How to call python script on excel vba?

There are a couple of ways to solve this problem

Pyinx – a pretty lightweight tool that allows you to call Python from withing the excel process space
http://code.google.com/p/pyinex/

I’ve used this one a few years ago (back when it was being actively developed) and it worked quite well

If you don’t mind paying, this looks pretty good

https://datanitro.com/product.html

I’ve never used it though

Though if you are already writting in Python, maybe you could drop excel entirely and do everything in pure python? It’s a lot easier to maintain one code base (python) rather than 2 (python + whatever excel overlay you have).

If you really have to output your data into excel there are even some pretty good tools for that in Python. If that may work better let me know and I’ll get the links.

You can also try ExcelPython which allows you to manipulate Python object and call code from VBA.

Try this:

retVal = Shell("python.exe <full path to your python script>", vbNormalFocus)

replace <full path to your python script> with the full path

This code will works:

 your_path= ActiveWorkbook.Path & "your_python_file.py" 

 Shell "RunDll32.Exe Url.Dll,FileProtocolHandler " & your_path, vbNormalFocus 

ActiveWorkbook.Path return the current directory of the workbook. The shell command open the file through the shell of Windows.

To those who are stuck wondering why a window flashes and goes away without doing anything the python script is meant to do after calling the shell command from VBA:
In my program

Sub runpython()

Dim Ret_Val
args = """F:my folderhelloworld.py"""
Ret_Val = Shell("C:UsersusernameAppDataLocalProgramsPythonPython36python.exe " & " " & args, vbNormalFocus)
If Ret_Val = 0 Then
   MsgBox "Couldn't run python script!", vbOKOnly
End If
End Sub

In the line args = “””F:my folderhelloworld.py”””, I had to use triple quotes for this to work. If I use just regular quotes like: args = “F:my folderhelloworld.py” the program would not work. The reason for this is that there is a space in the path (my folder). If there is a space in the path, in VBA, you need to use triple quotes.

To those who are stuck wondering why a window flashes and goes away without doing anything, the problem may related to the RELATIVE path in your Python script. e.g. you used “.”. Even the Python script and Excel Workbook is in the same directory, the Current Directory may still be different. If you don’t want to modify your code to change it to an absolute path. Just change your current Excel directory before you run the python script by:

ChDir ActiveWorkbook.Path

I’m just giving a example here. If the flash do appear, one of the first issues to check is the Current Working Directory.

I just came across this old post. Nothing listed above actually worked for me. I tested the script below, and it worked fine on my system. Sharing here, for the benefit of others who come to this spot after me.

Sub RunPython()

Dim objShell As Object
Dim PythonExe, PythonScript As String
    
    Set objShell = VBA.CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")

    PythonExe = """C:your_pathPythonPython38python.exe"""
    PythonScript = "C:your_pathfrom_vba.py"
    
    objShell.Run PythonExe & PythonScript
    
End Sub

ChDir "" was the solution for me. I use vba from WORD to launch a python3 script.

In my case, as I have my script in a different directory than my ms access document and, in that script I import variables from other scripts, I had to change the directory first. Then I can use correctly the shell function.

   ChDir "C:Usersdirectory_where_the_script_is"
   Call Shell("C:Users...python.exe " & "your_script_name.py", 1)

for me this not working
RetVal = Shell(" " & ActiveWorkBook.Path & "<python script name>")

for me this :

RetVal = Shell("python3" & " " & "C:abcxyz.py")

I think above answers have a catastrophic problem:

after running the macro,cmd window would close automatically, instantly. In case output is not as expected you would have absolutely zero debug information.
Finally I found a better way in which case, cmd window remains open and shows all the information (print of python) and error log.

code as below:

  Sub RunPythonScript()
        cwd = ActiveWorkbook.Path 'current working directory
        workbookName = ActiveWorkbook.Name
        pythonScriptName = "main.py"
        workbookNameWithPath = cwd & "" & workbookName
        pythonScriptNameWithPath = cwd & "" & pythonScriptName
        pythonExePath = "C:UsersUSERNAMEAppDataLocalProgramsPythonPython39python.exe" ' change path as output of "where python"    
        
Shell "cmd.exe /k """"" & pythonExePath & """ """ & pythonScriptNameWithPath & """""", vbNormalFocus
    End Sub

In case anyone else runs into that issue, make sure your script doesn’t contain any relative path references as it won’t work when run from VBA.