Open excel spreadsheet as database

[mobiius]

Hello, another problem.

I have VBA code which will open a csv file as a database. This works fine, and is included below:

With DBEngine.OpenDatabase( PathName, False, False, "Text;" )
   With .OpenRecordset( FileName )
      While Not .EOF
         MsgBox( !FieldData )
         .MoveNext
      Wend
      .Close
   End With
   .Close
End With

I'm now trying to open an xls file the same way, by changing the "Text;" command to "Excel 8.0;"
I'm getting error '3051': The msft access database engine cannot open or write to the file 'PathName'. It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view and write it's data.
(If I leave it as "Text;" then I get error "cannot update. Database or object is read-only.")

I'm not in the file, and don't want to write to it, only read from it. Does anyone have an idea what I'm doing wrong?