function __construct( $xls_fname = null ) {
		if ( is_string( $xls_fname ) ) {
			# create special "default" format key/val to avoid extra "if" logic:
			self::$format = array( 'null' => null );
			self::$wb = new Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer_Workbook( $xls_fname );
			self::$wb->setVersion( 8 );
			self::$ws = self::$wb->addworksheet();
			self::$ws->setInputEncoding( 'utf-8' );
			self::$ws->setPaper( 9 );
		}
	}