for my $table (in $tables) {
 
my $rownum=1;#VB starts at 1, not 0
 while($rownum<=$table->Rows->Count){# the documentation 
#(rather sketchy) talks about Table.Column.Count 
#Probably the mistake is here
my $cell1=$table->Cell($rownum,1);
# get the cell of row $rownum and 1st column
my $text1=$cell1->ConvertToText(wdSeparateByTabs)->Text;
print "$text1\n"; $rownum++;         }
                             }