Microsoft has recently announced a new feature that allows users to run Python code within Excel, enabling easier integration between Python and Excel analytics. This development comes as a result of Microsoft’s partnership with Anaconda, the data science-oriented Python distribution. With this partnership, Excel users can now access Anaconda’s Python distribution, which includes widely-used libraries like Pandas and Matplotlib.
According to Anaconda CEO Peter Wang, the integration of Anaconda’s Python into Excel is a significant breakthrough that will revolutionize the workflow of millions of Excel users globally. This newfound accessibility to Python in Excel will empower users to create more sophisticated visualizations, data manipulation techniques, analytics, and even machine learning models using their spreadsheet data.
One key aspect of this integration is the secure environment provided by hypervisor isolated containers built on Azure Container Instances. This ensures that the Python code runs securely, without accessing the user’s computer, devices, account, network, or workbook properties. Microsoft’s focus on security and privacy is evident with this feature.
Although Python developers have previously been able to read and write data to Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft believes that their backend management and code-ready spreadsheets will be a more appealing option. The ability to write Python code in the Excel public preview can be done by invoking the Python function (=PY) and writing the desired code in a spreadsheet cell.
Microsoft has also stated that future updates will bring further improvements related to editing, error behaviors, and data size and compute limitations. This indicates a commitment to enhancing the user experience and expanding the capabilities of Python in Excel.
Overall, the addition of Python support in Excel represents a significant advancement in the world of data analysis and visualization. With this integration, Microsoft is empowering Excel users to leverage the power of Python and take their data analysis to new heights.
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