The cgi.pl example in the distro takes a different approach:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w

######################################################################
+#########
#
# Example of how to use the Spreadsheet::WriteExcel module to send an 
+Excel
# file to a browser in a CGI program.
#
# On Windows the hash-bang line should be something like:
# #!C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe
#
# Dec 2000, John McNamara, jmcnamara@cpan.org
#

use strict;
use Spreadsheet::WriteExcel;

# Set the filename and send the content type
my $filename ="cgitest.xls";

print "Content-type: application/vnd.ms-excel\n";
print "Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=$filename\n\n";

# Create a new workbook and add a worksheet. The special Perl filehand
+le - will
# redirect the output to STDOUT
#
my $workbook  = Spreadsheet::WriteExcel->new("-");
my $worksheet = $workbook->addworksheet();


# Set the column width for column 1
$worksheet->set_column(0, 0, 20);


# Create a format
my $format = $workbook->addformat();
$format->set_bold();
$format->set_size(15);
$format->set_color('blue');


# Write to the workbook
$worksheet->write(0, 0, "Hi Excel!", $format);
[download]

On my browser, this (1) prompts "do you want to open or save this downloaded file?" and (2) opens TWO windows, one blank. Ugh. Can you comment on your excellent tie soln above, and the alternative as per cgi.pl? Thanks!

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