EXCEL TO PYTHON
Cheat Sheet
The Evolution from
Excel to Python
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Excel, with its user-friendly interface, has been the
cornerstone of data analysis for years. Yet, as data
grows in size and complexity, its limitations become
evident. Python, armed with libraries like Pandas, offers
advanced data capabilities, bridging the gap.
Transitioning to Python is not about replacement, but
about adapting to a data-rich era.
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PANDAS
What is Pandas?
Pandas is a powerful open-source data analysis and manipulation library
for Python. It provides data structures and functions needed to work with
structured data seamlessly.
Think of it as Excel, but in the form of a programming library.
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PANDAS
DATAFRAMES VS. EXCEL SHEETS
Excel Sheets
In Excel, you work with sheets, which are essentially tables of data with rows
and columns.
You can apply formulas, create charts, and use tools like PivotTables.
Pandas DataFrames
A DataFrame is the primary data structure in Pandas, similar to an Excel
sheet.
It's a two-dimensional table with labeled axes (rows and columns).
You can perform operations on DataFrames using Python code, offering
more flexibility and automation than Excel.
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PANDAS
SERIES VS. EXCEL COLUMNS
Excel Columns
A column in Excel represents a series of data. You can apply formulas to
these columns.
Pandas Series
A Series in Pandas is a one-dimensional labeled array.
It's similar to a column in Excel but can be manipulated using Python
functions.
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PANDAS
DATA MANIPULATION: EXCEL VS. PANDAS
Excel
Uses functions and formulas (e.g., VLOOKUP, SUM, AVERAGE).
Provides a graphical interface for tasks like filtering, sorting, and formatting.
Pandas
Uses methods and functions (e.g., `merge()`, `sum()`, `mean()`).
Offers more advanced and automated data manipulation capabilities
through code.
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PANDAS
VISUALIZATION AND ANALYSIS
Excel
Provides tools like charts, graphs, and PivotTables for data visualization and
analysis.
Pandas
Can integrate with visualization libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn
Offers more customization and advanced analysis capabilities.
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PANDAS
WHY TRANSITION TO PANDAS?
Scalability: Pandas can handle larger datasets more efficiently than Excel.
Automation: Repetitive tasks can be automated using Python scripts.
Integration: Pandas can integrate with other Python libraries and tools for
more advanced analytics, machine learning, and data visualization.
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LARGE DATASETS
What are Large Datasets?
Datasets that are too large to be easily managed, processed, or analyzed
with traditional tools like Excel.
Often referred to as "Big Data" in certain contexts.
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LARGE DATASETS
LIMITATIONS OF EXCEL
Size Limit
Excel has a row limit (1,048,576 rows). For datasets exceeding this, Excel is not
an option.
Performance Issues
As datasets grow, Excel can become slow, unresponsive, or even crash.
Lack of Advanced Analysis Tools
While Excel is powerful, it lacks advanced data analysis, manipulation, and
machine learning tools.
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LARGE DATASETS
ADVANTAGES OF PYTHON FOR LARGE DATASETS
Scalability
Python, especially with libraries like Pandas and Dask, can handle much
larger datasets efficiently.
Flexibility
Python offers a wide range of libraries and tools for data processing, analysis,
visualization, and machine learning.
Automation
Repetitive and complex tasks can be automated using Python scripts,
making data processing more efficient.
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LARGE DATASETS
DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
Excel
Limited to file-based storage, which can be inefficient for very large datasets.
Python
Can integrate with databases (e.g., SQL, NoSQL) and cloud storage solutions,
allowing for efficient data storage and retrieval.
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LARGE DATASETS
ADVANCED DATA ANALYSIS AND MACHINE LEARNING
Excel
Limited to basic statistical tools and data analysis functions.
Python
Offers libraries like Scikit-learn for machine learning, TensorFlow for deep
learning, and Statsmodels for advanced statistical modeling
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LARGE DATASETS
COLLABORATION AND REPRODUCIBILITY
Excel
Collaborating on large Excel files can be challenging. Reproducing analyses
can also be difficult due to manual steps.
Python
Supports version control (e.g., Git), making collaboration easier. Analyses in
Python scripts are reproducible, ensuring consistency.
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WHY TRANSITION?
Efficiency: Python can process large datasets faster and more efficiently than Excel.
Capabilities: Python offers a broader range of tools and libraries for advanced analysis.
Future-Proofing: As data continues to grow, transitioning to Python ensures you have
the tools to handle data challenges of the future.
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Excel to Python
Terminology Glossary
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DATAFRAME
EXCEL PYTHON (PANDAS)
A table of data with rows and A two-dimensional, size-
columns. In Excel, this is often mutable, and heterogeneous
just referred to as a "table" or tabular data structure with
"worksheet." labeled axes (rows and
columns). It's similar to an Excel
worksheet and can store
various types of data, including
numbers, strings, and dates.
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SERIES
EXCEL PYTHON (PANDAS)
A single column of data. In A one-dimensional labeled
Excel charts, a series refers to a array capable of holding any
set of data points plotted on a data type (integers, strings,
chart. floating-point numbers, Python
objects, etc.). It's essentially a
single column of a DataFrame.
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PIVOT
EXCEL PYTHON (PANDAS)
A PivotTable is a data The `pivot` method in Pandas
summarization tool used in reshapes data based on
Excel. It allows users to column values and reorients
summarize and analyze large the DataFrame. It's similar to
datasets by displaying data in creating a PivotTable in Excel,
a more compact format with and you can specify which
rows, columns, values, and columns become the new rows,
filters. columns, and values in the
reshaped DataFrame.
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GROUPBY
EXCEL PYTHON (PANDAS)
In Excel, grouping data is often The `groupby` method in
done using the "Group" feature Pandas allows you to group
or through PivotTables to rows of data together based on
aggregate data based on the values in one or more
certain criteria. columns and then perform
aggregate functions on the
grouped data, such as sum,
count, mean, etc. It's a powerful
tool for data analysis and is
similar to the grouping feature
in Excel PivotTables.
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CHEAT SHEET
Excel functions and
Their Python Equivalents
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BASIC OPERATIONS
Excel Python (Pandas)
SUM(A1:A10) df['column_name'].sum()
AVERAGE(A1:A10) df['column_name'].mean()
MAX(A1:A10) df['column_name'].max()
MIN(A1:A10) df['column_name'].min()
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TEXT MANIPULATION
Excel Python (Pandas)
CONCATENATE(A1, B1) df['A'] + df['B']
LEFT(A1, 3) df['column_name'].str[:3]
RIGHT(A1, 3) df['column_name'].str[-3:]
LEN(A1) df['column_name'].str.len()
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DATE AND TIME
Excel Python (Pandas)
TODAY() pd.Timestamp.now().date()
YEAR(A1) df['date_column'].dt.year
MONTH(A1) df['date_column'].dt.month
DAY(A1) df['date_column'].dt.day
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LOOKUP AND REFERENCE
Excel Python (Pandas)
df.merge(lookup_table, on='key_column',
VLOOKUP(A1, Table, 2, FALSE)
how='left')
HLOOKUP(A1, Table, 2, FALSE) Similar to VLOOKUP in Pandas
INDEX(A1:A10, 5) df['column_name'].iloc[4]
MATCH(A1, A1:A10, 0) df['column_name'][df['column_name'] == value].index[0]
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LOGICAL OPERATIONS
Excel Python (Pandas)
IF(A1 > 10, "Yes", "No") df['column_name'].apply(lambda x: 'Yes' if x > 10 else 'No')
AND(A1 > 10, B1 < 5) (df['A'] > 10) & (df['B'] < 5)
OR(A1 > 10, B1 < 5) `(df['A'] > 10)
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DATA ANALYSIS
Excel Python (Pandas)
PivotTable df.pivot_table(index='...', columns='...', values='...', aggfunc='...')
Filter (A1:A10, A1 > 10) df[df['column_name'] > 10]
Sort (A1:A10, Ascending) df.sort_values(by='column_name')
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CHEAT SHEET
Common Data
Manipulation Tasks
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DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT
Excel Task Excel Method Python (Pandas) Method
Import CSV File > Open pd.read_csv('filename.csv')
Export to CSV File > Save As > CSV df.to_csv('filename.csv', index=False)
Import Excel File > Open pd.read_excel('filename.xlsx')
Export to Excel File > Save As > Excel df.to_excel('filename.xlsx', index=False)
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DATA EXPLORATION
Excel Task Excel Method Python (Pandas) Method
View first 5 rows Scroll df.head()
View last 5 rows Scroll to end df.tail()
Get summary stats Right-click > Quick Analysis df.describe()
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DATA CLEANING
Excel Task Excel Method Python (Pandas) Method
Find and replace Ctrl + H df.replace('old_value', 'new_value')
Remove duplicates Data > Remove Duplicates df.drop_duplicates()
Fill blank cells Ctrl + Enter df.fillna('value')
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DATA TRANSFORMATION
Excel Task Excel Method Python (Pandas) Method
Add new column Insert Column df['new_column'] = df['column1'] + df['column2']
Group data PivotTable df.groupby('column_name').aggfunc()
Filter data Filter button df[df['column_name'] == 'value']
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DATA ANALYSIS
Excel Task Excel Method Python (Pandas) Method
df.pivot_table(index='...', columns='...', values='...',
Summarize data PivotTable
aggfunc='...')
Create a chart Insert > Chart df.plot(kind='chart_type')
Home > Conditional Not directly applicable in Pandas, but can be visualized using
Conditional formatting
Formatting libraries like Seaborn or Matplotlib
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ADVANCED OPERATIONS
Excel Task Excel Method Python (Pandas) Method
Date difference DATEDIF function df['date_end'] - df['date_start']
Text split Text to Columns df['column_name'].str.split('delimiter')
Merge data VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH pd.merge(df1, df2, on='key_column')
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CHEAT SHEET
Icons and Color Cues for
Easy Reference
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📂 DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT
Excel Task Excel Icon Python (Pandas) Method Python Icon
Import CSV 📄 pd.read_csv('filename.csv') 🐍
Export to CSV 💾 df.to_csv('filename.csv', index=False) 📤
Import Excel 📘 pd.read_excel('filename.xlsx') 🐍
Export to Excel 💾 df.to_excel('filename.xlsx', index=False) 📤
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🔍 DATA EXPLORATION
Excel Task Excel Icon Python (Pandas) Method Python Icon
View first 5 rows 👓 df.head() 🖼️
View last 5 rows 👓 df.tail() 🖼️
Get summary stats 📊 df.describe() 📈
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🧹 DATA CLEANING
Excel Python
Excel Task Python (Pandas) Method
Icon Icon
Find and replace 🔍➡️ df.replace('old_value', 'new_value') 🔄
Remove duplicates ❌ df.drop_duplicates() 🚫
Fill blank cells ⬜ df.fillna('value') ✅
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🔄 DATA TRANSFORMATION
Excel Python
Excel Task Python (Pandas) Method
Icon Icon
Add new
column
➕ df['new_column'] = df['column1'] + df['column2'] 🆕
Group data 📑 df.groupby('column_name').aggfunc() 📂
Filter data 🔍 df[df['column_name'] == 'value'] 🕵️
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📊 DATA ANALYSIS
Excel Python
Task Python (Pandas) Method
Icon Icon
Summarize
data
📑 df.pivot_table(index='...', columns='...', values='...',
aggfunc='...')
📊
Create a
chart
📉 df.plot(kind='chart_type') 📈
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🔧 ADVANCED OPERATIONS
Excel Python
Excel Task Python (Pandas) Method
Icon Icon
Date difference 📅 df['date_end'] - df['date_start'] ⏳
Text split ✂️ df['column_name'].str.split('delimiter') 🧩
Merge data 🔗 pd.merge(df1, df2, on='key_column') ⛓️
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CHEAT SHEET
Easing Into Python:
Transitioning Tips
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PRACTICAL TIPS:
Start small: Begin with basic data manipulation tasks in Python.
Practice regularly: The more you code, the more comfortable you'll become.
Seek community support: Engage in forums, attend workshops, and join
Python groups.
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WISHING YOU CONTINUED GROWTH AND
SUCCESS IN YOUR PYTHON JOURNEY!
Embrace the journey of transitioning from Excel to Python. While there's a
learning curve, the rewards in terms of efficiency, capabilities, and future-
proofing your skills are immense.
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