Hi Marc & Programartist,

thank you for the response.

What I can do now:
- Open the file normally using open/read/write/close sys calls - both c and c++.
Its the harder way and I don't want to use it.

My questions:
1. Can we use MFC to manipulate the excel file data.
2. Is ODBC necessary for accessing the excel file?

The problem:
1. Being a newbie to windows & database stuff. I have tons
of confusion between the different terminologies - mfc/win32/ole/dao/odbc....
Hence the vague question.

I am now attempting using the MFC COleVariant class to automate excel file data through vc++/mfc program way.

Btw: I don't want code. Examples & pointers wud be enough. will post the code shortly as I am sure to run into problems

Your help highly appreciated & Thank you for your time.