Python Programming On Win32

Starting Excel

Start up PythonWin and enter the following:

>>> from win32com.client import Dispatch
>>> xlApp = Dispatch("Excel.Application") 
>>> xlApp.Visible = 1
>>> xlApp.Workbooks.Add()
<win32com.gen_py.Microsoft Excel 8.0 Object Library.Workbook>
>>>

There will be a few-second pause before Excel starts. You should see Excel appear when you enter xlApp.Visible = 1, but with an empty main window; the final line creates a blank workbook with three sheets. Note that the return value of Add is informative. This is part of what Makepy does for you; if you had not run it, you’d get a less informative string back. By the way, we’ve made Excel visible for teaching purposes; if you just want to manipulate data, keep it hidden and save processor cycles.