,
or a macro. The server may be opening an instance of Excel and putting the
data into the spreadsheet?