Here is my complete procedure. For some reason I no longer see Excel listed in Task Manager Processes, although it does list under Apps. I even tested with the = Nothing lines commented and still not seeing. Something changed somewhere because I was seeing the Process before.
Code:
Dim xlx As Excel.Application, xlw As Excel.Workbook, xls As Excel.Worksheet, xlc As Excel.Range
Dim blnEXCEL As Boolean
blnEXCEL = False
On Error Resume Next
Set xlx = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
Set xlx = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
blnEXCEL = True
End If
Err.Clear
xlx.Visible = True
Set xlw = xlx.Workbooks.Open("C:\Users\June\Forums\test.xlsx", , True) ' opens in read-only mode
Set xls = xlw.Worksheets("Rates")
Set xlc = xls.Range("A1")
Debug.Print xlc
Set xlc = Nothing
Set xls = Nothing
'xlw.Close False
Set xlw = Nothing
'If blnEXCEL = True Then xlx.Quit
Set xlx = Nothing