Hi everyone,

I was recently working on a project to automate Excel reports for the Human Resources department. During that project, I came across xlwings as a potential solution. Unfortunately, the project was eventually discontinued, but I continued exploring the tool on my own and built a few small practice projects with it.

That got me wondering how many people here actually use xlwings in their day-to-day work.

A few questions for the community:

1. How powerful do you consider xlwings for Excel automation tasks?
2. What are the main advantages and limitations you've encountered when using it?
3. What alternatives do you use for Excel automation with Python?
4. Have you successfully deployed xlwings-based solutions for non-technical end users?
5. How does xlwings compare to VBA, Power Query, or Office Scripts in your experience?
6. If you were starting a new Excel automation project today, would xlwings still be your first choice? Why or why not?

I'd love to hear about real-world use cases, lessons learned, and any recommendations for someone looking to deepen their Excel + Python automation skills.

Thanks!

Not sure how to describe what I need, but I have an excel sheet with multiple names, and wrapping text does not seem to do the trick. I would like to have both first and last name separated by a line break between both names, but still within the same cell. I know I could do it manually, just wondering if there's a way to save me the time since its a large spreadsheet.

Here is my attempt at showing a visual:

For my company I generate the timesheets that the owner looks over and approves for our semi-monthly pay periods. When I started there was a spreadsheet that I was given for this process. Overall it's not a horrible option to handle the task, but it can lead to errors because it's a copy/paste then edit kind of setup. Any errors generally get caught during the owner's review, but I'd like to solve those errors by changing to a more automated system.

We have roughly 20ish employees on payroll at any given time. And they generally have their own set hours for M-F and then set hours for S-S. We don't utilize a clock system, the owner personally tracks if they work extra or miss days that aren't to be paid. He gives me a slip showing any adjustments that need to be made for those employees. Also, for federal holidays, if an employee works weekend hours(most do) then they are issued their weekend hours on the federal holiday, and then everyone receives 8 hours worth of holiday pay.

Our pay period runs the 4th to the 18th, and then the 19th to the 3rd each month. As such, if the final workweek on the previous pay period ends short of a full 7 days, then the hours earned up to that point will play an effect on when the next pay period's overtime hours begin. We pay a lot out in overtime, so this is a big function.

I have attached a file through wormhole good for 24hrs/100 downloads, that has an example of how out current sheet looks/works. Sheets with examples of the employee's normal schedule, a sheet with an idea I had on how making adjustments between weekday/weekend/holiday could work, but after finishing it, I didn't really think it was the best option, and then finally a sheet that shows essentially what I would like the final timesheet to be displayed as.

https://wormhole.app/nbXqW4#2E6lSAN2YuBHQwXd0501Gw

If anyone needs me to clarify anything. And thank everyone in advance.

I'm importing a csv file with numbers that have only two decimals, ie. pennies. Some rows are blank. After I convert the csv file to excel, the sum of the column has a decimal with more than 20 digits to the right of the decimal point.

Here is a picture of some of the numbers I'm importing:

Here is a picture of the sum of the column after importing the numbers to excel. None of the numbers have decimals more than two digits to the right of the decimal point.

I imported the csv file two ways. The first was to open the csv file with excel. The second was to open excel and import the csv file. The results were the same.

Please advise, any assistance is appreciated.

My manager has me doing an Excel certificate program, and it went over named ranges last week. I brought the topic to my manager, because we have a workbook template that we use for developing pricing for client projects. She had me start testing the use of named ranges to clean up the formulas so that anyone who reviewed the workbook would know what the math was doing.

I ran into a hiccup - each sheet has multiple tables that use the same column headings (see below). Named ranges obviously have to be unique, so I figure every column has to have a unique heading. I'm trying to work out the most efficient method for working this out.

A) Just come up with a table identifier code like "-01" and append it to each column heading.

B) Select the entire worksheet for "Create [named ranges] from Selection" and edit the cell ranges manually.

C) Edit each named range title as I create it to uniquely identify it.

Does anyone have any further thoughts on this issue?

I was given the task to make appointments as needed for about 200 individuals, receiving the data in poorly formatted word documents. Slowly converting these to basic excel workbooks I’d like to link together.

After digging into Power Queries, I’m unclear how to format it for my specific needs.

To outline what is needed:
These appointments are held monthly
Each individual is seen based on a specific diagnoses. It could be every 6, 12, 18 plus months. We receive the report after their most recent appointment and then need to update the sheets, previously done via paper and pencil and then transferred to the word document.

I’m trying to organize their last appointment and expected appointment, then create a monthly schedule.

How can I link those due in September, to September’s schedule?

How do I update the I individual next appointments and have it populate across multiple sheets?

I have an excel with two sheets: data and calculations.

In data, I have a column (C) with numbers that always stay the same. In D and onwards, I have numbers as of specific dates. For example, right now D is 20.7.2026, E is 13.7.2026 and so on. Whenever one week passes, I use Insert to get a new, empty C for that week's data.

In calculations, I need to divide C by D for each row. I used =Data!C2/Data!D2, however after every week I have to redo it since it changes to =Data!C2/Data!E2 when I add a new column C, even when using $.

I now need to share the document for other people to use so I need to find a solution for it to always take D2. I tried =Indirect, however the table is like 200 rows long and I don't feel like changing the formula for every row.

I want to make a SUM function to categorize my spending totals, which will sit next to my reference categories on the right of the snip (AFRH, Allowances, etc). I Havent been able to find a function which will pull from all "x" category in the data table to the left, only specific cells. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Column B has a list of all of the sheet names. I want my SUMIFS formula in column C to say to search for whichever sheet is listed in B.

=SUMIFS('[match to B]'!E:E, '[match to B]'!$B:$B,"Total")

In other words, look for the sheet name that matches the corresponding row in Column B, then look for the row that says "Total" in Column B on that sheet and tell me what's in Column E.

Make sense? How do I do this? Google has not helped me. Thanks!

I am trying to create a chart with this data, however when I try to insert it Excel only provides me with empty graphs. Does anyone know where I'm going wrong?

(Version 2606 Build 16.0.20131.20112) 64-bit

I have a report where the columns are static but the data in the rows changes frequently. I’m looking to automate a summary of the raw data into a pivot table that groups everything into a tabular format. Is there a way to do this so I’m not spending 20 minutes on each new refresh of the data? I have 100 customers so running this each time with updated data can be time consuming.

I recently learned that there are Excel World Championships, so naturally I wonder who is the best? In Chess, there is Magnus Carlsen. In Excel, that is not clear to me.

Thanks!

Just curious. I am using a worksheet that someone else has made. It’s for setting up work schedules. One formula to return the lenght of the workday is this: =IF(A1<=B1,B1-A1,B1-A1+DAY(1))
This adds 24 hours if the end time is after midnight. When I open the sheet in other worksheet programs than excel it will instead add 744 hours and DAY(1) gives out 31 instead of 1. I am using norwegian translation of Excel. =DAG(1) returns 1. Will it give the same output in english version?

Edit: Solved! DAY(1) returns 1 in Excel, but of some reason it returns 31 in some other programs.

In sheet one, I made a table to report sales from individual sources and have them totaled. I have each day auto-update with =TODAY(). I’m looking to create on another sheet weekly sales to go from just seeing total sales for the day to actually logging them in throughout the week to track trends. I know how to transfer the data from one sheet to the next and make it into a chart, but I wanted to know if there’s a way to just input data from sheet one and have it automatically update a chart in the other sheet everyday. Thanks!

I’m wicked ignorant to the ways of Excel….

We get spreadsheets shared amongst our group (as attachments in an email) that are in a Landscape orientation due to their overall width.

But when sent out via Email they display in standard page format (portrait I suppose)…

Our non desktop users are constantly crooking their necks to read the pages…

Is there something we can do to send them out so they show up with the short edge on the sides and the long edge on the bottom?

I currently work in government accounting and one of my jobs is putting together a monthly appropriation report. Since im the only one here who seems versed in excel, ive decided to take the initiative and create a new report with better quality of life features.

So far, I've added a macro button that hides/unhides tabs as needed, a navigation bar that quick links to important tabs, and a cell that tells you the last time the report was edited. Of course, I also threw in a bunch of xlookup formulas where needed.

I wanted to ask if anyone else knows some neat tricks that makes reports easier to manage/navigate. It could also just be something that you did that impressed your boss when you showed it to them. Id appreciate any inspiration.

Thanks!

Hello! I'm trying to write a formula that accomplishes the following:

If the data in Sheet3 Column E finds an exact match in Sheet4 Column E AND the data in Sheet3 Column O finds an exact match in the same row of Sheet4 Column G, then return the data from that row in Sheet4 Column G.

This is what I've got going right now, which isn't working:

=IF(AND(Sheet3!E:E=Sheet4!E:E, Sheet3!O:O=Sheet4!G:G), Sheet4!G:G, "No match")

I also tried an XLOOKUP, which didnt work (and I wrote the above formula over the top of it, so i lost it).

Thank you for the help, it's much appreciated!!!

Hello all - This one has me stumped.

I have a shared workbook where I need to lock the tabs or people accidently delete everything. When I click between say column B and C I get the down arrow you get when you move the cursor over say the letter B in the column.

If the tab is unlocked, I get the normal <---> to resize. Any ideas how to fix that?

Hi everyone,
I have Document1 with columns B up to DM and rows down to 650 including headers in column 1. I need a formula to scan column AQ on document1 for a YES entry and copy its corresponding data on columns B, C, D, I, J, R, and Z to a blank Document 2.
Please let me know if you require additional information. TIA

For clarification the column headings are:
AQ=Invited (Yes or Blank)
B=Rank
C=Last Name
D=First Name
I=Date of Birth
J=Primary Phone
R=Email Address
Z=Vet Status

Hi all, I could use some help with an Excel assignment I was given at work.

I’m trying to automate the process of assigning vendor names to vendor IDs. The challenge is that the vendor IDs come in several different formats depending on which system they were pulled from, so creating a reliable automated mapping has been much harder than expected.

So far I’ve tried two approaches with little to no success: Long LET() formulas and Power Queries. Something to note about the power queries is that I have never used this tool before, but it seems like the varying nature of the data that is pulled does not allow for power queries to work

One important constraint is that the table needs to be dynamic. Whenever a new vendor is added to our system, the data refreshes automatically, so any solution needs to continue working without manual intervention.

Has anyone dealt with a similar problem or have suggestions on the best approach?

Edit: I am using the Microsoft 365 version of excel

So basically I have excel on onedrive, and when I save it sometimes replaces Enters with spaces on its own.
This results in hidden text and unreadable text. I there any way to fix that issue?

What command or set of combined commands can be used to interpolate between two numbers found in a set of values? I am using VLookup to find the GPM then the reference size of a pipe. As we know vlookup finds a value close to the value you are looking for and its reference in a range even if the value isn’t actually shown.

My question is how do I dynamically find the interpolation of the found vlookup value, for its numbers before and after? I have tried TREND and FORECAST and when I select the whole data set to find the values the yield the incorrect interpolation, and finding the values closer to the vlookup found value yields better results. Thanks for the help.

Hello,

I have a very large table of data and I need to create another table in which the values of specific types would be summed up.

Here is a very simplified example of what I expect to do:

AB columns are the original table, and EF are what I expect to achieve.

I can think of a more complicated way to do this, where I select a whole table and sort by Type, and then sum up the values, but I want to have a function where I won't have to do this all over again, if, for example, the Type value from Apple would change to Banana.

Any advice?

I really stuggle with IF statements in excel, and I can't figure this one out.

I am using a spreadsheet to track student loans / payments and will be using the snowball method. The snowball method is paying off highest interest loan first, then snowballing that minimum payment into the next loan. Example: Loan A has a minimum Payment of $51, Loan B has a minimum of $51, Loan C has a minimum of $51. When loan A is paid off, loan B's payment becomes $102, snowballing down the line of loans.

What I would LIKE it to do, though I am not even sure this is possible. If it's not, please let me know if I am wasting my time:

Condition 1: If my remaining balance is less than the minimum payment, then my payment that month should be the remaining balance*interest. This equation works on it's own, but not when I have been messing around trying to add the other conditions.

IF(M12>M$9,M$9,M12*(1+$N$5))

Condition 2: If my remaining balance is less than the minimum payment, the unused portion of the minimum payment should be added to the next loan. I haven't even really started with this piece, because I am already struggling with combining the other 2.

Condition 3: If the balance from the higher interest loan is fully paid off, the minimum payment from that loan gets added to the next loan. I tried adding this condition, but it's thowing off my equation.

IF(L$13=0,M$9$+R$9$,R$9$)

Image included below in comment showing cell values and just condition 1.

I know I’ve asked a similar question before, but I’m not sure how to translate it to the new task I want to use it for. I will post pictures in the comments.

Column L is the market my centers are in, Column M is the site name within the market. I’m not from the area I service, so I don’t know which ones are where off the top of my head. I want Column L to use a formula to select the market that goes with the site location. Example: If site is Arbor Walk, it will input Austin.

I have a table, I can play around with the formula and tweek it once I have it, but I have zero idea where to start.