Code Your Spreadsheets: Python Editor Now Built into Microsoft Excel
In September 2023, the Microsoft 365 team revealed their plans to develop a Python code editor plugin for the desktop version of Excel. This plugin aims to assist proficient users in swiftly performing calculations, organizing, and outputting cell data using code. By June of this year, Microsoft released the Python code editor as a plugin.
Today, the team announced the integration of the Python editor directly within Excel, making it more convenient for users. The version of Excel with the integrated code editor is currently being tested by Microsoft 365 Insider users and will be made available to all standard users upon completion of the testing phase.
Microsoft stated that the Python code editor for Excel has been updated with a new user interface. Users can now see the option to insert Python code by clicking on the Formulas tab, allowing them to operate using code. In the Python editor, users can view a list of all Python cells in Excel, with each cell treated as a code cell in a Jupyter notebook. The Python editor pane allows users to edit cells and run code.
The output of Python cells can be natively displayed in Excel spreadsheets, handling and outputting plain text content, numbers, formatting, and DataFrame functions. This update also brings features like IntelliSense, syntax highlighting, and functions to the Python editor. In simple terms, users familiar with Python coding can utilize these features to write code for rapid and batch data processing.
Excel standard edition users are reminded that this feature is available as well. Currently, Python is offered as a plugin that can be installed from Excel Labs. Once testing is completed, the plugin version may be retired, as the direct integration into Excel will offer greater convenience. However, it is important to note that executing Python code requires the use of Microsoft Azure, and thus, some features may require payment.
Microsoft 365 Insider users can update to Excel version 2406 Build 17726.20016 to try the built-in Python code editor, which supports Enterprise, Business, Education, and Consumer editions.
