XLSX Manipulation Skill
Create, edit, and manipulate Excel spreadsheets programmatically using openpyxl
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# XLSX Manipulation Skill
## Overview
This skill enables programmatic creation, editing, and manipulation of Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) spreadsheets using the **openpyxl** library. Create professional spreadsheets with formulas, formatting, charts, and data validation without manual editing.
## How to Use
1. Describe the spreadsheet you want to create or modify
2. Provide data, formulas, or formatting requirements
3. I'll generate openpyxl code and execute it
**Example prompts:**
- "Create a budget spreadsheet with monthly tracking"
- "Add conditional formatting to highlight values above threshold"
- "Generate a pivot-table-like summary from this data"
- "Create a dashboard with charts and KPIs"
## Domain Knowledge
### openpyxl Fundamentals
```python
from openpyxl import Workbook, load_workbook
from openpyxl.styles import Font, Fill, Border, Alignment
from openpyxl.chart import BarChart, Reference
# Create new workbook
wb = Workbook()
ws = wb.active
# Or open existing
wb = load_workbook('existing.xlsx')
ws = wb.active
```
### Workbook Structure
```
Workbook
├── worksheets (sheets/tabs)
│ ├── cells (data storage)
│ ├── rows/columns (formatting)
│ ├── merged_cells
│ └── charts
├── defined_names (named ranges)
└── styles (formatting templates)
```
### Working with Cells
#### Basic Cell Operations
```python
# By cell reference
ws['A1'] = 'Header'
ws['B1'] = 42
# By row, column
ws.cell(row=1, column=3, value='Data')
# Multiple cells
ws['A1:C1'] = [['Col1', 'Col2', 'Col3']]
# Append rows
ws.append(['Row', 'Data', 'Here'])
```
#### Reading Cells
```python
# Single cell
value = ws['A1'].value
# Cell range
for row in ws['A1:C3']:
for cell in row:
print(cell.value)
# Iterate rows
for row in ws.iter_rows(min_row=1, max_row=10, min_col=1, max_col=3):
for cell in row:
print(cell.value)
```
### Formulas
```python
# Basic formulas
ws['D1'] = '=SUM(A1:C1)'
ws['D2'] = '=AVERAGE(A2:C2)'
ws['E1'] = '=IF(D1>100,"High","Low")'
# Named ranges
from openpyxl.workbook.defined_name import DefinedName
ref = "Sheet!$A$1:$C$10"
defn = DefinedName("SalesData", attr_text=ref)
wb.defined_names.add(defn)
# Use named range
ws['F1'] = '=SUM(SalesData)'
```
### Formatting
#### Cell Styles
```python
from openpyxl.styles import Font, Fill, PatternFill, Border, Side, Alignment
# Font
ws['A1'].font = Font(
name='Arial',
size=14,
bold=True,
italic=False,
color='FF0000' # Red
)
# Fill (background)
ws['A1'].fill = PatternFill(
start_color='FFFF00', # Yellow
end_color='FFFF00',
fill_type='solid'
)
# Border
thin_border = Border(
left=Side(style='thin'),
right=Side(style='thin'),
top=Side(style='thin'),
bottom=Side(style='thin')
)
ws['A1'].border = thin_border
# Alignment
ws['A1'].alignment = Alignment(
horizontal='center',
vertical='center',
wrap_text=True
)
```
#### Number Formats
```python
# Currency
ws['B2'].number_format = '$#,##0.00'
# Percentage
ws['C2'].number_format = '0.00%'
# Date
ws['D2'].number_format = 'YYYY-MM-DD'
# Custom
ws['E2'].number_format = '#,##0.00 "units"'
```
#### Conditional Formatting
```python
from openpyxl.formatting.rule import ColorScaleRule, CellIsRule, FormulaRule
from openpyxl.styles import PatternFill
# Color scale (heatmap)
color_scale = ColorScaleRule(
start_type='min', start_color='FF0000',
end_type='max', end_color='00FF00'
)
ws.conditional_formatting.add('A1:A10', color_scale)
# Cell value rule
red_fill = PatternFill(start_color='FFCCCC', end_color='FFCCCC', fill_type='solid')
rule = CellIsRule(operator='greaterThan', formula=['100'], fill=red_fill)
ws.conditional_formatting.add('B1:B10', rule)
```
### Charts
```python
from openpyxl.chart import BarChart, LineChart, PieChart, Reference
# Prepare data
data = Reference(ws, min_col=2, min_row=1, max_col=3, max_row=5)
categories = Reference(ws, min_col=1, min_row=2, max_row=5)
# Bar Chart
chart = BarChart()
chart.type = "col" # or "bar" for horizontal
chart.title = "Sales by Region"
chart.add_data(data, titles_from_data=True)
chart.set_categories(categories)
chart.shape = 4
ws.add_chart(chart, "E1")
# Line Chart
line = LineChart()
line.title = "Trend Analysis"
line.add_data(data, titles_from_data=True)
line.set_categories(categories)
ws.add_chart(line, "E15")
# Pie Chart
pie = PieChart()
pie.add_data(data, titles_from_data=True)
pie.set_categories(categories)
ws.add_chart(pie, "M1")
```
### Data Validation
```python
from openpyxl.worksheet.datavalidation import DataValidation
# Dropdown list
dv = DataValidation(
type="list",
formula1='"Option1,Option2,Option3"',
allow_blank=True
)
dv.error = "Please select from list"
dv.errorTitle = "Invalid Input"
ws.add_data_validation(dv)
dv.add('A1:A100')
# Number range
dv_num = DataValidation(
type="whole",
operator="between",
formula1="1",
formula2="100"
)
ws.add_data_validation(dv_num)
dv_num.add('B1:B100')
```
### Sheet Operations
```python
# Create new sheet
ws2 = wb.create_sheet("Data")
ws3 = wb.create_sheet("Summary", 0) # At position 0
# Rename
ws.title = "Main Report"
# Delete
del wb["Sheet2"]
# Copy
source = wb["Template"]
target = wb.copy_worksheet(source)
```
### Row/Column Operations
```python
# Set column width
ws.column_dimensions['A'].width = 20
# Set row height
ws.row_dimensions[1].height = 30
# Hide column
ws.column_dimensions['C'].hidden = True
# Freeze panes
ws.freeze_panes = 'B2' # Freeze row 1 and column A
# Auto-filter
ws.auto_filter.ref = "A1:D100"
```
## Best Practices
1. **Use Templates**: Start with a .xlsx template for complex formatting
2. **Batch Operations**: Minimize cell-by-cell operations for speed
3. **Named Ranges**: Use defined names for clearer formulas
4. **Data Validation**: Add validation to prevent input errors
5. **Save Incrementally**: For large files, save periodically
## Common Patterns
### Data Import
```python
def import_csv_to_xlsx(csv_path, xlsx_path):
import csv
wb = Workbook()
ws = wb.active
with open(csv_path) as f:
reader = csv.reader(f)
for row in reader:
ws.append(row)
wb.save(xlsx_path)
```
### Report Template
```python
def create_monthly_report(data, output_path):
wb = Workbook()
ws = wb.active
ws.title = "Monthly Report"
# Headers
headers = ['Date', 'Revenue', 'Expenses', 'Profit']
ws.append(headers)
# Style headers
for col in range(1, 5):
cell = ws.cell(1, col)
cell.font = Font(bold=True)
cell.fill = PatternFill('solid', fgColor='4472C4')
cell.font = Font(bold=True, color='FFFFFF')
# Data
for row in data:
ws.append(row)
# Add totals
last_row = len(data) + 1
ws.cell(last_row + 1, 1, 'TOTAL')
ws.cell(last_row + 1, 2, f'=SUM(B2:B{last_row})')
ws.cell(last_row + 1, 3, f'=SUM(C2:C{last_row})')
ws.cell(last_row + 1, 4, f'=SUM(D2:D{last_row})')
wb.save(output_path)
```
## Examples
### Example 1: Budget Tracker
```python
from openpyxl import Workbook
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill, Alignment, Border, Side
from openpyxl.utils import get_column_letter
wb = Workbook()
ws = wb.active
ws.title = "Budget 2024"
# Headers
months = ['Category', 'Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Q1 Total']
ws.append(months)
# Categories and data
budget_data = [
['Salary', 5000, 5000, 5000],
['Rent', -1500, -1500, -1500],
['Utilities', -200, -180, -220],
['Food', -400, -450, -380],
['Transport', -150, -160, -140],
['Entertainment', -200, -250, -200],
]
for row in budget_data:
ws.append(row + [f'=SUM(B{ws.max_row + 1}:D{ws.max_row + 1})'])
# Total row
ws.append(['TOTAL',
f'=SUM(B2:B{ws.max_row})',
f'=SUM(C2:C{ws.max_row})',
f'=SUM(D2:D{ws.max_row})',
f'=SUM(E2:E{ws.max_row})'
])
# Formatting
header_fill = PatternFill('solid', fgColor='366092')
header_font = Font(bold=True, color='FFFFFF')
for cell in ws[1]:
cell.fill = header_fill
cell.font = header_font
cell.alignment = Alignment(horizontal='center')
# Currency format
for row in ws.iter_rows(min_row=2, min_col=2, max_col=5):
for cell in row:
cell.number_format = '$#,##0.00'
# Column widths
ws.column_dimensions['A'].width = 15
for col in range(2, 6):
ws.column_dimensions[get_column_letter(col)].width = 12
wb.save('budget_2024.xlsx')
```
### Example 2: Sales Dashboard
```python
from openpyxl import Workbook
from openpyxl.chart import BarChart, PieChart, Reference
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill
wb = Workbook()
ws = wb.active
ws.title = "Sales Dashboard"
# Data
ws.append(['Region', 'Q1', 'Q2', 'Q3', 'Q4'])
data = [
['North', 150000, 165000, 180000, 195000],
['South', 120000, 125000, 140000, 155000],
['East', 180000, 190000, 210000, 225000],
['West', 95000, 110000, 125000, 140000],
]
for row in data:
ws.append(row)
# Bar Chart
data_ref = Reference(ws, min_col=2, min_row=1, max_col=5, max_row=5)
cats_ref = Reference(ws, min_col=1, min_row=2, max_row=5)
bar = BarChart()
bar.type = "col"
bar.title = "Quarterly Sales by Region"
bar.add_data(data_ref, titles_from_data=True)
bar.set_categories(cats_ref)
bar.height = 10
bar.width = 15
ws.add_chart(bar, "A8")
# Pie Chart - Q4 breakdown
pie_data = Reference(ws, min_col=5, min_row=1, max_row=5)
pie = PieChart()
pie.title = "Q4 Market Share"
pie.add_data(pie_data, titles_from_data=True)
pie.set_categories(cats_ref)
ws.add_chart(pie, "J8")
wb.save('sales_dashboard.xlsx')
```
## Limitations
- Cannot execute VBA macros
- Complex pivot tables not fully supported
- Limited sparkline support
- External data connections not supported
- Some advanced chart types unavailable
## Installation
```bash
pip install openpyxl
```
## Resources
- [openpyxl Documentation](https://openpyxl.readthedocs.io/)
- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/theorchard/openpyxl)
- [Working with Styles](https://openpyxl.readthedocs.io/en/stable/styles.html)Related Skills
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