title: python xlrd unsupported format, or corrupt file.
body: <p>My code: </p>
  
  <pre><code>import xlrd
  wb = xlrd.open_workbook("Z:\\Data\\Locates\\3.8 locates.xls")
  sh = wb.sheet_by_index(0)
  print sh.cell(0,0).value
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The error: </p>
  
  <pre><code>Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "Z:\Wilson\tradedStockStatus.py", line 18, in &lt;module&gt;
  wb = xlrd.open_workbook("Z:\\Data\\Locates\\3.8 locates.xls")
  File "C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\xlrd\__init__.py", line 429, in open_workbook
  biff_version = bk.getbof(XL_WORKBOOK_GLOBALS)
  File "C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\xlrd\__init__.py", line 1545, in getbof
  bof_error('Expected BOF record; found %r' % self.mem[savpos:savpos+8])
  File "C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\xlrd\__init__.py", line 1539, in bof_error
  raise XLRDError('Unsupported format, or corrupt file: ' + msg)
  xlrd.biffh.XLRDError: Unsupported format, or corrupt file: Expected BOF record;
  found '&lt;table r'"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The file doesn't seem to be corrupted or of a different format. 
  Anything to help find the source of the issue would be great. </p>