code: def _convert_value(self, item):
          
          # Types:
          # 0 = empty u''
          # 1 = unicode text
          # 2 = float (convert to int if possible, then convert to string)
          # 3 = date (convert to unambiguous date/time string)
          # 4 = boolean (convert to string "0" or "1")
          # 5 = error (convert from code to error text)
          # 6 = blank u''
  
          # Thx to Augusto C Men to point fast solution for XLS/XLSX dates
          if item.ctype == 3:  # XL_CELL_DATE:
              try:
                  return datetime.datetime(*xlrd.xldate_as_tuple(item.value, self._book.datemode))
              except ValueError:
                  # TODO: make toggable
                  # Invalid date
                  return item.value
  
          if item.ctype == 2:  # XL_CELL_NUMBER:
              if item.value % 1 == 0:  # integers
                  return int(item.value)
              else:
                  return item.value
  
          return item.value
docs: Handle different value types for XLS. Item is a cell object.