Hi, Out of my depth using code to update an Access field from columns in XL 2003 spreadsheet. Works except Excel is still a running task in Windows (XP or 7 x64) after code finishes.
So if user tries to open same XL file manually after code run, there is brief flash on screen then XL runs invisible mode, as it does for the update to Access. But if end XL task in Task Manager, XL file opens correctly.
All code re XL & jist of Access operations is below ["......" replaces common Access code that's irrelevant I think]:

Sub GetXL_Data(Optional bInputBox As Boolean)

Dim xlApp As Excel.Application, xlWBk As Excel.Workbook
Dim xlSheet As Excel.Worksheet, xlRange As Excel.Range 'Dim xl objects
Dim db As DAO.Database
Dim rsHTbl As DAO.Recordset
Dim Unfound(9) As String 'Array 0-9
...........

'OPEN XL FILE
Set xlApp = New Excel.Application 'CreateObject("Excel.Application") is older way?
' open the workbook file
Set xlWBk = xlApp.Workbooks.Open(strPath & strFileName & ".xls")
' select the desired worksheet in the file
Set xlSheet = xlWBk.Worksheets(strSheetName)
xlSheet.Activate
..........
xlApp.Visible = False
..........

XL File names into variables
HWB = xlApp.ActiveWorkbook.Name
HSh = xlApp.ActiveSheet.Name
.........

'Set Access variables
Set rsHTbl = db.OpenRecordset(strHTbl, dbOpenDynaset)
U = -1 'Initialise variable for Unknown data
CopyCol = "A"
'DATA FROM XL SHEET into variable
For HR = 3 To 70 'Rows to search
'Get data from XL (@ row 70, code to repeat for another column)
........................

strFind = "[ID#]=" & vID
With rsHTbl
.MoveFirst
.FindFirst strFind
If .NoMatch Then ..........
.................
End If
.Edit
........................
End With
Next HR

'LIST UNFOUND DATA
If U < 0 Then
MsgBox "ALL DATA COPIED into Access"
GoTo END_UNKNOWN_DATA
End If
If U < 6 Then
Queries = MsgBox("ERRORS with THIS DATA:-" & vbCrLf & _
Unfound(0) & vbCrLf & _
Unfound(1) & vbCrLf & _
Unfound(2) & vbCrLf & _
Unfound(3) & vbCrLf & _
Unfound(4) & vbCrLf & _
Unfound(5) & vbCrLf & _
" in XL SHEET" & vbCrLf & _
"..Fix & ...RE-RUN [this code].", vbOKOnly, "ERROR")
End If
If U > 5 Then
...[similar to < 6 code]
End If

END_UNKNOWN_DATA:
Erase Unfound
U = Empty
Queries = ""

Next 'Another XL Sheet to do?
GoTo ResetVariables

Err_Handler:
.............

ResetVariables:
xlApp.Visible = True
xlWBk.Close
xlApp.Quit
Set xlSheet = Nothing
Set xlWBk = Nothing
Set xlApp = Nothing
Set rsHTbl = Nothing
E: bInputBox = Empty 'If didn't Get Data, this is only var set

End Sub

BananaRepublic, thanks for taking the time to explain in simplier terms. I'm thinking of hybrid of parts of above code & my original. Thanks everyone for your time & help.

Lateron