--- a/main/io/inst/oct2ods.m	Wed Mar 07 19:09:25 2012 +0000
+++ b/main/io/inst/oct2ods.m	Wed Mar 07 19:35:08 2012 +0000
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@
 ## odsclose is needed to write the updated spreadsheet to disk (and
 ## -if needed- close the Java invocation holding the file pointer).
 ##
-## @var{arr} can be any array type save complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays
-## can only be cell arrays.
+## @var{arr} can be any 1D or 2D array containing numerical or character
+## data (cellstr) except complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays can only be
+## cell arrays.
 ##
 ## @var{ods} must be a valid pointer struct created earlier by odsopen.
 ##
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@
 ## 2012-01-26 Fixed "seealso" help string
 ## 2012-02-20 Fixed range parameter to be default empty string rather than empty numeral
 ## 2012-02-27 More range arg fixes
+## 2012-03-07 Updated texinfo help text
 ##
 ## Last update of subfunctions below: 2012-02-26
 
@@ -237,11 +239,11 @@
 ## 2010-03-08 Some comment lines adapted
 ## 2010-03-25 Try-catch added f. unpatched-for-booleans java-1.2.6 / 1.2.7 package
 ## 2010-04-11 Changed all references to "cell" to "scell" to avoid reserved keyword
-##     "      Small bugfix for cases with empty left columns (wrong cell reference)
+##     ''     Small bugfix for cases with empty left columns (wrong cell reference)
 ## 2010-04-13 Fixed bug with stray cell copies beyond added data rectangle
 ## 2010-07-29 Added formula input support (based on xls patch by Benjamin Lindner)
 ## 2010-08-01 Added try-catch around formula input
-##     "      Changed range arg to also allow just topleft cell
+##     ''     Changed range arg to also allow just topleft cell
 ## 2010-08-03 Moved range checks and type array parsing to separate functions
 ## 2010-08-13 Fixed empty Sheet1 in case of new spreadsheets, fix input text sheet name
 ## 2010-10-27 Improved file change tracking tru ods.changed
@@ -872,11 +874,11 @@
 ## 2010-06-01 Checked logic. AFAICS all should work with upcoming jOpenDocument 1.2b4;
 ##            in 1.2b3 adding a newsheet always leaves an incomplete upper row;
 ##            supposedly (hopefully) that will be fixed in 1.2b4.
-##      "     Added check for jOpenDocument version. Adding sheets only works for
+##     ''     Added check for jOpenDocument version. Adding sheets only works for
 ##            1.2b3+ (barring bug above)
 ## 2010-06-02 Fixed first sheet remaining in new spreadsheets
 ## 2010-08-01 Added option for crange to be only topleft cell address
-##     "      Code cleanup
+##     ''     Code cleanup
 ## 2010-08-13 Fixed bug of ignoring text sheet name in case of new spreadsheet
 ## 2010-08-15 Fixed bug with invalid first sheet in new spreadsheets
 ## 2010-10-27 Improved file change tracking tru ods.changed

--- a/main/io/inst/oct2xls.m	Wed Mar 07 19:09:25 2012 +0000
+++ b/main/io/inst/oct2xls.m	Wed Mar 07 19:35:08 2012 +0000
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@
 ## A subsequent call to xlsclose is needed to write the updated spreadsheet
 ## to disk (and -if needed- close the Excel or Java invocation).
 ##
-## @var{arr} can be any array type save complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays
-## can only be cell arrays.
+## @var{arr} can be any 1D or 2D array containing numerical or character
+## data (cellstr) except complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays can only be
+## cell arrays.
 ##
 ## @var{xls} must be a valid pointer struct created earlier by xlsopen.
 ##
@@ -93,8 +94,8 @@
 ## 2010-03-14 Updated help text section on java memory usage
 ## 2010-07-27 Added formula writing support (based on patch by Benjamin Lindner)
 ## 2010-08-01 Added check on input array size vs. spreadsheet capacity
-##     "      Changed argument topleft into range (now compatible with ML); the
-##     "      old argument version (just topleft cell) is still recognized, though
+##     ''     Changed argument topleft into range (now compatible with ML); the
+##     ''     old argument version (just topleft cell) is still recognized, though
 ## 2010-08014 Added char array conversion to 1x1 cell for character input arrays
 ## 2010-08-16 Added check on presence of output argument. Made wsh = 1 default
 ## 2010-08-17 Corrected texinfo ("topleft" => "range")
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@
 ## 2012-01-26 Fixed "seealso" help string
 ## 2012-02-20 Fixed range parameter to be default empty string rather than empty numeral
 ## 2012-02-27 More range param fixes
+## 2012-03-07 Updated texinfo help text
 
 ## Last script file update (incl. subfunctions): 2012-02-26
 
@@ -238,18 +240,18 @@
 ## 2010-01-13 Removed an extraneous statement used for debugging 
 ##            I plan look at it when octave v.3.4 is about to arrive.
 ## 2010-08-01 Added checks for input array size vs check on capacity
-##     "      Changed topleft arg into range arg (just topleft still recognized)
-##     "      Some code cleanup
-##     "      Added option for formula input as text string
+##     ''     Changed topleft arg into range arg (just topleft still recognized)
+##     ''     Some code cleanup
+##     ''     Added option for formula input as text string
 ## 2010-08-01 Added range vs. array size vs. capacity checks
 ## 2010-08-03 Moved range checks and type array parsing to separate functions
 ## 2010-10-20 Bug fix removing new empty sheets in new workbook that haven't been 
 ##            created in the first place due to Excel setting (thanks Ian Journeaux)
-##     "      Changed range use in COM transfer call
+##     ''     Changed range use in COM transfer call
 ## 2010-10-21 Improved file change tracking (var xls.changed)
 ## 2010-10-24 Fixed bug introduced in above fix: for loops have no stride param,
-##     "      replaced by while loop
-##     "      Added check for "live" ActiveX server
+##     ''     replaced by while loop
+##     ''     Added check for "live" ActiveX server
 ## 2010-11-12 Moved ptr struct check into main func
 ## 2012-01-26 Fixed "seealso" help string
 ## 2012-02-27 Copyright strings updated
@@ -638,8 +640,8 @@
 ##            Added check for valid file pointer struct
 ## 2010-08-01 Improved try-catch for formulas to enter wrong formulas as text strings
 ## 2010-08-01 Added range vs. array size vs. capacity checks
-##     "      Code cleanup
-##     "      Changed topleft arg into range arg (topleft version still recognized)
+##     ''     Code cleanup
+##     ''     Changed topleft arg into range arg (topleft version still recognized)
 ## 2010-08-03 Moved range checks and cell type parsing to separate routines
 ## 2010-08-11 Moved addcell() into try-catch as it is addCell which throws fatal errors
 ## 2010-10-20 Improved logic for tracking file changes (xls.changed 2 or 3); dropped

--- a/main/io/inst/odsread.m	Wed Mar 07 19:09:25 2012 +0000
+++ b/main/io/inst/odsread.m	Wed Mar 07 19:35:08 2012 +0000
@@ -24,8 +24,10 @@
 ## in OpenOffice_org Calc spreadsheet file @var{filename}.
 ##
 ## You need the octave-forge java package (> 1.2.6) and one or both of
-## jopendocument-<version>.jar or preferrably: (odfdom.jar (version 0.7.5
-#3 or 0.8.6) & xercesImpl.jar) in your javaclasspath.
+## jopendocument-<version>.jar or preferrably: (odfdom.jar (versions
+## 0.7.5, 0.8.6 or 0.8.7) & xercesImpl.jar v. 2.9.1) in your javaclasspath.
+## There is also experimental support invoking OpenOffice.org or clones
+## through Java/UNO bridge.
 ##
 ## Return argument @var{numarr} contains the numeric data, optional
 ## return arguments @var{txtarr} and @var{rawarr} contain text strings
@@ -59,8 +61,8 @@
 ##
 ## The optional last argument @var{reqintf} can be used to override 
 ## the automatic selection by odsread of one interface out of the
-## supported ones: Java/ODFtoolkit ('OTK') or Java/jOpenDocument 
-## ('JOD').
+## supported ones: Java/ODFtoolkit ('OTK'), Java/jOpenDocument 
+## ('JOD') or Java/UNO bridge ('UNO').
 ##
 ## Erroneous data and empty cells are set to NaN in @var{numarr} and
 ## turn up empty in @var{txtarr} and @var{rawarr}. Date/time values
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@
 ## 2011-09-08 Catch empty ods structs after failed odsopen attempts
 ## 2011-09-18 Return empty output arg in case of empty rawarr
 ## 2012-01-26 Fixed "seealso" help string
+## 2012-03-07 Updated texinfo help text
 
 function [ numarr, txtarr, rawarr, lim ] = odsread (filename, wsh=1, datrange=[], reqintf=[])
 

--- a/main/io/inst/odswrite.m	Wed Mar 07 19:09:25 2012 +0000
+++ b/main/io/inst/odswrite.m	Wed Mar 07 19:35:08 2012 +0000
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@
 ## file name extension). If @var{filename} does not contain any directory
 ## path, the file is saved in the current directory.
 ##
-## @var{arr} can be any array type save complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays
-## can only be cell arrays.
+## @var{arr} can be any 1D or 2D array containing numerical or character
+## data (cellstr) except complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays can only be
+## cell arrays.
 ##
 ## @var{wsh} can be a number or string. In case of a not yet existing
 ## OpenOffice.org spreadsheet, the first sheet will be used & named
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@
 ## Array @var{arr} will be clipped at the right and/or bottom if its size
 ## is bigger than can be accommodated in @var{range}.
 ## If @var{arr} is smaller than the @var{range} allows, it is placed
-## in the top left of @var{range}.
+## in the top left rectangle of @var{range} and cell values outside that
+## rectangle will be untouched.
 ##
 ## If @var{range} contains merged cells, only the elements of @var{arr}
 ## corresponding to the top or left Calc cells of those merged cells
@@ -92,6 +94,7 @@
 ## 2011-09-08 Minor filename error text adaptation
 ## 2012-01-26 Fixed "seealso" help string
 ## 2012-02-20 Fixed range parameter to be default empty string rather than empty numeral
+## 2010-03-07 Updated texinfo help text
 
 function [ rstatus ] = odswrite (filename, data, wsh=1, crange='', reqintf=[])
 

--- a/main/io/inst/xlsread.m	Wed Mar 07 19:09:25 2012 +0000
+++ b/main/io/inst/xlsread.m	Wed Mar 07 19:35:08 2012 +0000
@@ -25,11 +25,7 @@
 ## in Excel spreadsheet file @var{filename}.
 ## Return argument @var{numarr} contains the numeric data, optional
 ## return arguments @var{txtarr} and @var{rawarr} contain text strings
-## and the raw spreadsheet cell data, respectively.
-##
-## If neither Excel, Java/Apache POI or Java/JExcelAPI are installed,
-## xlsread will fail and suggest .csv file reading.
-##
+## and the raw spreadsheet cell data, respectively. Return argument
 ## @var{limits} contains the outer column/row numbers of the read
 ## spreadsheet range where @var{numarr}, @var{txtarr} and @var{rawarr}
 ## have come from (remember, xlsread trims outer rows and columns).
@@ -37,16 +33,15 @@
 ## If @var{filename} does not contain any directory, the file is
 ## assumed to be in the current directory. The filename extension
 ## (.xls or .xlsx) must be included in the file name; when using the
-## COM interface any file format can be read from that can be read
-## and written by the locally installed MS-Excel version (e.g., wk1,
-## csv, dbf, ...).
+## COM interface all file formats can be read that are supported by the
+## locally installed MS-Excel version (e.g., wk1, csv, dbf, etc.).
 ##
 ## @var{range} is expected to be a regular spreadsheet range format,
 ## or "" (empty string, indicating all data in a worksheet).
 ## If no range is specified the occupied cell range will have to be
 ## determined behind the scenes first; this can take some time for the
-## Java-based interfaces (but the results are more reliable than that
-## of ActiveX/COM).
+## Java-based interfaces (but the results may be more reliable than
+## that of ActiveX/COM).
 ##
 ## @var{wsh} is either numerical or text; in the latter case it is 
 ## case-sensitive and it may be max. 31 characters long.
@@ -56,12 +51,12 @@
 ## in the Excel file.
 ##
 ## If only the first argument is specified, xlsread will try to read
-## all contents from the first = leftmost (or the only) worksheet (as
-## if a range of @'' (empty string) was specified).
+## all contents (as if a range of @'' (empty string) was specified)
+## from the first = leftmost (or the only) worksheet
 ## 
 ## If only two arguments are specified, xlsread assumes the second
 ## argument to be @var{range} if it is a string argument and contains 
-##  a ":" or if it is @'' (empty string) and in those cases assumes
+##  a ":" or if it is @'' (empty string), and in those cases assumes
 ## the data must be read from the first worksheet (not necessarily
 ## Sheet1! but the leftmost sheet).
 ##
@@ -71,13 +66,13 @@
 ## xlsread tries to read all data contained in that worksheet.
 ##
 ## The optional last argument @var{reqintf} can be used to override 
-## the automatic selection by xlsread of one interface out of the
-## supported ones: COM/Excel, Java/Apache POI, or Java/JExcelAPI
-## (in that built-in order of preference).
-## For reading from OOXML files a value of 'poi' or 'uno' must be specified
-## for @var{reqintf} (see help for xlsopen); for Excel'95 files use
-## 'com', or if Excel is not installed use 'jxl', 'basic', or 'uno' (POI
-## can't read Excel 95 but will try to fall back to JXL).
+## the automatic interface selection by xlsread out of the supported
+## ones: COM/Excel, Java/Apache POI, Java/JExcelAPI, Java/OpenXLS, or 
+## Java/UNO (OpenOffice.org) (in that -built in- order of preference).
+## For reading from OOXML files a value of 'com', 'poi' or 'uno' must
+## be specified for @var{reqintf} (see help for xlsopen); for Excel'95
+## files use 'com', or if Excel is not installed use 'jxl', 'basic'
+## or 'uno' (POI can't read Excel 95 but will try to fall back to JXL).
 ## As @var{reqintf} can also be a cell array of strings, one can
 ## select or exclude one or more interfaces.
 ##
@@ -85,7 +80,8 @@
 ## turn up empty in @var{txtarr} and @var{rawarr}. Date/time values in
 ## Excel are returned as numerical values in @var{numarr}. Note that
 ## Excel and Octave have different date base values (1/1/1900 & 
-## 1/1/0000, resp.)
+## 1/1/0000, resp.). Spreadsheet date values lying before 1/1/1900 are
+## returned as strings, formatted as they appear in the spreadsheet.
 ## @var{numarr} and @var{txtarr} are trimmed from empty outer rows
 ## and columns. Be aware that Excel does the same for @var{rawarr}, 
 ## so any returned array may turn out to be smaller than requested in
@@ -96,11 +92,11 @@
 ## "corresponding" Excel cells are empty.
 ##
 ## xlsread is just a wrapper for a collection of scripts that find out
-## the interface to be used (COM, Java/POI, Java/JXL) and do the actual
-## reading. For each call to xlsread the interface must be started and
-## the Excel file read into memory. When reading multiple ranges (in
-## optionally multiple worksheets) a significant speed boost can be
-## obtained by invoking those scripts directly as in:
+## the interface to be used (COM, Java/POI, Java/JXL Java/OXS, Java/UNO)
+## and do the actual reading. For each call to xlsread the interface must
+## be started and the Excel file read into memory. When reading multiple
+## ranges (in optionally multiple worksheets) a significant speed boost
+## can be obtained by invoking those scripts directly as in:
 ## xlsopen / xls2oct [/ parsecell] / ... / xlsclose
 ##
 ## Beware: when using the COM interface, hidden Excel invocations may be
@@ -138,7 +134,7 @@
 ## 2010-01-12 added unwind_protect to get rid of stray Excel invocations i.c.o. COM errors
 ## 2010-05-31 Updated help text (delays i.c.o. empty range due to getusedrange call)
 ## 2010-08-18 Added check for existence of xls after call to xlsopen to 
-##	   "      avoid unneeded error message clutter
+##	   ''     avoid unneeded error message clutter
 ## 2010-08-25 Improved help text, esp. sections Excel file types and interfaces
 ## 2010-10-20 Dropped wiping xls.limits for COM (nowadays COM can return those)
 ## 2010-10-21 Formally added 'BASIC' option as synonym for 'JXL'
@@ -148,6 +144,7 @@
 ## 2011-04-17 Suppress xlsopen messages (";" was missing)
 ## 2011-09-08 Minor code cleanup; included UNO & OXS support in test
 ## 2012-01-26 Fixed "seealso" help string
+## 2012-03-07 Updated texinfo help header
 
 function [ numarr, txtarr, rawarr, lims ] = xlsread (fn, wsh, datrange, reqintf=[])
 

--- a/main/io/inst/xlswrite.m	Wed Mar 07 19:09:25 2012 +0000
+++ b/main/io/inst/xlswrite.m	Wed Mar 07 19:35:08 2012 +0000
@@ -28,18 +28,20 @@
 ## name extension). If @var{filename} does not contain any directory path,
 ## the file is saved in the current directory.
 ##
-## @var{arr} can be any array type save complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays
-## can only be cell arrays.
+## @var{arr} can be any 1D or 2D array containing numerical or character
+## data (cellstr) except complex. Mixed numeric/text arrays can only be
+## cell arrays.
 ##
 ## If only 3 arguments are given, the 3rd is assumed to be a spreadsheet
 ## range if it contains a ":" or is a completely empty string (corresponding
-## to A1:IV65336). The 3rd argument is assumed to refer to a worksheet if
-## it is a numeric value or a non-empty text string not containing ":"
+## to A1:IV65336 for regular .xls or A1:XFD1048576 for OOXML .xlsx). The
+## 3rd argument is assumed to refer to a worksheet if it is a numeric value
+## or a non-empty text string not containing ":"
 ##
 ## @var{wsh} can be a number or string (max. 31 chars).
 ## In case of a not yet existing Excel file, the first worksheet will be
 ## used & named according to @var{wsh} - the extra worksheets that Excel
-## creates by default are deleted.
+## normally creates by default are deleted.
 ## In case of existing files, some checks are made for existing worksheet
 ## names or numbers, or whether @var{wsh} refers to an existing sheet with
 ## a type other than worksheet (e.g., chart).
@@ -53,7 +55,8 @@
 ## Array @var{arr} will be clipped at the right and/or bottom if its size
 ## is bigger than can be accommodated in @var{range}.
 ## If @var{arr} is smaller than the @var{range} allows, it is placed
-## in the top left of @var{range}.
+## in the top left rectangle of @var{range} and remaining cell values
+## outside the rectangle will be retained.
 ##
 ## If @var{range} contains merged cells, only the elements of @var{arr}
 ## corresponding to the top or left Excel cells of those merged cells
@@ -64,18 +67,21 @@
 ## the automatic selection by xlswrite of one interface out of the
 ## supported ones: 'com' (ActiveX/Excel), 'poi' (Java/Apache POI), 'jxl'
 ## (Java/JExcelAPI), or 'uno' (Java/OpenOffice.org). 'oxs' (Java/OpenXLS)
-## is implemented but disabled for writing. For writing to OOXML files
-## (.xlsx) a value of 'poi' or 'uno' must be specified for @var{reqintf}.
-## The value of @var{reqintf} is case-insensitive. Multiple interfaces
-## can be selected if entered as a cell array of strings.
+## is implemented but disabled for writing as it is too buggy. For
+## writing to OOXML files (.xlsx) a value of 'com', 'poi' or 'uno' must
+## be specified for @var{reqintf}. The value of @var{reqintf} is
+## case-insensitive. Multiple interfaces can be selected if entered as
+## a cell array of strings.
 ##
 ## xlswrite is a mere wrapper for various scripts which find out what
-## Excel interface to use (COM, Java/POI) plus code to mimic the other
+## Excel interface to use (COM, POI, etc) plus code to mimic the other
 ## brand's syntax. For each call to xlswrite such an interface must be
 ## started and possibly an Excel file loaded. When writing to multiple
 ## ranges and/or worksheets in the same Excel file, a speed bonus can be
-## obtained by invoking those scripts (xlsopen / octxls / .... / xlsclose)
-## directly.
+## obtained by invoking those scripts directly with multiple calls to
+## oct2xls (one for each sheet or range) surrounded by one call to
+## xlsopen and xlsclose:
+## (xlsopen / octxls / oct2xls / .... / xlsclose)
 ##
 ## Examples:
 ##