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This queue is for tickets about the Spreadsheet-ParseExcel CPAN distribution.

Maintainer(s)' notes

If you are reporting a bug in Spreadsheet::ParseExcel here are some pointers

1) State the issues as clearly and as concisely as possible. A simple program or Excel test file (see below) will often explain the issue better than a lot of text.

2) Provide information on your system, version of perl and module versions. The following program will generate everything that is required. Put this information in your bug report.

    #!/usr/bin/perl -w

    print "\n    Perl version   : $]";
    print "\n    OS name        : $^O";
    print "\n    Module versions: (not all are required)\n";

    my @modules = qw(
                      Spreadsheet::ParseExcel
                      Scalar::Util
                      Unicode::Map
                      Spreadsheet::WriteExcel
                      Parse::RecDescent
                      File::Temp
                      OLE::Storage_Lite
                      IO::Stringy
                    );

    for my $module (@modules) {
        my $version;
        eval "require $module";

        if (not $@) {
            $version = $module->VERSION;
            $version = '(unknown)' if not defined $version;
        }
        else {
            $version = '(not installed)';
        }

        printf "%21s%-24s\t%s\n", "", $module, $version;
    }

    __END__

3) Upgrade to the latest version of Spreadsheet::ParseExcel (or at least test on a system with an upgraded version). The issue you are reporting may already have been fixed.

4) Create a small example program that demonstrates your problem. The program should be as small as possible. A few lines of codes are worth tens of lines of text when trying to describe a bug.

5) Supply an Excel file that demonstrates the problem. This is very important. If the file is big, or contains confidential information, try to reduce it down to the smallest Excel file that represents the issue. If you don't wish to post a file here then send it to me directly: jmcnamara@cpan.org

6) Say if the test file was created by Excel, OpenOffice, Gnumeric or something else. Say which version of that application you used.

7) If you are submitting a patch you should check with the maintainer whether the issue has already been patched or if a fix is in the works. Patches should be accompanied by test cases.

Asking a question

If you would like to ask a more general question there is the Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Google Group.

Report information
The Basics
Id: 41813
Status: resolved
Priority: 0/
Queue: Spreadsheet-ParseExcel

People
Owner: Nobody in particular
Requestors: gstead [...] cox.net
Cc:
AdminCc:

Bug Information
Severity: (no value)
Broken in: (no value)
Fixed in: (no value)



Subject: substr outside of string at /usr/lib64/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel.pm line 1672.
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:06:20 -0800
To: bug-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel [...] rt.cpan.org
From: Graham Stead <gstead [...] cox.net>
First I'd like to say that ParseExcel is way cool, and I use it a lot. I occasionally cannot parse Excel files, receiving the error: "substr outside of string at /usr/lib64/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel.pm line 1672." I've reduced a test file as much as possible: 1 row, 11 cells. The attached test.pl script demonstrates the problem [it basically calls Parse() ]. Is there some possibility you could look at this? I've looked at ParseExcel.pm but don't understand Excel file internals. Other information that may be helpful: Distribution name and version: Spreadsheet::ParseExcel (0.33) Perl version: v5.8.8 built for x86_64-linux Operating System vendor and version: Linux snap 2.6.20-gentoo-r8 #3 SMP Sat Jul 14 11:14:30 PDT 2007 x86_64 Dual Core AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 270 AuthenticAMD GNU/Linux Please let me know if I can provide anything else. best regards, -Graham
use strict; use Spreadsheet::ParseExcel; my $file = $ARGV[0] || "test.xls"; print STDERR "Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::Workbook->Parse($file)\n"; my $excel = Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::Workbook->Parse($file);
Download test.xls
application/vnd.ms-excel 33.5k

Message body not shown because it is not plain text.

On Thu Dec 18 14:07:03 2008, gstead@cox.net wrote: Show quoted text
> First I'd like to say that ParseExcel is way cool, and I use it a lot. I > occasionally cannot parse Excel files, receiving the error: "substr > outside of string at > /usr/lib64/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel.pm line 1672."
Hi Graham, I haven't seen that bug before. I'll look into it but it looks a little tricky. John. --
Hi Graham, What version of Excel, or other spreadsheet application, was used to produce the test.xls file? John. --
Subject: Re: [rt.cpan.org #41813] substr outside of string at /usr/lib64/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel.pm line 1672.
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:57:33 -0800
To: bug-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel [...] rt.cpan.org
From: Graham Stead <gstead [...] cox.net>
Our process goes something like this: 1) An Excel is produced by Spreadsheet::WriteExcel 2) Someone edits that file, either in Excel 2003 or Excel 2007. I can check if knowing the specific version is important. 3) We read the file with Spreadsheet::ParseExcel, receiving the aforementioned error 4) I edited the file in Excel 2007 to remove rows/columns that did not (apparently) cause the problem Please let me know if this answers your question. I am happy to provide any additional information that may help. best regards, -Graham John McNamara via RT wrote: Show quoted text
> <URL: https://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=41813 > > > Hi Graham, > > What version of Excel, or other spreadsheet application, was used to produce the test.xls file? > > John. >
On Wed Dec 31 15:58:01 2008, gstead@cox.net wrote: Show quoted text
> Our process goes something like this: >
Hi Graham, Show quoted text
> 1) An Excel is produced by Spreadsheet::WriteExcel
Do you get the parse error if you process the file at that stage? Show quoted text
> 2) Someone edits that file, either in Excel 2003 or Excel 2007. I can > check if knowing the specific version is important.
Yes, let me know. It may be significant. Thanks, John. --
On Wed Dec 31 16:01:33 2008, JMCNAMARA wrote: Show quoted text
> On Wed Dec 31 15:58:01 2008, gstead@cox.net wrote:
> > Our process goes something like this: > >
> > Hi Graham, >
> > 1) An Excel is produced by Spreadsheet::WriteExcel
> > Do you get the parse error if you process the file at that stage? > >
> > 2) Someone edits that file, either in Excel 2003 or Excel 2007. I can > > check if knowing the specific version is important.
> > Yes, let me know. It may be significant. > > Thanks, > > John.
Hi Graham, Any update on this? John. --
On Thu Dec 18 11:07:03 2008, gstead@cox.net wrote: Show quoted text
> > I've reduced a test file as much as possible: 1 row, 11 cells. The > attached test.pl script demonstrates the problem [it basically calls > Parse() ]. Is there some possibility you could look at this? I've looked > at ParseExcel.pm but don't understand Excel file internals.
Hi Graham, I managed to isolate this issue so no further input is required. There will be a fix in the next release. John. --
Subject: Re: [rt.cpan.org #41813] substr outside of string at /usr/lib64/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/Spreadsheet/ParseExcel.pm line 1672.
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:04:02 -0800
To: bug-Spreadsheet-ParseExcel [...] rt.cpan.org
From: Graham Stead <gstead [...] cox.net>
That's great news! Thanks again for your time. -Graham John McNamara via RT wrote: Show quoted text
> <URL: https://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=41813 > > > On Thu Dec 18 11:07:03 2008, gstead@cox.net wrote: >
>> I've reduced a test file as much as possible: 1 row, 11 cells. The >> attached test.pl script demonstrates the problem [it basically calls >> Parse() ]. Is there some possibility you could look at this? I've looked >> at ParseExcel.pm but don't understand Excel file internals. >>
> > Hi Graham, > > I managed to isolate this issue so no further input is required. > > There will be a fix in the next release. > > John. >
Hi, This issue has been fixed in Spreadsheet::ParseExcel version 0.45. Thanks, John. --