Microsoft's Python Integration for Excel
Microsoft has officially added Python support to Excel, with a caveat that it will cost to use. The software giant has partnered with Anaconda to provide access to popular libraries like statsmodels and pandas, but it will later require a license. The Python integration is available as a preview for members of the Beta Channel Microsoft 365 Insiders group.
The integration is implemented as part of Excel’s Power Query data transformation tool, which lets you write code to manipulate data. You can use Python support to write scripts to analyse any data source that Power Query can pull in, including CSV files, databases, and cloud storage folders.
Microsoft says Python support is currently only available to those who have access to the ‘Insiders’ group, but it plans to bring it to all Office 365 subscribers later. However, it notes that the functionality will be limited unless you purchase a license.
“The Python support will be available for a limited time and will be limited in functionality unless you purchase a license,” it writes. “We will share more details on the availability and licensing options in the future.”
If you want to try it out, you can go to ‘Formulas’ in the ribbon, and select ‘Insert Python.’ This should open a Python console where you can try typing Python code. Microsoft says the Python libraries “will be exposed in the user interface as a set of custom functions.”
Anaconda provides more information about the project, including how to sign up for the preview and training courses if you’re interested in getting more familiar with Python support.
Check out the official announcement from Microsoft and the Python integration documentation from Anaconda for more details.
Featured image via Depositphotos.
