$| = 1;
if ($pid = fork) {
    print "this is the parent $pid\n";
    while ($prange ne '$A$3') {
        eval {$prange = $excel->ActiveCell->{Address};};
        print "$@\n" if ($@);
        print "Active cell address $prange\n";
        sleep 3;
    }
} elsif (defined $pid) {
    print "this is the child $pid\n";
    $msg = "When finished editing, close the file\.";
    Win32::MsgBox("$msg",vbOKOnly,$mbt);
    #$ans = <STDIN>;
    exit;
} else {
    print "fell through\n";
}

##</code><code>##

this is the parent -2072
this is the child 0
Active cell address $C$23
Active cell address $C$23

##</code><code>##

Attempt to free non-existent shared string 'Range' at <eval 1> line 1.
Free to wrong pool 1e5da80 not 223f90 at <eval 1> line 1.

##</code><code>##

Attempt to free non-existent shared string 'Range' at <eval 1> line 1, <STDIN> line 1.
Free to wrong pool 1e5dce0 not 223f90 at <eval 1> line 1, <STDIN> line 1.

##</code><code>##

Undefined subroutine &Carp::shortness_heavy called at c:/Perl/lib/Carp.pm line 182.
Free to wrong pool 1e5da30 not 223f90.