diff --git a/arduino_timetable/__init__.py b/arduino_timetable/__init__.py
index 0ce8e4e..50becf4 100644
--- a/arduino_timetable/__init__.py
+++ b/arduino_timetable/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import serial.tools.list_ports
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
-
+from openpyxl import load_workbook
 
 __version__ = '0.0.1'
 
@@ -77,6 +77,67 @@ def parse_time_table(timetable, available_commands):
     return timed_commands
 
 
+def parse_excel_file(path, available_commands):
+    ''' parses an time table in an excel file into a list of ScheduledCommands
+
+    path:
+        path to excel file
+        the time must be in the first column of the first sheet, the command in
+        the second column
+
+    available_commands:
+        a dictionary containing the available human readable commands as
+        keys and the commands to send as values
+
+        {'open': 0, 'close': 1}
+
+    returns a list consisting of ScheduledCommands
+    '''
+    workbook = load_workbook(path, read_only=True)
+    sheets = workbook.get_sheet_names()
+    sheet_name = sheets[0]
+    sheet = workbook[sheet_name]
+
+    is_header = True
+    timed_commands = []
+    for i, row in enumerate(sheet.rows):
+        delta = parse_time_cell(row[0])
+        print(i, row[0].value, delta)
+        if delta is None:
+            # no time in the cell
+            if is_header:
+                # this is still a header
+                continue
+            else:
+                # not the header and not a time cell
+                # premature end of list
+                break
+        else:
+            # a time in the cell, this is not a header any more
+            is_header = False
+        raw_command = row[1].value
+        cmd = parse_command(raw_command, available_commands)
+        # add a ScheduledCommand to the resulting list
+        tc = ScheduledCommand(delta, raw_command, cmd)
+        timed_commands.append(tc)
+    return timed_commands
+
+
+
+def parse_time_cell(excel_cell):
+    if excel_cell.is_date:
+        return time_as_timedelta(excel_cell.value)
+    if isinstance(excel_cell.value, float):
+        return timedelta(days=excel_cell.value)
+    try:
+        delta = parse_time(excel_cell.value)
+        return delta
+    except ValueError:
+        return None
+
+
+
+
 def parse_time(time_str):
     ''' parses a string to extract the time information
 
@@ -95,14 +156,18 @@ def parse_time(time_str):
     else:
         msg = "time data '{}' does not match any format".format(time_str)
         raise ValueError(msg)
+    return time_as_timedelta(time_obj)
+
+
+def time_as_timedelta(time_object):
+    ''' converts a time object to a timedelta '''
     return timedelta(
-        hours=time_obj.hour,
-        minutes=time_obj.minute,
-        seconds=time_obj.second,
-        microseconds=time_obj.microsecond
+        hours=time_object.hour,
+        minutes=time_object.minute,
+        seconds=time_object.second,
+        microseconds=time_object.microsecond
         )
 
-
 def parse_command(command, available_commands):
     ''' parses a string and checks if it is a valid command
 
diff --git a/testprogramm.xlsx b/testprogramm.xlsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f20a20
Binary files /dev/null and b/testprogramm.xlsx differ