Problem:

Are there any examples of accessing Excel from COBOL via COM?

Resolution:

There are examples in Net Express which show how to access Excel and Word from COBOL.  The demos can be found in:

   \\Net Express\\Base\\Demo\\OLEDEMOS\\EXCEL

   \\Net Express\\Base\\Demo\\OLEDEMOS\\WORD

   \\Net Express\\Base\\Demo\\OLEDEMOS\\REPORT

The downside with OLE is that you are reliant on the vendor of the OLE server for details of the methods they make public.  In Microsoft's case this is normally in the Visual BASIC for Applications on-line help.