Anonymous Monk,

You have been given advice regards using Spreadsheet::WriteExcel, however I would ask that you read the documentation as it contains a note about $worksheet->protect();.

Since you have been pretty non specific as to which OS you are using the following information may not be of use to you, however lets take a look at the differences between 'protecting' and 'password protecting' a workbook.

'Tools'->'Options'->'Security'->'File Encryption settings for this workbook' generates the following vba code: ActiveWorkbook.Password = "mypasswordhere"

'Tools'->'Protection'->'Protect Sheet' generates the following vba code: ActiveSheet.Protect DrawingObjects:=True, Contents:=True, Scenarios:=True

If you are Windows based you could look at the ActiveState article How to convert a VBA macro to Perl, to implement either of the above in Perl.

Hope this helps

Martin