Python in Excel

Microsoft is introducing Python Programming to Excel Spreadsheets. As the reader will probably know, Python is a popular programming language that can be used for various purposes, such as data analysis, web development, machine learning, and more. Excel is a widely used spreadsheet application that can perform calculations, create charts, and manage data. Now, it will be possible to use Python in Excel to enhance its functionality and automate tasks.

Known as “Python in Excel”, it’s being made available as a Public Preview for Microsoft 365 Insiders using the Beta Channel in Excel for Windows.

Python and Excel can work together to enhance each other’s capabilities and create powerful solutions. For example, it will be possible to use Python to automate tasks in Excel, access data from different sources, perform complex calculations, and generate interactive charts and dashboards. To use Python in Excel, you need to install some packages and tools, such as xlwings, openpyxl, or PyXLL. These packages and tools allow users to write Python code in Excel cells, call Python functions from Excel formulas, or create custom user-defined functions (UDFs) in Python. It is also possible to use Python to read and write Excel files, manipulate data frames, and apply pandas or NumPy operations. Python and Excel are both versatile and useful tools that can complement each other and make your work more efficient and productive.

An excellent introduction to how these two powerful tools can be combined for data analysis is given in Leila Gharani’s YouTube video which can be accessed on the link here.