import xlrd
fname = "sample.xls"
bk = xlrd.open_workbook(fname)
shxrange = range(bk.nsheets)
try:
  sh = bk.sheet_by_name("Sheet1")
except:
  print "no sheet in %s named Sheet1" % fname
  return None
nrows = sh.nrows
ncols = sh.ncols
print "nrows %d, ncols %d" % (nrows,ncols)
cell_value = sh.cell_value(1,1)
print cell_value
row_list = []
for i in range(1,nrows):
  row_data = sh.row_values(i)
  row_list.append(row_data)