Gaffer , thanks for your suggestion , I think that will work and I have tried out some small trials and all seems to be working.

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim spreadsheetname As String

Dim objXLS As New Excel.Application

spreadsheetname = "c:\funnys\book2.xls"

With objXLS
.Workbooks.Open spreadsheetname

Rows("1:1").Select
Selection.Insert Shift:=xlDown
Range("f1").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "xxx"
Rows("1:1").Select
Selection.Insert Shift:=xlDown
Range("f1").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "xxx"

ActiveWorkbook.Save


End With

Set objXLS = Nothing
MsgBox "finito"

End Sub

what I need to know is if the excel workbook has several sheets inside it , how do I name the sheet I want to use. In the example I have above I just name the workbook to open ie book2 but how do I tell it to open book2 and work with sheet 3 inside the work book.

thx for any help
Locutus