Can't write to Excel file from Python

Question

I'm trying to write to an Excel file using Python and the xlrd module, with the following code:

Table = [ 'baseMax - 1cm', 'baseMin- 1cm',
          'baseMax - 5cm', 'baseMin - 5cm',
          'baseMax - 15cm' 'baseMin - 15cm'
        ]
new_base = { 'baseMax - 1cm': [], 'baseMax - 5cm': [],
             'baseMax - 15cm': [], 'baseMin- 1cm': [],
             'baseMin - 5cm': [], 'baseMin - 15cm': []
           }
HeadName = 'Base Calculation'
for i in Table:
    base_stats.write(ROW, 0, HeadName + ' ' + i + ' - ')
    base_stats_stats.write(ROW, 1, new_base[i])
    ROW = ROW+1
    ROW = ROW+1

When I run this code I get an error at new_base[i]. I'm not sure I understand exactly what this error is about. It appears to have to do with the parameters I'm passing, but I don't really understand it.

raise Exception("Unexpected data type %r" % type(label))
  Exception: Unexpected data type <type 'list'>

Sorry, it is not clear to me what 'base_stats', or 'base_stats_stats' represent. Also I looked at the xlrd documentation and I see no mention of anything with a .write() method, that appears to come from the xlwt library. Finally, your code sample has very inconsistent indentation. And the exception stuff at the end of your post has lost me - where did it come from? — Darren Ringer
– Darren Ringer, Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 0:41
You're missing a quotation mark, and its throwing off your syntax highlighting. — Dan Oberlam
– Dan Oberlam, Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 1:47
I also notice that you have some variable names that aren't defined in the scope of your code here. I don't believe those are relevant here, however it is generally important to include all necessary code for someone else to run your snippet — Dan Oberlam
– Dan Oberlam, Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 1:55

Darren Ringer · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-12 02:21:26Z

1

I assume that your variable names and formatting are correct in your actual code.

When you're using the write method you're not giving it the correct parameters.

The following method prototype is found in the xlwt module documentation: write(r, c, label="", style=Style.default_style)

The label parameter apparently requires a string. When you reference new_base[i] you are getting back an empty list:

'baseXxx - Ncm':[]

Thus, when the write method looks for a string and instead gets [], it throws an exception.

edited Mar 12, 2015 at 2:21

answered Mar 12, 2015 at 1:42

Darren Ringer

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1 Comment

user583088 Over a year ago

thanks Darren that is what i believe is the issue proper parameter passing to the write function

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