Mike,
Using "Sheet1", X and Y are valid, methods 1 & 2 will work.
Method 3 may work depending on the location of the code/Active sheet, as
Cells may not be on the "Sheet1".
But this will work, note the qualifying "." before Cells:
With Sheets("Sheet1")
temp = .Range(.Cells(Y, X), .Cells(Y, X)).Value2
End With

Maybe this will help:

'On Sheet 1
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()

Worksheets(1).Cells(1, 1).Value = "Sheet 1"
Worksheets(2).Cells(1, 1).Value = "Sheet 2"

MsgBox Cells(1, 1).Value
MsgBox GetValue()

Worksheets(2).Select

MsgBox Cells(1, 1).Value
MsgBox GetValue()
MsgBox ActiveSheet.Cells(1, 1).Value

End Sub

'---------------------
'On a module
Public Function GetValue() As String
GetValue = Cells(1, 1).Value
End Function

Having said that it is seldom necessary to .Select object before using them.
Personally, I always fully qualify the objects, unless the aim is to always
work on the active sheet or sheet with the code.

NickHK

wrote in message
oups.com...
REPOSTED FOR CLARIFICATION ( MS Office Excel 2003 )
temp = Sheets("Sheet1").Cells(Y, X).Value2
temp = Cells(Y, X).Value2
temp = Sheets("Sheet1").Range(Cells(Y, X), Cells(Y, X)).Value2

All 3 statements produce a 1004 runtime error. Use "Sheets" or
"Worksheets" makes no difference either.

Except for temp all variables are non-zero integers, and temp is
not declared (for now) so that Excel VB can determine the type as
needed.

None of the "Cells" referred to are "CurCell": not Active nor Selected
( that I know of )
I simply want to "point" to them i.e. to read them.
I believe even the Offset Method (?) changes the selected cell.

I don't want to employ the standard Range("A1") object since the A1 is
a literal string,
and I need more programatic control hence the Cells method.

Thanks, Mike
PS I've seen online doc with the same statements indicated that they
should work.