I've added support for very simple excel output which ignores the layout (like the xls emitter supplied with BIRT), but generates binary excel files compatible with open office and older excel versions. Find attached the patch based on the 2.5.1 release.
To use it, you add code like
task.setEmitterID("org.uguess.birt.report.engine.emitter.xls.simple");
For the standard Tribix output, use
task.setEmitterID("org.uguess.birt.report.engine.emitter.xls");
Alternatively, you can modify the plugin.xml and remove the emitter you don't want to use.
The patch also contains separation of HSSF specific code from the rest, so it should be easier to add e. g. native open office support.
Anonymous
source patch based on the 2.5.1 release.