use Spreadsheet::ParseExcel;
use strict;

my $fname = shift;

my $oBook =
Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::Workbook->Parse($fname);
my($iR, $iC, $oWkS, $oWkC);
foreach my $oWkS (@{$oBook->{Worksheet}}) {
  print "--------- SHEET:", $oWkS->{Name}, "\n";
  for(my $iR = $oWkS->{MinRow};
    defined( $oWkS->{MaxRow} ) &&
    $iR <= $oWkS->{MaxRow};
    $iR++)
  {
    for(my $iC = $oWkS->{MinCol};
        defined $oWkS->{MaxCol}
        && $iC <= $oWkS->{MaxCol};
        $iC++)
    {
      $oWkC = $oWkS->{Cells}[$iR][$iC];
      if ( $oWkC ) {
        print "( $iR , $iC ) =>", $oWkC->Value, "\n";
        my $format = $oWkC->{Format};
        my $font = $format->{Font};
        if ( $font->{Italic} ) {
          print( "  (italic)\n" );
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

##</code><code>##

[root@monarch monarch]# perl /tmp/parseexcel.pl /tmp/deleteme.xls
--------- SHEET:Sheet1
( 1 , 1 ) =>This cell is normal
( 2 , 1 ) =>This cell is italic
  (italic)
( 3 , 1 ) =>This cell is normal
--------- SHEET:Sheet2
--------- SHEET:Sheet3