Allin-- all is well with one GRETL install. The sheet and offset options work as expected. My minor complaints are -- might be easier to remember offsets if they are --rowoffset and --coloffset -- if you offset into a blank area you get 'Unspecified error' -- some might want to use sheet names, not knowing the OLE order. -- the command log does not show the -- options, just open "file.xls" -- in the menu (GUI) import, I sometimes get a box saying 'No changes made' at the last step. I think I know what this refers to, but it can be confusing -- if 2 or more open/imports are run in a series, the command log seems to reset (empty) after each one. There are cases where keeping the command log going to see all imports and 'run "file.inp" ' steps would be better for debugging and documentation. Otherwise, behaves perfectly. Thanks -----Original Message----- From: Michael Boldin [mailto:michaelboldin@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 7:48 AM To: 'Gretl list' Subject: RE: [Gretl-users] Request: options in reading excel data files With the second (new) GRETL, I get either a MS Windows error, saying 'Gretl32.win.exex encountered a problem and needs to shut down' whenever I import an .xls file or a Gretl box error 'First character of varname (0x0) is bad (first must be alphabetical)' Nothing I was aware of. I might have accidentally loaded the first Gretl however, along with the new one. I tried re-booting with no luck. entries for gretl, so whichever was installed last will (I suppose) be the only one to work. Both seem to work in other respects (other than XLS importing) but I will re-install only the new one and tell you what happens.