How to Use Python to Manipulate Excel Spread Sheets?

How to combine the best of both worlds of Python and Excel for data manipulation

One of the most used programs for manipulating and analyzing data is Excel, followed by Python. Python is a potent programming language that provides a variety of modules and frameworks for data processing, visualization, machine learning, and more. For organizing, calculating, and presenting data, Excel is a spreadsheet program that includes tools like formulas, charts, pivot tables, and macros.

However, what if Python and Excel could be used in tandem? What if you could combine each tool's advantages with its weaknesses to overcome them? We will examine Python in Excel and openly as two methods in this article for manipulating Excel spreadsheets.

Python in Excel is a new tool that enables you to type Python code straight into a cell and run it in the Microsoft Cloud. Plots and visualizations from the results are returned to the worksheet. Create unique functions that can be utilized in other cells in Excel by using Python.

Having a Microsoft 365 subscription and turning on the feature in the Formulas tab of the ribbon are prerequisites for using Python in Excel. The Insert Python button is then where you can add a Python cell. You can enter and execute Python code in the dialog box that will display. Additionally, by hitting Alt + F11, you can open the Python editor.

Utilizing Python libraries in Excel has several advantages, including the ability to combine Excel's features with the powerful data analysis and visualization libraries provided by Python, the ability to more quickly and effectively clean and manipulate data, the ability to build interactive plots and dashboards that update themselves, and the ability to access your data from any location with an internet connection.

You need a Microsoft 365 membership to use Python in Excel, and you require an internet connection to run your code. Additionally, because Python runs in the cloud, you can run into some restrictions or issues.

openpyxl:

A Python package called openpyxl offers several ways to interface with Excel files. It enables actions on cells and ranges such as reading, writing, editing, formatting, and style. Additionally, programmatic chart, table, and pivot table creation is supported.

You must install openpyxl using pip or a similar package manager before using it. You can then import it into your Python script and use the load_workbook() or workbook() functions to open an existing Excel file or to create a new one, respectively. Afterward, you can use the openpyxl objects and methods to access the worksheets, cells, values, and styles.

The ability to read, write, and modify Excel files without opening them is one advantage of utilizing openpyxl. You can format and style cells and ranges, and conduct arithmetic operations, Programmatically, you can construct charts, tables, and pivot tables. Without an internet connection, you can work.

You cannot use Excel's built-in capabilities like formulae, macros, or data validation when using openpyxl, among other limitations. You might need to learn certain openpyxl-specific syntax and conventions, and you might run into compatibility problems with various openpyxl or Excel versions.