Use Excel in Python | Automating Excel with Python

Microsoft Excel is a widely used application in data analysis and management because of its features and easy-to-use interfaces. The availability of different features that can allow number crunching, creating pivot tables, or elaborate reports makes it a staple in any working environment. The higher the volume and complexity of data, the more important it is to apply more advanced and efficient data management methods. Incorporating elements of Excel into Python offers a whole new dimension in the practical usage of the language for handling and analyzing data. In this blog post, you will learn how to use Excel in Python. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get started or an experienced developer seeking to enhance your skills, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to seamlessly integrate Excel and Python into your data analysis toolkit.

This article covers the following topics:

Python Library to Use Excel in Python

For working with Excel files in Python, we will use Aspose.Cells for Python, a powerful library that provides extensive capabilities for creating, modifying, and converting Excel files.

Please download the package or install it from PyPI using the following pip command in your terminal:

pip install aspose-cells-python

Use Excel in Python: Reading Excel Files

In automating excel with python, reading Excel files is a powerful and flexible way to handle data programmatically in your applications. You can start working with an Excel file by loading it into your Python script. Load an Excel file by creating an instance of the Workbook class with the file path of the Excel file you wish to read. After loading the Excel file, you can access its individual worksheets by their index or by their name. The worksheets collection of the Workbook class object allows you to navigate through the different sheets within the Excel file.

Please follow the steps below to read an Excel file in Python:

  1. Load the Excel file using the Workbook class.
  2. Get the length of the WorksheetCollection using the Workbook.worksheets.length property.
  3. Loop through all the worksheets in the collection and do the following:
    1. Access the worksheet by its index using the worksheets.get() method.
    2. Get a count of data rows and columns in the worksheet.
    3. Start a loop for rows.
    4. Start a nested loop for columns.
    5. Read data from each cell using the Worksheet.cells.get_cell(row, column).value property.

The following code sample shows how to read an Excel file in Python.

Use Excel in Python: Reading Excel Files

Reading an Excel file in Python - Source XLSX

Here is the output:

Worksheet: Sheet1
Items A | Items B |

12 | 23 |

23 | 22 |

34 | 11 |

45 | 43 |

65 | 65 |

34 | 22 |

Worksheet: Sheet2

Learn more about reading data from Excel files in Python.

Use Excel in Python: Writing to Excel Files

You can easily create new Excel files programmatically in Python using Aspose.Cells for Python. The first step is to create a new Workbook class object that will serve as the container for your Excel file. A new workbook typically starts with one default worksheet. You can access this worksheet by its index or by name. With the worksheet object ready, you can start writing data to specific cells. Cells are referenced using their cell addresses (e.g., “A1” and “B2”). You can write various types of data, including strings, numbers, dates, and Booleans.

Please follow the steps below to create an Excel file in Python:

  1. Create an instance of the Workbook class.
  2. Access the default worksheet using the Workbook.worksheets().get(index) method.
  3. Input the value in the desired cell using the Worksheet.cells.get(index).value property.
  4. Save the workbook as an XLSX file using the Workbook.save() method.

The following code sample shows how to create an Excel file and insert data into it using Python.

Use Excel in Python: Writing to Excel Files

Write to Excel file in Python

Discover more about creating MS Excel files using Python here, and elevate your understanding today!

Use Excel in Python: Modifying Excel Files

Modifying existing Excel files with Aspose.Cells for Python involves several key tasks, including loading the file, making changes to its structure and content, and saving the updated file. If you want to modify an existing file, you can load it into a Workbook class object. The Workbook class provides methods to open and handle various Excel file formats, such as XLSX, XLS, and CSV. You can access a specific worksheet to make modifications to its content or structure. You can also add more worksheets by name or by using the index. With the worksheet object ready, you can modify the values of specific cells. You can change the existing data in these cells to new values.

Please follow the steps below to modify an Excel file in Python:

  1. Load an existing Excel file using the Workbook class.
  2. Access the default worksheet using the Workbook.worksheets().get(index) method.
  3. Modify the values in the desired cells using Worksheet.cells.get(index).value property.
  4. Add a new sheet using the Workbook.worksheets.add(name) method.
  5. Input values in the desired cells using the Worksheet.cells.get(index).value property.
  6. Save the workbook using the Workbook.save() method.

The following code sample shows how to edit an Excel file in Python.

Use Excel in Python: Modifying Excel Files

Modify an Excel file in Python

Check out how to insert and delete rows and columns in Excel using Python.

Modifying Cell Formatting in Excel using Python

To enhance the readability and presentation of your Excel file, you can modify the formatting of cells. You can change font styles, colors, borders, and background colors. Aspose.Cells offers a wide range of formatting options to customize the appearance of your data.

Please follow the steps below to modify the formatting of cells in an Excel file using Python:

  1. Load an existing Excel file using the Workbook class.
  2. Access the default worksheet using the Workbook.worksheets().get(index) method.
  3. Get the cell style using Worksheet.cells.style property.
  4. Set the font color using the Style.font.color property.
  5. Specify the style pattern using the Style.pattern property.
  6. Set the background color using the Style.background_color property.
  7. Set the border using the Style.set_border() method.
  8. Get the desired cell to apply the style using the Worksheet.cells.get() method.
  9. After that, apply the style to the accessed cell using the cell.set_style(style) method.
  10. Finally, save the workbook using the Workbook.save() method.

The following code sample shows how to apply styles and formatting to a cell in an Excel file using Python.

Modifying Cell Formatting in Excel using Python

Modifying cell formatting in Excel using Python.

Learn how to adjust height of a row and width of a column in Excel using Python.

Adding Charts and Graphics in Excel using Python

Visual elements, such as charts and graphics, can enhance the presentation of your data. Aspose.Cells for Python supports creating and customizing various types of charts, such as bar charts, line charts, and pie charts. You can also insert images, shapes, and other graphics to make your Excel file more informative and visually appealing.

Please follow the steps below to add charts in an Excel file using Python:

  1. Create an instance of the Workbook class.
  2. Access the worksheet by its index.
  3. Input data values into the desired cells.
  4. Add a chart to the worksheet using the Worksheets.charts.add() method.
  5. Access the newly added chart by its index.
  6. After that, set the chart data source using the chart.set_chart_data_range() method.
  7. Save the workbook using the Workbook.save() method.

The following code sample shows how to add charts to an Excel file using Python.

Add charts in an Excel file using Python

Add charts in an Excel file using Python.

Curious to dive deeper? Explore our comprehensive blog post on creating charts in Excel files using Python and unlock a wealth of knowledge to enhance your expertise.

Get a Free License

Unlock the full potential of working with Excel in Python using a free temporary license! Visit our page for quick and easy instructions on how to claim your free license and enjoy unrestricted access.

Automating Excel with Python – Free Resources

Please find below resources to deepen your understanding, learn how to efficiently use Excel in Python, and leverage the full utilization of the robust features of Aspose.Cells for data analysis and automation.

Conclusion

In this article, we learned how to use Excel in Python. Manipulating Excel files with a programming language such as Python provides a robust way of solving computational problems. By leveraging Aspose.Cells for Python, you can save time on routine actions, calculate data, optimize Excel files, and perform many more tasks. The code examples given in this article illustrate some of the basic tasks that one might wish to perform on Excel files, such as reading from and writing to the file or even modifying the file, as the case may be. Start automating excel with python today!

In case of any ambiguity, please feel free to contact us on our free support forum.

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