# perl program to read values from an MS Excel spreadsheet
# written by W. Summers; May 16, 1999

use OLE;

$xlfile = "test.xls";

#### Create OLE Object (Excel Application Pointer)

$xlapp = CreateObject OLE 'Excel.Application' || die $!;

# Set application visibility
# 0 - not visible; 1 - visible
$xlapp->{'Visible'} = 0;

# open excel file
$workbook = $xlapp->Workbooks->Open($xlfile);

# setup active worksheet
$worksheet = $workbook->Worksheets(1);

#retrieve value from worksheet
$cellA1 = $worksheet->Range("A1")->{'Value'};
$cellB1 = $worksheet->Range("B1")->{'Value'};

# close it up
$xlapp->ActiveWorkbook->Close(0);
$xlapp->Quit();