Publications by George Mount
How to automatically adjust Excel column widths in openpyxl
Excel’s popularity stems from its user-friendly data formatting and presentation capabilities. Take, for example, the nuisance of narrow columns. Resolving this issue in Excel is as simple as selecting the affected columns and double-clicking on any one of them:Python does present unique strengths to Excel, but visual formatting of the data can b...
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How to understand the relationship between pandas, openpyxl and Power Query
In an earlier post I provided an overview of how to use the pandas and openpyxl packages together to automate the production of Excel workbooks. In that post, I likened pandas as the “Power Query of Python,” highlighting its role in cleaning and transforming tabular data.Readers might question the need for a Power Query substitute in Python whe...
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How to improve your Excel skills (FP&A Today podcast)
I had a great discussion with host Paul Barnhurst along with fellow guests and Excel MVPs Mark Proctor and Celia Alves on why and how finance and FP&A can be more effective and efficient in Excel.During the conversation, I mentioned my free white paper on essential Power Query knowledge for Excel users. Download it below.five-things-excel-users-sho...
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How to visualize data in Excel with openpyxl
In a previous post, I discussed Python’s role in the modern Excel stack. Another advantage of using Python with Excel is the wealth of data visualization options available.When working with Excel data visualizations using Python, you have two options: automating the production of an Excel chart entirely from Python, or creating a Python visual an...
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How to use Python and Excel together with pandas and openpyxl
In an earlier post I wrote about the role of Python in modern Excel and what spreadsheets users stand to gain by learning the programming language:What is the role of Python in modern Excel?In this post, we’ll compare and contrast two essential packages using Python with Excel: pandas and openpyxl.Why pandas for Excel?If you’re working with any...
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How to understand augmented analytics and the future of Excel
As the world of data analytics grows vaster and more complex, what role will Excel serve? Will it become obsolete in an AI-powered data ecosystem? This post explores the emergence of augmented analytics and the role Excel will play in this transformation.Data is getting more complexIn 2017, the International Data Corporation (IDC), a market intelli...
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Introduction to Python (Financial Modeling Institute presentation)
This event has concluded. Thank you to the Financial Modeling Institute for the opportunity to present.In March 2023 I had the opportunity to lead a one-hour webinar with the Financial Modeling Institute (FMI) on an introduction to Python. Event description:If you’re a financial professional looking to grow your data analysis skills, Python offer...
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What is the role of Python in modern Excel?
Between Power Query and Power Pivot alone, “modern” Excel boasts so many features that it’s impossible to learn them all. Add to that Office Scripts, Power BI, LAMBDA() and more and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.One “Excel-adjacent” tool that can be particularly intimidating for prospective learners is Python. Shouldn’t this be the las...
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What it’s like recording analytics courses at a professional studio
In January 2023, I traveled to Santa Barbara, sunny Californ-i-a to record two data analytics courses with Madecraft. There will be plenty of opportunity to discuss the contents of these courses, but for now I’d like to reflect on the process of recording them in the studio.Making a video course with a professional crew had been on my periphera...
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How to install the xlwings add-in for Excel
Many packages exist for working with Python and Excel, but xlwings may be the most powerful all-around due to its many reading and writing features. This versatility, however, comes at the cost of being relatively more difficult to set up.For example, one of the most useful features of xlwings is the ability to write Python user-defined functions...
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