ods2xls.py, sent to bkuhn by tmarble in this email:

Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:57:19 -0600
  From: Tom Marble <tmarble@info9.net>
  To: "Bradley M. Kuhn" <bkuhn@sfconservancy.org>
  Subject: ods2xlsx.py

Tom did not indicate the license of this file or ssconv.py, so I'm
waiting for him to clarify.

Tom mentioned this usage information in the email:

You will need:

These examples are adapted from:
http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1007788
http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1007797
  ^ I saved as ssconv.py and can share with you if you like

NOTE: you MUST save and exit LibreOffice first!
NOTE: you must save both *.py in the same directory.

I could not figure out the filter for XLSX as for XLS:
http://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/DevGuide/Spreadsheets/Filter_Options

Usage:

$ ./ods2xlsx.py ~/Documents/sample.ods ~/Documents/sample2.ods
/home/tmarble/Documents/sample.ods => /home/tmarble/Documents/sample.xls
Warning: -accept=socket,host=localhost,port=8100;urp;StarOffice.ServiceManager is deprecated.  Use --accept=socket,host=localhost,port=8100;urp;StarOffice.ServiceManager instead.
Warning: -norestore is deprecated.  Use --norestore instead.
Warning: -nofirststartwizard is deprecated.  Use --nofirststartwizard instead.
Warning: -nologo is deprecated.  Use --nologo instead.
Warning: -headless is deprecated.  Use --headless instead.
/home/tmarble/Documents/sample2.ods => /home/tmarble/Documents/sample2.xls
$

ods2xls.py

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+# ods2xlsx.py
+# adapted from ssconv.py
+# see also
+#  https://help.libreoffice.org/Common/About_Converting_Microsoft_Office_Documents
+#  http://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/DevGuide/Spreadsheets/Filter_Options
+#  http://linuxsleuthing.blogspot.com/2012/01/unoconv-is-number-one.html
+
+import os
+import ooutils
+
+import uno
+from com.sun.star.task import ErrorCodeIOException
+
+class SSConverter:
+    """
+    Spreadsheet converter class.
+    Converts spreadsheets to XLSX files.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, oorunner=None):
+        self.desktop  = None
+        self.oorunner = None
+
+
+    def convert(self, inputFile, outputFile):
+        """
+        Convert the input file (a spreadsheet) to a XLSX file.
+        """
+
+        # Start openoffice if needed.
+        if not self.desktop:
+            if not self.oorunner:
+                self.oorunner = ooutils.OORunner()
+
+            self.desktop = self.oorunner.connect()
+
+        inputUrl  = uno.systemPathToFileUrl(os.path.abspath(inputFile))
+        outputUrl = uno.systemPathToFileUrl(os.path.abspath(outputFile))
+        document  = self.desktop.loadComponentFromURL(inputUrl, "_blank", 0, ooutils.oo_properties(Hidden=True))
+
+        try:
+            # Additional property option:
+            #   FilterOptions="59,34,0,1"
+            #     59 - Field separator (semicolon), this is the ascii value.
+            #     34 - Text delimiter (double quote), this is the ascii value.
+            #      0 - Character set (system).
+            #      1 - First line number to export.
+            #
+            # For more information see:
+            #   http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/DevGuide/Spreadsheets/Filter_Options
+            #
+            # THE following works for xls
+            document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="MS Excel 97"))
+            # THE following works for xlsx
+            #document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="Microsoft Excel 2007/2010 XML"))
+            #document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="MS Excel 2007/2010 XML"))
+            #document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="MS Excel 2007/2010"))
+            #document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="MS Excel 2007"))
+            #document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="MS Excel 2010"))
+            #document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="MS Excel 2010 XML"))
+            #document.storeToURL(outputUrl, ooutils.oo_properties(FilterName="MS Excel 2007 XML"))
+        finally:
+            document.close(True)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    from sys import argv
+    from os.path import isfile
+
+    if len(argv) == 2  and  argv[1] == '--shutdown':
+        ooutils.oo_shutdown_if_running()
+    else:
+        if len(argv) < 2:
+            print "USAGE:"
+            print "  python %s INPUT-FILE [INPUT-FILE ...]" % argv[0]
+            print "OR"
+            print "  python %s --shutdown" % argv[0]
+            exit(255)
+        if not isfile(argv[1]):
+            print "File not found: %s" % argv[1]
+            exit(1)
+
+        try:
+            i = 1
+            converter = SSConverter()
+            while i < len(argv):
+                odsname = argv[i]
+                #xlsxname = odsname.replace('.ods', '.xlsx')
+                xlsxname = odsname.replace('.ods', '.xls')
+                print '%s => %s' % (odsname, xlsxname)
+                converter.convert(odsname, xlsxname)
+                i += 1
+
+        except ErrorCodeIOException, exception:
+            print "ERROR! ErrorCodeIOException %d" % exception.ErrCode
+            exit(1)