How to Analyze Images Within Microsoft Excel Sheets by Running Python Code

Microsoft has introduced a significant update to Excel that changes how you can work with visual information. You can now use the Python programming language directly within your spreadsheets to analyze and change images. This new feature is designed to make working with visual data much simpler and faster, removing the need for extra software or complicated steps. It is available for Excel on Windows, Mac, and for the web.

This integration allows you to place an image into a single cell and use Python code to understand or alter it. For professionals who rely on data, this opens up a new world of possibilities, turning your spreadsheet into a more powerful and intelligent tool for analysis.

What This New Feature Means for You

Think of this update as giving your spreadsheet ‘eyes.’ Before, Excel was mainly for numbers and text. Now, it can ‘see’ and process the contents of a picture. This is not just a minor tweak; it’s a new way to handle data workflows inside a program you already know well.

Here are some of the things you can now do directly in Excel:

Check Image Quality

Automatically detect if a photo is sharp or blurry. This is incredibly useful for cataloging product photos or reviewing marketing materials to ensure they meet quality standards.

Analyze Hidden Data

Extract metadata from image files. This means you can pull information like the date a photo was taken, the type of camera used, and other details without opening a separate program.

Edit Images in Bulk

You can apply changes to images, such as adjusting the brightness, changing colors, or adding a company logo as a watermark for brand consistency.

Perform Advanced Analysis

This feature uses a powerful Python library called Pillow, which is an efficient tool for processing and analyzing image data. This opens the door to more complex tasks, like using machine learning models to identify objects or classify images right from your worksheet.

How to Analyze an Image

Getting started is straightforward. Microsoft provides an example to test whether an image is blurry or sharp. The code works by applying a special filter to measure the amount of detail. A low amount of variation suggests the image is blurry, while a high amount indicates it’s sharp.

Step 1: Insert Your Image

First, place an image into a single Excel cell. To do this, go to the Insert tab, select Illustrations, then Pictures, and finally choose Place in Cell. It’s important that the image is entirely inside one cell, as the Python code will refer to that specific cell.

Step 2: Start a Python Formula

In an empty cell, type =PY( to tell Excel you are entering a Python formula.

Step 3: Enter the Code

Copy and paste the following script into the formula bar. This code tells Python to look at the image in cell “A1”, convert it to a simpler black-and-white format, and then analyze its sharpness.

from PIL import Image
import numpy as np
from scipy.signal import convolve2d
# Convert image to grayscale and array
image = xl("A1")
arr = np.array(image.convert("L"), dtype=np.float32)
# Apply Laplacian filter
laplacian = convolve2d(arr, [[0, 1, 0], [1, -4, 1], [0, 1, 0]], mode='same', boundary='symm')
# Classify based on variance
"Blurry" if np.var(laplacian) < 100 else "Sharp"

Step 4: Run the Analysis

Press Ctrl + Enter. The cell will now display either “Sharp” or “Blurry” based on its analysis of the image.

Important Details to Keep in Mind

To ensure everything runs smoothly, there are a few things to be aware of:

Performance Management

Working with high-resolution images can use a lot of your computer’s resources. Excel includes a helpful setting to manage this. Under File > Options > Advanced > Python in Excel, you can choose the size of the images you are working with, from their actual resolution down to a small 320×240 size. This helps prevent errors and keeps Excel running quickly.

System Requirements

To use this feature, you need to have a version of Excel that supports it.

• For Windows: Version 2509 (Build 19204.20002) or later.
• For Mac: Version 16.101 (Build 25080524) or later.
• For Excel for the web: The feature is gradually being rolled out to users.

This update makes Excel an even more essential tool for anyone working with data. By bringing advanced image analysis into a familiar spreadsheet environment, you can save valuable time, uncover new insights, and make your work more impactful.