EasyXLS

How to set rich text format in cells in Python

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files with Python on Windows, Linux, Mac or other operating systems. The integration vary depending on the operating system or if the bridge for .NET Framework of Java is chosen:

EasyXLS on Windows using .NET Framework with Python

If you opt for the .NET version of EasyXLS, the below code requires Pythonnet, a bridge between Python and .NET Framework.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for .NET

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 3: Install Pythonnet

For the installation you need to run "pip" command as it follows. Pip is a package-management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python.
<Python installation path>\Scripts>pip install "pythonnet.whl"

Step 4: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.dll must be added to your project. EasyXLS.dll can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Dot NET version" folder.

Step 5: Run Python code that sets rich text format in Excel cells

Execute the following Python code that exports rich text format (RTF) in an Excel cell.

"""-------------------------------------------------------------
Tutorial 19

This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in Python having
multiple sheets. The first sheet is filled with data and the
first cell of the second row contains data in rich text format.
-------------------------------------------------------------"""

import clr
import gc

clr.AddReference('EasyXLS')
from EasyXLS import *
from EasyXLS.Constants import *

print("Tutorial 19\n----------\n")

# Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files having two sheets
workbook = ExcelDocument(2)

# Set the sheet names
workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).setSheetName("First tab")
workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1).setSheetName("Second tab")

# Get the table of data for the first worksheet
xlsFirstTable = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).easy_getExcelTable()

# Create the string used to set the RTF in cell
sFormattedValue = "This is <b>bold</b>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <i>italic</i>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <u>underline</u>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <underline double>double underline</underline double>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font color=red>red</font>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font color=rgb(255,0,0)>red</font> too."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font face=\"Arial Black\">Arial Black</font>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font size=15pt>size 15</font>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <s>strikethrough</s>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <sup>superscript</sup>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <sub>subscript</sub>."
sFormattedValue += "\n<b>This</b> <i>is</i> <font color=red face=\"Arial Black\" "
"size=15pt><underline double>formatted</underline double></font> <s>text</s>."

# Set the rich text value in cell
xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(1, 0).setHTMLValue(sFormattedValue)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(1, 0).setDataType(DataType.STRING)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(1, 0).setWrap(True)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getRowAt(1).setHeight(260)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getColumnAt(0).setWidth(250)

# Export Excel file
print("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial19 - RTF for Excel cells.xlsx.")
workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial19 - RTF for Excel cells.xlsx")

# Confirm export of Excel file
sError = workbook.easy_getError()

if sError == "":
    print("\nFile successfully created.\n\n")
else:
    print("\nError encountered: " + sError + "\n\n")

# Dispose memory
gc.collect()

EasyXLS on Linux, Mac, Windows using Java with Python

If you opt for the Java version of EasyXLS, a similar code as above requires Py4J, Pyjnius or any other bridge between Python and Java.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for Java

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for Java

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 3: Install Py4j

For the Py4j installation you need to run "pip" command as it follows. Pip is a package-management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python.
<Python installation path>\Scripts>pip install "py4j.whl"

Step 4: Create additional Java program

The following Java code needs to be running in the background prior to executing the Python code.

import py4j.GatewayServer;

public class GatewayServerApp {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    GatewayServerApp app = new GatewayServerApp();
    // app is now the gateway.entry_point
    GatewayServer server = new GatewayServer(app);
    server.start();
  }
}


Step 5: Add py4j library to CLASSPATH

py4j.jar must be added to your classpath of the additional Java program. py4j.jar can be found after installing Py4j, in "<Python installation path>\share\py4j" folder.

Step 6: Add EasyXLS library to CLASSPATH

EasyXLS.jar must be added to your classpath of the additional Java program. EasyXLS.jar can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Lib" folder.

Step 7: Run additional Java program

Start the gateway server application and it will implicitly start Java Virtual Machine as well.

Step 8: Run Python code that sets rich text format in Excel cells

Execute a code as below Python code that exports rich text format (RTF) in an Excel cell.

"""----------------------------------------------------------------
Tutorial 19

This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in Python
having multiple sheets. The first sheet is filled with data and
the first cell of the second row contains data in rich text format.
----------------------------------------------------------------"""

import gc

from py4j.java_gateway import JavaGateway
from py4j.java_gateway import java_import 
gateway = JavaGateway()

java_import(gateway.jvm,'EasyXLS.*')
java_import(gateway.jvm,'EasyXLS.Constants.*')

print("Tutorial 19\n----------\n")

# Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files having two sheets
workbook = gateway.jvm.ExcelDocument(2)

# Set the sheet names
workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).setSheetName("First tab")
workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1).setSheetName("Second tab")

# Get the table of data for the first worksheet
xlsFirstTable = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).easy_getExcelTable()

# Create the string used to set the RTF in cell
sFormattedValue = "This is <b>bold</b>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <i>italic</i>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <u>underline/<u>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <underline double>double underline</underline double>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font color=red>red</font>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font color=rgb(255,0,0)>red</font> too."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font face=\"Arial Black\">Arial Black</font>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <font size=15pt>size 15</font>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <s>strikethrough</s>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <sup>superscript</sup>."
sFormattedValue += "\nThis is <sub>subscript</sub>."
sFormattedValue += "\n<b>This</b> <i>is</i> <font color=red face=\"Arial Black\" "
"size=15pt><underline double>formatted</underline double></font> <s>text</s>."

# Set the rich text value in cell
xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(1, 0).setHTMLValue(sFormattedValue)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(1, 0).setDataType(gateway.jvm.DataType.STRING)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(1, 0).setWrap(True)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getRowAt(1).setHeight(260)
xlsFirstTable.easy_getColumnAt(0).setWidth(250)

# Export Excel file
print("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial19 - RTF for Excel cells.xlsx.")
workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial19 - RTF for Excel cells.xlsx")

# Confirm export of Excel file
sError = workbook.easy_getError()

if sError == "":
    print("\nFile successfully created.\n")
else:
    print("\nError encountered: " + sError + "\n\n")

# Dispose memory
gc.collect()

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

.NET
Excel Library for Python .NET
full .NET version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for Python .NET
.NET version to create and export Excel files
-
Java
Excel Library for Python Java
full Java version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for Python Java
Java version to create and export Excel files
Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for Python

File formats:

Office 365
MS Excel 2021 - 2024
MS Excel 2007 - 2019
MS Excel 97 - 2003
XLSXXLSMXLSBXLS
XMLHTMLCSVTXT