Excel 2000 and XP has XML support built in [ xml = ActiveSheet.Range("A1:E34").Value(xlRangeValueXMLSpreadsheet) ]. See also http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnexcl2k2/html/odc_xlws.asp and http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnexcl2k2/html/odc_xmlss.asp