Xaositect: what you're saying is really interesting, since - I think - I have to do more or less the same thing:

as an example: I have an Excel file with 2 tabs: 1st tab is just data 2nd tab has a few pivot tables using the data.

=> I'd like to create a Perl script that would update the data in the 1st tab, and then save the file with the pivot tables updated (then, the script would read the pivot tab and do stuff, but I can do that already).

For now, I've tried with:
use Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::SaveParser;
I can update the data, but the pivot tables disappear to be replaced by "hard coded" data (I need to keep the pivot tables, so users can play with them on the dates and other stuff they need).

Thanks for your help !

ps: I'm under Solaris... to help things :/ So, as far as I know, I can't use Win32::OLE or VB scripts