How can I convert a XLSB file to csv using python?

Question

I have been provided with a xlsb file full of data. I want to process the data using python. I can convert it to csv using excel or open office, but I would like the whole process to be more automated. Any ideas?

Update: I took a look at this question and used the first answer:

import subprocess
subprocess.call("cscript XlsToCsv.vbs data.xlsb data.csv", shell=False)

The issue is the file contains greek letters so the encoding is not preserved. Opening the csv with Notepad++ it looks as it should, but when I try to insert into a database comes like this ���. Opening the file as csv, just to read text is displayed like this: \xc2\xc5\xcb instead of ΒΕΛ.

I realize it's an issue in encoding, but it's possible to retain the original encoding converting the xlsb file to csv ?

Answer 1

The script you reference seem to use the ActiveX interface to Excel, and save via its Workbook.SaveAs method. According to the MSDN documentation this method have a TextCodepage argument which may be helpful.

Sidenote: You can rewrite the VB script in python, see this question.