Microsoft Excel has been the go-to tool for for millions engineers around the globe. But in August 2023 got a superpower with an amazing upgrade!
In a landmark collaboration between Anaconda and Microsoft, you can now use Python programming right inside Excel. No extra installations needed, and even the calculations run securely on Microsoft Cloud.
Is it a chance to change all spreadsheet used in the AEC industry and use the power of programming but still keep everything in EXCEL?
If you love using Excel for data but wish it could do more, your wish has been granted. Now, you can make Excel do complicated math, generate slick graphs, and even run machine learning algorithms. You can use popular Python libraries like Pandas for organizing your data and Matplotlib and Seaborn for creating detailed visualizations. And all this happens inside the Excel window you already know!
Python inside a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Image: Microsoft
For those who swear by Python for data science or coding, you can now pair it with Excel's widespread use. This makes it a breeze to share your Python projects with your Excel-using colleagues. Your workflow just got a whole lot smoother.
Python in Excel is built for teams. - Source Microsoft
This option is still not available for everyone. Only beta tester can use it for now. But getting started is super easy.
Type =PY( in an Excel cell, add your Python code, and hit Enter. Voilà! Your Python results, whether they're calculations or graphs, will pop up in Excel.
And it's not just Python; you can access a bunch of Python libraries like pandas, statsmodels, seaborn, scipy and even machine learning libraries right from within Excel.
Access Powerful Python Libraries - Source Anaconda
Note!
Microsoft says Python in Excel will be included in a Microsoft 365 subscription during the preview, but “some functionality will be restricted without a paid license after the preview ends.