Problem in converting password protected excel file to csv file in unix

I need to convert a password protected excel file which will be in UNIX server to a comma separated file. For this I need to open the excel file in UNIX box but the UNIX box doesn't prompt for password instead it is opened in an encrypted manner.
I could manually ftp the excel file to local machine and convert it to csv. But I need to automate this manual process for that i need to open the excel file in UNIX server which should prompt for password. Is it possible to open the password protected excel file in UNIX server?

Thanks!!!

Password protection in Office files is one thing I don't think the open source world has got a handle on. MS won't tell anyone how it works, therefore nobody but MS can do it.

You really need to get the data converted at source to a usable format prior to transmission. A password-protected Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is of no use on a unix platfrom. Maybe write an Excel macro on the source computer to export the data.