Microsoft integrates Python into Excel for advanced data analysis and visualization

Microsoft has integrated Python into Microsoft Excel, allowing users to perform advanced data analysis and visualization within the app. This feature can be used directly from the ribbon and is part of Excel's built-in connectors and Power Query. A new PY function has been introduced, enabling users to create formulas, PivotTables, and charts based on Python data, which can be displayed within the Excel spreadsheet grid.

In collaboration with Anaconda, Python libraries such as pandas and Matplotlib are now available in the Spreadsheet App, with calculations executed in the Microsoft Cloud and results returned to Excel. This Python libraries can be used for creating visualizations such as heatmaps and violin plots.

Initially, Python in Excel is available to Microsoft 365 Insiders in the Beta Channel on Windows, with plans to expand to other platforms. During the preview phase, Python in Excel is included within the 365 subscriptions, with certain functionalities requiring a paid license after the preview. The collaboration is viewed as a synergy that enhances the capabilities of both Python and Excel communities, and opens up new opportunities not previously considered. You can take a look at the official statement in its entirety to explore all the potential opportunities.