Aspose.Cells FOSS for Python

Aspose.Cells FOSS for Python is a free, open-source, pure-Python library for creating, reading, modifying, and exporting Excel .xlsx workbooks without requiring Microsoft Excel.

Features

• Create, load, edit, and save .xlsx workbooks
• Read and write cell values and formulas using A1 references
• Apply fonts, fills, borders, alignment, and number formats
• Manage worksheets, merged cells, hyperlinks, page setup, and page breaks
• Create and preserve charts, pictures, shapes, tables, and sparklines
• Add data validation, conditional formatting, auto-filters, and comments
• Configure workbook, worksheet, and cell protection
• Read and write password-encrypted .xlsx files
• Import CSV and export CSV, TSV, JSON, Markdown, and PDF
• Preserve unsupported workbook parts where possible during load/save round trips

Installation

Install the package from PyPI:

pip install aspose-cells-foss

The package requires Python 3.10 or later. Its core runtime dependencies are pycryptodome>=3.15.0 and olefile>=0.46.

PDF support

PDF export uses skia-python, which is not currently installed by the core package. Install the renderer separately:

pip install "skia-python>=144.0.post2,<145"

Quick start

Create a workbook

from aspose.cells_foss import Workbook

workbook = Workbook()
worksheet = workbook.worksheets[0]

worksheet.cells["A1"].value = "Product"
worksheet.cells["B1"].value = "Revenue"
worksheet.cells["A2"].value = "Widget"
worksheet.cells["B2"].value = 1250.50

workbook.save("report.xlsx")

Read a workbook

from aspose.cells_foss import Workbook

workbook = Workbook("report.xlsx")
worksheet = workbook.worksheets[0]

print(worksheet.cells["B2"].value)

Apply cell styling

from aspose.cells_foss import Workbook

workbook = Workbook()
cell = workbook.worksheets[0].cells["A1"]
cell.value = "Quarterly Report"

style = cell.get_style()
style.font.bold = True
style.font.color = "#FF0000"
style.font.size = 14
cell.apply_style(style)

workbook.save("styled.xlsx")

Add a validation list

from aspose.cells_foss import DataValidationType, Workbook

workbook = Workbook()
worksheet = workbook.worksheets[0]

validation = worksheet.data_validations.add("A1:A10")
validation.type = DataValidationType.LIST
validation.formula1 = '"Yes,No"'

workbook.save("validation.xlsx")

Export a workbook

The output format is inferred from the file extension:

from aspose.cells_foss import Workbook

workbook = Workbook("report.xlsx")
workbook.save("report.csv")
workbook.save("report.json")
workbook.save("report.md")
workbook.save("report.pdf")  # Requires skia-python

Encrypt a workbook

from aspose.cells_foss import Workbook

workbook = Workbook()
workbook.worksheets[0].cells["A1"].value = "Confidential"
workbook.save("protected.xlsx", password="example-password")

loaded = Workbook("protected.xlsx", password="example-password")
print(loaded.worksheets[0].cells["A1"].value)

Supported formats

Format	Load	Save
XLSX	Yes	Yes
Encrypted XLSX	Yes	Yes
CSV	Yes	Yes
TSV	No	Yes
JSON	No	Yes
Markdown	No	Yes
PDF	No	Yes

CSV import is available through Workbook.load_csv() or load_csv_workbook().

Scope

• Formula expressions and cached results are preserved, but this project is not a full Excel calculation engine.
• Native workbook loading and saving targets the Open XML .xlsx format. Other spreadsheet formats such as .xls, .ods, and .xlsb are not supported.
• Some advanced Excel features are preserved as source package parts rather than exposed as editable Python objects.
• PDF output depends on locally available fonts and the optional skia-python renderer.

Examples and API

• Browse the executable examples for feature-specific workflows.
• See the package's public exports in aspose/cells_foss/__init__.py.
• Read the current release notes.
• Review development conventions in AGENTS.md.
• Found a bug or have a feature request? Open an issue.

Development

Install the development dependencies and collect or run the examples:

pip install -e ".[dev]"
python -m pytest examples -v

Generated workbooks are written below examples/outputfiles/ and are not intended for source control.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. Third-party notices are available in License/ThirdPartyNotices.txt.