python excel processing error

Question

I am working on the excel processing using python.
I am using xlrd module (version 0.6.1) for the same.

I am abe to fetch most of the excel files but for some excel files it gives me error as :

XLRDError: Expected BOF record; found 0x213c

Can anyone let me know about how to solve this issue?
thanks in advance.

Googling this exact error suggests these '.xls' files are not in Excel 2003 'binary' format but are xml-based (newer excel file format). You van verify by opening one in notepad. Are you sure you're using the latest XLRD version? — ChristopheD
– ChristopheD, Commented Apr 24, 2012 at 7:06
I am not using latest xlrd modules as our project is working with version 0.6.1 — sam
– sam, Commented Apr 24, 2012 at 7:06

John Machin · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-25 11:41:00Z

5

What you have is most probably an "XML Spreadsheet 2003 (*.xml)" file ... "<!" aka "\x3c\x21" (which is what XML streams start with) is being interpreted as the little-endian number 0x213c.

Notepad: First two lines:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<?mso-application progid="Excel.Sheet"?>

You can also check this by opening the file with Excel and then click on Save As and look at the file-type that is displayed. While you are there, save it as an XLS file so that your xlrd can read it.

Note: this XML file is NOT the Excel 2007+ XLSX file. An XLSX is actually a ZIP file (starts with "PK", not "<?") containing a bunch of XML streams.

edited Apr 25, 2012 at 11:41

answered Apr 25, 2012 at 11:35

John Machin

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