diff --git a/Writer/Parser.php b/Writer/Parser.php
index ff04b5f..8163158 100644
--- a/Writer/Parser.php
+++ b/Writer/Parser.php
@@ -538,7 +538,12 @@ class Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer_Parser extends PEAR
             return($this->_convertRef2d($token));
         }
         // match external references like Sheet1!A1
-        elseif(preg_match("/^([A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)$/",$token))
+        elseif (preg_match("/^([A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)$/",$token))
+        {
+            return($this->_convertRef3d($token));
+        }
+        // match external references like Sheet1:Sheet2!A1
+        elseif (preg_match("/^([A-Za-z0-9_]+\:[A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)$/",$token))
         {
             return($this->_convertRef3d($token));
         }
@@ -553,7 +558,12 @@ class Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer_Parser extends PEAR
             return($this->_convertRange2d($token));
         }
         // match external ranges like Sheet1!A1:B2
-        elseif(preg_match("/^([A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)\:([A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)$/",$token))
+        elseif (preg_match("/^([A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)\:([A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)$/",$token))
+        {
+            return($this->_convertRange3d($token));
+        }
+        // match external ranges like Sheet1:Sheet2!A1:B2
+        elseif (preg_match("/^([A-Za-z0-9_]+\:[A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)\:([A-I]?[A-Z])(\d+)$/",$token))
         {
             return($this->_convertRange3d($token));
         }
@@ -1062,8 +1072,8 @@ class Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer_Parser extends PEAR
                 {
                     return $token;
                 }
-                // If it's an external reference (Sheet1!A1)
-                elseif(eregi("^[A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$",$token) and
+                // If it's an external reference (Sheet1!A1 or Sheet1:Sheet2!A1)
+                elseif (preg_match("/^[A-Za-z0-9_]+(\:[A-Za-z0-9_]+)?\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$/",$token) and
                        !ereg("[0-9]",$this->_lookahead) and
                        ($this->_lookahead != ':') and ($this->_lookahead != '.'))
                 {
@@ -1081,11 +1091,11 @@ class Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer_Parser extends PEAR
                 {
                     return $token;
                 }
-                // If it's a external range
-                elseif(eregi("^[A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+:[A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$",$token) and
+                // If it's an external range
+                elseif (preg_match("/^[A-Za-z0-9_]+(\:[A-Za-z0-9_]+)?\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+:[A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$/",$token) and
                        !ereg("[0-9]",$this->_lookahead))
                 {
-                    return($token);
+                    return $token;
                 }
                 // If it's a number (check that it's not a sheet name)
                 elseif (is_numeric($token) and !is_numeric($token.$this->_lookahead) and
@@ -1321,8 +1331,8 @@ class Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer_Parser extends PEAR
             $this->_advance();
             return $result;
         }
-        // If it's an external reference (Sheet1!A1)
-        elseif(eregi("^[A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$",$this->_current_token))
+        // If it's an external reference (Sheet1!A1 or Sheet1:Sheet2!A1)
+        elseif (preg_match("/^[A-Za-z0-9_]+(\:[A-Za-z0-9_]+)?\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$/",$this->_current_token))
         {
             $result = $this->_createTree($this->_current_token, '', '');
             $this->_advance();
@@ -1337,7 +1347,7 @@ class Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer_Parser extends PEAR
             return $result;
         }
         // If it's an external range (Sheet1!A1:B2)
-        elseif(eregi("^[A-Za-z0-9_]+\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+:[A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$",$this->_current_token))
+        elseif (preg_match("/^[A-Za-z0-9_]+(\:[A-Za-z0-9_]+)?\![A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+:[A-I]?[A-Z][0-9]+$/",$this->_current_token))
         {
             $result = $this->_current_token;
             $this->_advance();