Python convert Excel File (xls or xlsx) to/from ODS

Question

I've been scouring the net to find a Python library or tool that can converts an Excel file to/from ODS format, but haven't been able to come across anything.

I need the ability to input and output data in either format. We don't need to worry about merged cells, formulas or anything non-straightforward.

Zayas

Any reason why the Python Excel libraries (python-excel.org) plus the odslib (code.google.com/p/odslib-python) won't work? – Wildfire

Not at all. I just didn't want to re-invent the wheel if something already existed. I'm happy to write something to do the job and release it to the public, if nothing of the sort exists. – Zayas

Answer 1

If you have libreoffice installed, you can do a python execution wrapper around its headless mode:

$ /usr/bin/libreoffice --headless --invisible -convert-to ods /home/cwgem/Downloads/QTL_Sample_data.xls 
convert /home/cwgem/Downloads/QTL_Sample_data.xls -> /home/cwgem/QTL_Sample_data.ods using OpenDocument Spreadsheet Flat XML
$ /usr/bin/libreoffice --headless --invisible -convert-to xls /home/cwgem/QTL_Sample_data.ods 
convert /home/cwgem/QTL_Sample_data.ods -> /home/cwgem/QTL_Sample_data.xls using

Which would be a bit easier than trying to do it through the library route.

Imposition

Thanks. This looks like a way to go. – Zayas

Note that this command does not work if libreoffice is running already. – Garrik

If the executable on windows is soffice.exe, then its not working. – Nadinenadir

Answer 2

I succeeded to convert an xlsx file to an ods file with this method :

1. install pyexcel-xlsx
2. install pyexcel-ods3

And use the following code :

from pyexcel_ods3 import save_data
from pyexcel_xlsx import get_data

dataXlsx = get_data("file.xlsx")
save_data("file.ods", dataXlsx)

Attention : the colors/design of the xlsx file is removed in the ouput ods file...so that it is not a real success.

Osmometer