After a couple hours of banging my head on my monitor and
reading everyones suggestions, I figured it out. here is the code I hacked out.
Thanks to all who posted their Ideas. 
$rnd = int(rand 10000);
sub data_into_form ($_)
{
    $ntuples = $query->rows;
    $nfields = $query->{NUM_OF_FIELDS};
    
    

###############
#original table
###################
@data_in_form;
    
    @data_in_form = "<table 
      width=$tablewidth
      bgcolor=$editcolor 
      border=$table_border 
      cellspacing=$cell_spacing
      cellpadding=$cell_padding>\n\t<TR>\n";

    #push(@data_in_form, "<TD>&nbsp;</TD>\n") if ($quick_edit);
    push(@data_in_form,"<A href=\"http://oracle/$rnd.xls\">View Result
+s In Excel</a>");
    for($fc=1;$fc !=$nfields; $fc++)
    {
       $fname = $query->{NAME}->[$fc];
       push(@data_in_form,"\t\t<TD><CENTER><FONT SIZE=$font><B>
       <INPUT TYPE=SUBMIT NAME=\"order_by\" VALUE=\"$fname\"></B>
       </FONT></CENTER></TD>\n");
    }

    push(@data_in_form,"\t</TR>\n");

    while (@nrow = $query->fetchrow) {
      #push(@data_in_form,"\t<TR>\n");
      $first = 0;
        foreach $tuple (@nrow) {
        if ($first == 0) {
          #push(@data_in_form,"\t<TD><CENTER>
            #<A href=\"edit.cgi?action=edit&db=$db&oid=$tuple\">edit</
+a>") if ($quick_edit);
          push (@data_in_form, " |
            <A href=\"edit.cgi?action=delete&db=$db&oid=$tuple\">delet
+e</a>") if ($quick_delete);
          push(@data_in_form,"</CENTER></TD>\n");
          $first = 1;
        } else {
           $tuple=~s/ *$//g;
           push(@data_in_form,"\t\t<TD><FONT
               SIZE=$font>$tuple&nbsp;</FONT></TD>\n");
        }
      }
      push(@data_in_form,"\t</TR>\n");
    }
    push(@data_in_form,"</Table>\n");
 push(@data_in_form,"<A href=\"http://oracle/$rnd.xls\">View Results I
+n Excel</a>"); ##add link on the html table 
#######
#end original
##########

###############
#create excel file
####################
   my $workbook = Spreadsheet::WriteExcel->new("/u/httpd/html/$rnd.xls
+");
       $worksheet1   = $workbook->addworksheet(sheet1);
       $formatgen      = $workbook->addformat();
       $formathead     = $workbook->addformat();
       $formatgen->set_bold(0);
       $formatgen->set_color('black');
       $formatgen->set_align('center');
       $formatgen->set_size('10');    
       $formathead->set_color('black');
       $formathead->set_align('center');
       $formathead->set_size('12');    
       $formathead->set_bold();
 
#########
#figure out how long each field is 
#Yes I know this is horribly inefficient but boss wants columns presiz
+ed
##############
  $k=1;
    while (@nrow = $query->fetchrow){
       $i=0;
    foreach $tuple (@nrow) {
       if (length($tuple) > @leng[$i]) {
       @leng[$i] = length($tuple);
     }
    $i++;  
    }
    $k++;
 }
 $p=0;
      for($fc=1;$fc !=$nfields; $fc++)
         {
            $fname = $query->{NAME}->[$fc];
               if (@leng[$p] < length($fname)) {
               @leng[$p] = length($fname);}
                $p++;
         }

##########
#and set the column to that width
###########
$s=0;
for($fc=1;$fc !=$nfields; $fc++) {
            $fname = $query->{NAME}->[$fc];
        if ($fname =~ /description/) {$worksheet1->set_col_width($s,$s
+, 58);
        } else {
        $worksheet1->set_col_width($s,$s, @leng[$s] +10);
        $s++;
        }
       }
########
#name the fields
############
$l=1;
     for($fc=1;$fc !=$nfields; $fc++)
        {
           $fname = $query->{NAME}->[$fc];
              $worksheet1->write(0, $l, $fname, $formathead);    
               $l++;
        }
     
###########
#write the actual data to the sheet
###############
    $k=1;
    while (@nrow = $query->fetchrow){
       $i=0;
    foreach $tuple (@nrow) {
       $worksheet1->write($k, $i, $tuple, $formatgen);
       }
    $i++;  
    }
    $k++;
 }   
return(@data_in_form);
}

[download]
BigGuy
"One World, one Web, one Program" - Microsoft promotional ad
"Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer" - Adolf Hitler

In reply to Re: CGI & Spreadsheet::WriteExcel Module Help needed by BigGuy
in thread CGI & Spreadsheet::WriteExcel Module Help needed by BigGuy

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