How to write data to an excel file?

Question

I have some data that I'd like to save in an excel file. How does one do this in python?

kafuchau · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-28 14:31:52Z

12

There's a great python module called XLWT. I'd recommend using that... it writes native Excel files instead of CSVs. Supports formulas, etc too.

Documentation (borrowed from Mark)

edited Jun 28, 2010 at 14:31

answered Jun 28, 2010 at 14:22

kafuchau

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Ned Batchelder · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-28 14:22:09Z

5

I'll answer a slightly different question: "How can I write data so that Excel can read it?"

Use the csv module to write your data as a .csv file, and then open it in Excel.

import csv
csvout = csv.writer(open("mydata.csv", "wb"))
csvout.writerow(("Country", "Year"))
for coutry, year in my_data_iterable():
    csvout.writerow((country, year))

answered Jun 28, 2010 at 14:22

Ned Batchelder

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2 Comments

Piskvor left the building Over a year ago

Note: this works, but in some locales (particularly where the decimal comma ',' is used instead of the decimal dot '.'), you'll need to use different separators (semicolons, for example).

Fred Larson Over a year ago

@Poskvor: Maybe you know this, but I'll state it for the general good. The delimiter can be changed by using a Dialect. See docs.python.org/library/csv.html

Mark · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-28 14:22:21Z

2

If you want a BIFF8 XLS file, I would use the excellent xlwt.

answered Jun 28, 2010 at 14:22

Mark

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Alex · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-28 14:23:24Z

0

if it's running on windows, try creating an instance of EXCEL.APPLICATION via COM

Use Excel Help for the object reference.

This way you can even format the data, write formulas, etc.

answered Jun 28, 2010 at 14:23

Alex

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Alex Over a year ago

I assumed it is installed, because the question was explicit about Excel.

Anonymous Type Over a year ago

yeah but the question was about an excel file, not using the excel application.

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