How to determine if Excel is runing

I usually create an excel application from VB as follows:

Private myXLBook As Object

Set myXLBook = CreateObject("excel.application")
myXLBook.Visible = True
myXLBook.Workbooks.Add

However, instead of this I want to check if excel is already running and if it is I want to create a workbook instead of another excel application. How do you do this?

Thanks in advance

Try GetObject instead of CreateObject - GetObject checks to see if the object is instantiated. If it is, it uses the existing object.

Excellent Jim thanks a lot !
That works even if excel is not runing !