Hi:
Try using different style templates. STYLE=MINIMAL is a very plain style.
[pre]
ods msoffice2k file= "/myexcelfile.xls" style=MINIMAL;
...
ods msoffice2k close;
[/pre]
In that way, the HTML file that you create and open with Excel will have some bolding in the column headers (if I remember correctly) but there are no colors, otherwise.
cynthia