spreadsheet::xlsx and terrible stuff

trickyq has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I am trying to write a script that pulls some data out of certain columns in a spreadsheet and loads them into an array for comparing and updating. I am having trouble actually seeing the data, it keeps giving me a HASH message. the code is this:

@{$sheet->{Cells}[$row]};
                
    my @indexes = (2 .. (2+4-1));
    my @dcells = @{$sheet->{Cells}[$row]}[@indexes];
    open FILE, ">>forgetyou.txt";
            
        foreach (@dcells) {
        print FILE ($_);
            }
        close FILE;
[download]

I wanted to print the data from the cell into a text file as a kind of test to see what columns were coming up etc. and it gives me this:

Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::Cell=HASH(0x70a49a8)Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::
+Cell=HASH(0x70a4a08)Spreadsheet::ParseExcel::Cell=HASH(0x70a4a98)
[download]

over and over, I know this is data from the hash but I dont know how to see the actual contents of the cell.

please help
ken

Comment on spreadsheet::xlsx and terrible stuff Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: spreadsheet::xlsx and terrible stuff by ww (Archbishop) on May 28, 2012 at 20:44 UTC
When you see something like `HASH(0x70a49a8)`, Perl is telling you that you're dealing with a reference to a hash rather than the hash itself. Possible sources of more information include a good basic Perl text (for example, Learning Perl, O'Reilly) and, here in the Monastery, intro to references and RFC (possible new tutorial) Guide to references; The Basics. And, as I noted in a message, please read the formatting instructions which appear below the text input box, each time you go to create a node. <c>...</c> tags would make your code more readable.	[reply] [d/l]
Re: spreadsheet::xlsx and terrible stuff by poj (Abbot) on May 28, 2012 at 21:28 UTC
try `print FILE ($_->{Val})` [download] poj	[reply] [d/l]
Re: spreadsheet::xlsx and terrible stuff by bitingduck (Deacon) on May 29, 2012 at 05:29 UTC
A good module to have handy all the time is Data::Dumper. You can feed it data that you can't quite tell how it's structured and it will display it in a somewhat less confusing way, generally showing any nestedness of data structures. It's a convenient way to look at a complicated data structure quickly without having to write your own display. And try what poj suggested above.	[reply]