Excel like a finance pro.
Python & AI function
PY
Runs Python code in a cell using Python in Excel, returning either a Python object or an Excel value.
When to use it
Runs Python inside a cell using Python in Excel. Type =PY( to enter Python mode; reference cells with xl(). The second argument chooses whether the result comes back as an Excel value or stays a Python object.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=PY(python_code, return_type)
Worked examples
A simple calculation
=PY("xl(\"B2\") * 2", 1) → 20
B2 is 10. Return type 1 puts the value in the grid.
A library call
=PY("import statistics; statistics.median(xl(\"A1:A10\", headers=False)[0])", 1) → 52,000
A library call over a range.
pandas over a table
=PY("xl(\"Table1[#All]\", headers=True).describe()", 1) → summary statistics table
pandas describe() on a table, spilled.
Worth knowing
- Type =PY( or press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P to open a Python cell. Reference ranges with xl("A1:B10").
- Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P opens a Python cell directly.
- Return type 0 keeps a DataFrame as a Python object for another PY cell to use.
- Code runs in the Microsoft cloud, so private data leaves the machine.
Where it goes wrong
- #PYTHON! with a message for runtime errors; check the diagnostics pane.
- Requires a Microsoft 365 plan with Python in Excel and an internet connection.
Related
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