How to install Win32::OLE under Linux?

[dpavlin]

I wanted to run Win32::OLE on my development machine which is Debian Linux. This tutorial is based on CrossOver Office Standard 4.1, but it should also work with Wine (not tested).

• Download and install Windows Installer 2.0 Redistributable for Windows 95, 98, and Me
• Download latest Active State Perl for Windows in .msi format. I used ActivePerl-5.8.6.811-MSWin32-x86-122208.msi.

Note: I tried to install .zip format, but it didn't work for me. That's why you need first to install MSI 2.0 update.

• Start installation:

  $ /opt/cxoffice/bin/wine "C:~WB~WINDOWS~WB~SYSTEM~WB~msiexec.exe" /i A
  +ctivePerl-5.8.6.811-MSWin32-x86-122208.msi
  

  After a while, it should be over.
• Now you have perl installed in ~/.cxoffice/dotwine/fake_windows/Perl/. Try to run it:

  $ uname -a
  Linux llin 2.6.10-1-686 #1 Tue Jan 18 04:34:19 EST 2005 i686 GNU/Linux
  $ /opt/cxoffice/bin/wine "c:\Perl\bin\perl.exe" -v
  

  You should get something like:

  This is perl, v5.8.6 built for MSWin32-x86-multi-thread
  (with 3 registered patches, see perl -V for more detail)
  
  Copyright 1987-2004, Larry Wall
  
  Binary build 811 provided by ActiveState Corp. http://www.ActiveState.com
  ActiveState is a division of Sophos.
  Built Dec 13 2004 09:52:01
  
  Perl may be copied only under the terms of either the Artistic License or the
  GNU General Public License, which may be found in the Perl 5 source kit.
  
  Complete documentation for Perl, including FAQ lists, should be found on
  this system using `man perl' or `perldoc perl'.  If you have access to the
  Internet, point your browser at http://www.perl.org/, the Perl Home Page.
  

That's it!. It wasn't hard at all.

Note: There are some problems however. While calling Excel via OLE works with CrossOver, if you have Excel started it will stop responding to GUI events. So, Excel window will look like it's frozen, but your scripts should be able to communicate with Excel anyway.
Update: I was totally wrong. Adding $excel->{Visible} = 1; fixed my problem. fvwm just doesn't know how to minimize running Excel.

And, now assorted list of links to get you started with Excel and OLE automation. TPJ article is very good introduction needed for Linux-nerd like me.

• The Perl Journal #10 - Win32::OLE by Jan Dubois
• ActivePerl Help - Online Docs : Using OLE with Perl
• Using Win32::OLE and Excel - Tips and Tricks

[dpavlin]

I would actually like to compile Win32::OLE using native wine libraries so that I can re-use Linux perl instead of having another copy, but that will have some other Win32 perl hacker (my knowledge of Win32 API is null).

[ForgotPasswordAgain]

Hah, it actually worked. I hadn't used Wine before, very cool. The only differences for me were that I used Wine instead of Crossover Office. (I used winetools from http://www.von-thadden.de/Joachim/WineTools/ with the Debian package from http://www.winehq.com/site/download-deb ) Thanks!

[zentara]

Cool! I always wondered how to get wine to run ActiveState Perl.

[Anonymous Monk]

Hi, I've installed ActivePerl and Microsoft Office. Both of them work on linux, but while I'm trying to open word document in perl I am gettin OLE error: Could not open macro storage. I've read that it is linked with trying to run word without active user (ie. server automation) - is there any solution to this problem on linux?