I need a new Perl module that will enable me to create Excel reports from a MySQL database. The module needs to take an Excel workbook as a template, and then modify it using data returned to it from the database. The module should be sort of a cross between Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::SaveParser and Excel::Template, in that it will use a current workbook as the template (like Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::SaveParser), but it will allow me to do variable and loop substitution like Excel::Template instead of having to specify absolute row and column numbers. It needs to maintain the formatting of the template workbook.
What I'm envisioning is that we will develop a naming convention to show which cells in the workbook are actually placeholders that will be filled in from the database. Something like any cell that is named _VARIABLE_ would be replaced with the value from $hash_ref->{'VARIABLE'}. It needs to support loops with syntax similar to Excel::Template, so that I can pass an array ref (which references an array of hash refs) and have the row repeated for each hash ref.
Please let me know any questions you have any we can work out the details. The module does not need to interact with the database directly; all of the data will be collected outside of the module and passed in to the module as array and hash refs.
--TWH
Have done something very similar for a system to read and write excel files for a channel sales report for a travel company. Can put something together in a day or two.