[NTLUG:Discuss] utility to convert doc and xls to text, xml, or html

[robert apodaca]

Does anyone know of a linux utility, perl module, anything that can convert microsoft word files into either plain text, xml, html or even some other easily parsed format?
Also need the same for excel files to csv, xml, html, or anything else.
I know there are programs like abiword and open office which can convert these, but I'm looking for something I can call from a script.

Thanks,
-Rob