PHPExcel write .xls out of an array, set cell data type to STRING/TEXT

Question

I want to write a .xls. My data is stored in an array like this:

   Array
   (
        [1] => Array
        (
               [0] => CAGL0B04213g
               [1] => Strain CBS138 chromosome B complete sequence
               [2] => 11.02.03.04
               [3] => transcriptional control
               [4] => Transcription
               [5] => 0.15831099018927
               [6] => 1
               [7] => 0.31746031746032
        )

        [2] => Array
        (
               [0] => CAGL0B04213g
               [1] => Strain CBS138 chromosome B complete sequence
               [2] => 32.01.01
               [3] => oxidative stress response
               [4] => Cell rescue, defense and virulence
               [5] => 0.09289860600029
               [6] => 1
               [7] => 1.2048192771084
        )
   )

I used the method fromArray() and it works fine but when I open the .xls with, for example LibreOffice, entries like 32.01.01 were shown as '32.01.01 or entries like 40.01 were shown as 42,01. I tried this (Reading numbers as text format with PHPExcel) approach but I can't see any change. How can I write all values as STRING/TEXT and prevent that LibreOffice or Excel display them with data-format or number?

Thank you!

Answer 1

Since it applies here to, here is the important part of the accepted answer of another almost identical question:

You'll have to store the numbers explicitly as strings, so you can't use fromArray(). Use setCellValueExplicit() or setCellValueExplicitByColumnAndRow() instead, passing a $pDataType argument of PHPExcel_Cell_DataType::TYPE_STRING.