How to Combine Multiple Excel Rows into One List with Sublists in Python Using openpyxl

Discover how to easily transform multiple rows from an Excel sheet into a structured list with sublists using Python's `openpyxl`.
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How to Combine Multiple Excel Rows into One List with Sublists in Python Using openpyxl

Have you ever found yourself needing to convert multiple rows from an Excel spreadsheet into a single list with sublists in Python? It’s a common challenge, especially when handling data from Excel files. Luckily, with the powerful openpyxl library, this task becomes straightforward. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps required to achieve this, ensuring you can efficiently manage your Excel data for further processing.

The Problem

While trying to extract data from an Excel sheet, you might face the issue of only obtaining the last row as a list when iterating through multiple rows. This frequently occurs when a list is mistakenly overwritten during each iteration of a loop. For instance, you may start with the intention of creating a list of lists, but end up with just a single list representing the last row of data.

Example Scenario:
Imagine you have an Excel file with multiple rows you want to combine into a large list, structured like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Instead, you might end up with just a single list that contains the last row of data, which is not helpful for your needs.

The Solution

To resolve this, we need to ensure that our outer list remains intact across iterations. Let’s break down the solution into clear sections:

Step 1: Import the Library

First, if you haven't already, you will need to import the openpyxl library, which is essential for working with Excel files in Python.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Load Your Workbook

Next, load your Excel workbook and select the active sheet where your data resides:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Initialize Your Output List

Before iterating through the rows, initialize an empty list called output. This list will store all your sublists.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 4: Iterate Through Rows

Now, while iterating through the rows, create a temporary list listtest within the loop to hold the values of each row. After populating listtest, append it to the output list.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 5: Review the Output

Once the loop finishes, your output list will contain all the rows as sublists. You can then print or use this output list as needed.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

With this simple approach, you've transformed multiple Excel rows into a well-structured list of sublists using Python's openpyxl. By ensuring that your main list (output) is not overwritten in each iteration, you can effectively store all the relevant data. This method is not only concise but also efficient for further data manipulation.

If you follow these steps, you should find the process straightforward and efficient, making your data management tasks much easier. Happy coding!