Microsoft has announced the release of a public preview of Python in Excel, a feature that permits Excel users to manipulate and analyze data using Python.

"You can manipulate and explore data in Excel with Python charts and libraries, and then use Excel's formulas, charts, and PivotTables to further refine your findings", said Stefan Kinnestrand, general manager of modern work at Microsoft. "Now you can perform advanced data analysis in the familiar Excel environment by accessing Python directly from the Excel menu".

To use this feature, you don't need to install any additional software or set up a plugin. Python integration in Excel is done through the built-in Excel and Power Query connectors. Microsoft is also adding a new PY feature that permits you to display Python data in an Excel spreadsheet grid.

Through a partnership with Anaconda, the corporate Python repository, popular Python libraries such as pandas, statsmodels, and Matplotlib will be available in Excel.

Python calculations are performed in the Microsoft Cloud and the results are returned to an Excel worksheet. Excel users will be able to create formulas, PivotTables, and charts from Python data, as well as connect charting libraries such as Matplotlib and Seaborn to visualize heat maps, plots, and swarm charts.

“I'm thrilled that this excellent and tight integration of Python and Excel has now seen the light of day", said Guido van Rossum, creator of Python and now a Microsoft engineer. “I expect both communities to find interesting new uses for this collaboration that enhance the capabilities of each partner. When I joined Microsoft three years ago, I never imagined that this was possible".

Python in Excel is available today as a public preview for Microsoft 365 Insiders on the Beta Channel. At first, it will be available only for Windows, and then, "later", it will become available for other platforms. Python in Excel will be included in a Microsoft 365 subscription during preview, but "some features will be limited to a paid license" after the preview ends, Microsoft said.