openexcel-c 0.1.5

High-performance .xlsx reader/writer (C extension)

openexcel

A high-performance Python library for reading and writing .xlsx files, implemented as a C extension. Designed as a drop-in accelerator for workloads where openpyxl is too slow.

Why

openpyxl is pure Python. For large files (100k+ rows), the bottlenecks are ZIP extraction, XML parsing, and per-cell object allocation — all done in the Python interpreter. openexcel moves these to C:

• Streaming SAX parsing via libexpat — never loads the full XML into memory
• Flat sorted cell array — O(1) append during parse, O(1) sequential iteration
• GIL released during read and write — other threads run freely
• Vendored miniz — no external ZIP dependency

Benchmarked against openpyxl on mixed workloads (integers, floats, booleans, dates, strings):

Rows	Write speedup	Read speedup
1,000	8.5×	5.3×
10,000	8.8×	5.2×
50,000	8.1×	5.3×
100,000	8.0×	5.3×
250,000	7.8×	5.4×

~8× faster writes, ~5× faster reads across all sizes tested.

Feature benchmarks

Benchmarked on macOS arm64, Python 3.11. Each result is the median of 3 runs.

Benchmark	openexcel	openpyxl	Speedup
Cell access (10k reads)	1.69 ms	1.82 ms	1.1×
Number format set (1k cells)	220 µs	429 µs	2.0×
Number format roundtrip (1k cells)	2.04 ms	18.04 ms	8.8×
Formula write (1k cells)	390 µs	942 µs	2.4×
Formula roundtrip (1k cells)	2.88 ms	23.09 ms	8.0×
Merged cells roundtrip (100 ranges)	366 µs	12.90 ms	35.2×
Column/row dimensions roundtrip (50+50)	329 µs	4.54 ms	13.8×
Named ranges roundtrip (20)	321 µs	3.36 ms	10.5×
Freeze panes roundtrip	525 µs	5.56 ms	10.6×
Hyperlinks roundtrip (50 cells)	662 µs	5.26 ms	7.9×
Data validation roundtrip (10 rules)	390 µs	3.44 ms	8.8×
Page setup roundtrip	355 µs	3.11 ms	8.8×
Sheet protection roundtrip	347 µs	3.42 ms	9.9×

The pattern: in-memory cell manipulation is ~2× faster; any operation involving save+load is 8–35× faster. The C XML serializer and SAX parser are where the largest gains appear.

Installation

pip install openexcel-c

Pre-built wheels are available for macOS (arm64, x86_64) and Linux (x86_64, aarch64) for Python 3.10–3.13.

Building from source

You need CMake ≥ 3.20, a C11 compiler, and libexpat development headers.

# macOS
brew install expat cmake

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install libexpat1-dev cmake

pip install openexcel-c --no-binary openexcel-c

Usage

Reading

import openexcel

wb = openexcel.load_workbook("data.xlsx")
ws = wb.active   # first sheet

# Iterate rows — returns tuples of Python values
for row in ws.iter_rows():
    print(row)   # e.g. (1, "hello", 3.14, True, datetime.date(2024, 6, 1))

# Slice a range
for row in ws.iter_rows(min_row=2, max_row=100, min_col=1, max_col=5):
    print(row)

Cell objects

# Single cell by A1 notation
cell = ws["A1"]
print(cell.value, cell.row, cell.column, cell.coordinate)  # 42, 1, 1, "A1"

# Single cell by row/column
cell = ws.cell(row=1, column=1)

# Range — returns tuple of tuples of Cell objects
cells = ws["A1:C3"]

# Set a value
cell.value = "hello"
cell.value = 3.14
cell.value = datetime.date(2024, 6, 1)

Cell values map to Python types:

Excel type	Python type
Number	float
String	str
Boolean	bool
Date / datetime	datetime.date / datetime.datetime
Formula	str (e.g. "=SUM(A1:A10)")
Empty	None
Error	str (e.g. "#DIV/0!")

Writing

import openexcel
import datetime

wb = openexcel.Workbook()
ws = wb.create_sheet("Sheet1")

ws.append(["Name", "Score", "Date"])
ws.append(["Alice", 98.5, datetime.date(2024, 6, 1)])
ws.append(["Bob",   72.0, datetime.date(2024, 6, 2)])

wb.save("output.xlsx")

Number formats

cell = ws["A1"]
cell.value = 0.1234
cell.number_format = "0.00%"   # displays as 12.34%

cell2 = ws["B1"]
cell2.value = 1234567.89
cell2.number_format = "#,##0.00"

# Read back the format string after loading
wb2 = openexcel.load_workbook("output.xlsx")
print(wb2[0]["A1"].number_format)  # "0.00%"

All built-in Excel format IDs (0–49) are recognized by format string. Custom format strings are assigned IDs starting at 164 and are round-tripped correctly.

Formulas

ws["A1"].value = 10
ws["A2"].value = 20
ws["A3"].value = "=SUM(A1:A2)"   # leading "=" marks a formula

# After save/load:
cell = wb2[0]["A3"]
print(cell.value)      # "=SUM(A1:A2)"
print(cell.data_type)  # "f"

Formulas are stored and round-tripped as strings. openexcel does not evaluate formulas — cached values from the original file are not preserved (matching openpyxl's default data_only=False behavior).

Sheet formatting

# Column and row dimensions
ws.set_column_width("A", 20)       # or set_column_width(1, 20)
ws.set_row_height(1, 30)

# Merged cells
ws.merge_cells("A1:C3")
ws.unmerge_cells("A1:C3")
print(ws.merged_cells)             # list of merged ranges

# Freeze panes
ws.freeze_panes = "B2"             # freeze row 1 and column A
ws.freeze_panes = None             # unfreeze

# Sheet view
ws.zoom_scale = 75
ws.show_gridlines = False
ws.tab_color = "FF0000"            # RRGGBB hex string

# Auto-filter
ws.auto_filter_ref = "A1:D1"

Fonts, fills, borders, and alignment

from openexcel import Font, PatternFill, Border, Side, Alignment

cell = ws["A1"]

# Font
cell.font = Font(name="Arial", size=14, bold=True, italic=False,
                 underline="single", color="FFFF0000")   # ARGB hex

# Fill
cell.fill = PatternFill(fill_type="solid", fgColor="FFFFFF00")   # ARGB hex

# Border
cell.border = Border(
    left=Side(style="thin"),
    right=Side(style="thin"),
    top=Side(style="medium"),
    bottom=Side(style="medium"),
)

# Alignment
cell.alignment = Alignment(horizontal="center", vertical="center",
                           wrap_text=True, indent=0)

# Read back
print(cell.font.bold)              # True
print(cell.fill.fill_type)         # "solid"
print(cell.border.left.style)      # "thin"
print(cell.alignment.horizontal)   # "center"

All style objects are immutable value types. Assigning a new style object replaces the cell's style while preserving any other styles already set (e.g., setting .font leaves .fill and .border unchanged). Style deduplication is handled automatically — identical styles share a single XF entry in styles.xml.

Available border styles: "thin", "medium", "thick", "dashed", "dotted", "double", "hair", "mediumDashed", and more (any valid OOXML border style string).

Hyperlinks

cell = ws["A1"]
cell.value = "Visit our site"
cell.hyperlink = "https://example.com"

# Read back after save/load
wb2 = openexcel.load_workbook("output.xlsx")
print(wb2[0]["A1"].hyperlink)   # "https://example.com"
print(wb2[0]["A1"].value)       # "Visit our site"

# Clear a hyperlink
cell.hyperlink = None

Hyperlinks are stored in the standard OOXML location (xl/worksheets/_rels/sheetN.xml.rels). Both external URLs and internal sheet anchors (e.g. "#Sheet2!A1") are supported. Hyperlinks compose with all other cell properties — a cell can have a hyperlink, a value, a font, and a number format simultaneously.

Data validation

from openexcel import DataValidation

# Drop-down list
dv = DataValidation(
    type="list",
    formula1='"Yes,No,Maybe"',
    sqref="A1:A100",
    show_error_message=True,
    error_title="Invalid input",
    error_message="Please choose Yes, No, or Maybe.",
)
ws.add_data_validation(dv)

# Whole number in range
dv2 = DataValidation(
    type="whole",
    operator="between",
    formula1="1",
    formula2="10",
    sqref="B1:B50",
    allow_blank=True,
)
ws.add_data_validation(dv2)

# Read back after save/load
wb2 = openexcel.load_workbook("output.xlsx")
validations = wb2[0].data_validations   # list of DataValidation objects
print(validations[0].type)             # "list"
print(validations[0].sqref)            # "A1:A100"

DataValidation constructor parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
type	str	"list", "whole", "decimal", "date", "time", "textLength", "custom"
operator	str	"between", "notBetween", "equal", "notEqual", "greaterThan", "lessThan", "greaterThanOrEqual", "lessThanOrEqual"
formula1	str	First value/formula
formula2	str	Second value/formula (for between/notBetween)
sqref	str	Cell range (e.g. "A1:A100")
allow_blank	bool	Allow empty cells (default False)
show_drop_down	bool	Hide the dropdown arrow for list validations (default False)
show_error_message	bool	Show error alert (default False)
error_title	str	Error dialog title
error_message	str	Error dialog message
error_style	str	"stop", "warning", or "information"
show_input_message	bool	Show input prompt (default False)
prompt_title	str	Input prompt title
prompt_message	str	Input prompt message

Page setup and print options

from openexcel import PageSetup, PageMargins, PrintOptions

# Page setup
ws.page_setup = PageSetup(
    orientation="landscape",  # "portrait" or "landscape"
    paper_size=9,             # 9 = A4, 1 = Letter
    scale=75,                 # zoom percentage (10–400)
)

# Fit-to-page mode
ws.page_setup = PageSetup(
    fit_to_page=True,
    fit_to_width=1,
    fit_to_height=0,          # 0 = unlimited pages tall
)

# Page margins (in inches)
ws.page_margins = PageMargins(
    left=0.5, right=0.5,
    top=1.0,  bottom=1.0,
    header=0.5, footer=0.5,
)

# Print options
ws.print_options = PrintOptions(
    grid_lines=True,          # print gridlines
    headings=True,            # print row/column headings
    horizontal_centered=True, # center content horizontally on page
    vertical_centered=True,   # center content vertically on page
)

# Read back
ws2 = openexcel.load_workbook("output.xlsx")[0]
print(ws2.page_setup.orientation)       # "landscape"
print(ws2.page_margins.left)            # 0.5
print(ws2.print_options.grid_lines)     # True

Common paper size codes: 1 = Letter (8.5×11"), 9 = A4, 5 = Legal, 13 = B5.

Sheet protection

from openexcel import SheetProtection

# Lock the sheet (prevent edits)
ws.protection = SheetProtection(
    sheet=True,           # enable protection
    format_cells=False,   # deny format-cells (True = allow)
    insert_rows=False,    # deny inserting rows
    delete_rows=False,    # deny deleting rows
)

# Password-protect (password hash must be pre-computed)
ws.protection = SheetProtection(
    sheet=True,
    password_hash="ABCD",         # legacy XOR hash
)

# Read back
ws2 = openexcel.load_workbook("output.xlsx")[0]
prot = ws2.protection
if prot is not None:
    print(prot.sheet)         # True
    print(prot.format_cells)  # False

# Remove protection
ws.protection = None

SheetProtection constructor parameters — all optional, default False/None:

Parameter	Type	Description
sheet	bool	Enable sheet protection
objects	bool	Protect objects
scenarios	bool	Protect scenarios
format_cells	bool	Allow formatting cells (inverted: True = allowed)
format_columns	bool	Allow formatting columns
format_rows	bool	Allow formatting rows
insert_columns	bool	Allow inserting columns
insert_rows	bool	Allow inserting rows
insert_hyperlinks	bool	Allow inserting hyperlinks
delete_columns	bool	Allow deleting columns
delete_rows	bool	Allow deleting rows
select_locked	bool	Allow selecting locked cells
sort	bool	Allow sorting
auto_filter	bool	Allow using auto-filter
pivot_tables	bool	Allow using pivot tables
select_unlocked	bool	Allow selecting unlocked cells
password_hash	str	Legacy XOR password hash
algorithm_name	str	Hash algorithm (e.g. "SHA-512")
hash_value	str	Base64-encoded hash (modern protection)
salt_value	str	Base64-encoded salt
spin_count	int	Spin count for hash iterations

Note on format_cells and similar flags: In OOXML, formatCells="1" means the action is denied. openexcel inverts this for readability — format_cells=True means the action is allowed.

Named ranges

wb.add_defined_name("MyRange", "Sheet1!$A$1:$C$10")
print(wb.defined_names)            # {"MyRange": "Sheet1!$A$1:$C$10"}

Multiple sheets

wb = openexcel.load_workbook("multi.xlsx")

# By index
ws = wb[0]

# By name
ws = wb["Summary"]

# Iterate all sheets
for ws in wb:
    print(ws.title, ws.max_row, ws.max_column)

Context manager

with openexcel.load_workbook("data.xlsx") as wb:
    ws = wb.active
    data = [row for row in ws.iter_rows()]

API reference

openexcel.load_workbook(path: str) -> Workbook

Open an existing .xlsx file. Parses the entire file on load; subsequent access is from memory.

openexcel.Workbook()

Create a new empty workbook.

Workbook

Member	Description
.active	First sheet
[0] / ["Name"]	Sheet by index or name
.create_sheet(name)	Add a new sheet
.save(path)	Write to .xlsx. GIL released during write.
.add_defined_name(name, value)	Add a named range
.defined_names	Dict of all named ranges

Worksheet

Member	Description
.title	Sheet name
.max_row / .max_column	Dimensions
.append(row)	Append a row of values
.iter_rows(min_row, max_row, min_col, max_col)	Iterate rows as value tuples
["A1"]	Get Cell by A1 notation
["A1:C3"]	Get range as tuple-of-tuples of Cell
.cell(row, column)	Get Cell by 1-based row/col
.merge_cells(range_str)	Merge a cell range
.unmerge_cells(range_str)	Remove a merge
.merged_cells	List of merged ranges
.set_column_width(col, width)	Set column width in character units
.set_row_height(row, height)	Set row height in points
.freeze_panes	Get/set freeze pane cell (e.g. "B2") or None
.zoom_scale	Get/set zoom percentage (e.g. 75)
.show_gridlines	Get/set gridline visibility
.tab_color	Get/set tab color as RRGGBB hex string
.auto_filter_ref	Get/set auto-filter range
.add_data_validation(dv)	Add a DataValidation rule to the sheet
.data_validations	List of DataValidation objects on this sheet
.page_setup	Get/set PageSetup object (orientation, paper size, scale)
.page_margins	Get/set PageMargins object (left, right, top, bottom, header, footer)
.print_options	Get/set PrintOptions object (gridlines, headings, centering)
.protection	Get/set SheetProtection object, or None to clear

Cell

Member	Description
.value	Get/set cell value
.number_format	Get/set format string (e.g. "0.00%")
.font	Get/set Font object
.fill	Get/set PatternFill object
.border	Get/set Border object
.alignment	Get/set Alignment object
.hyperlink	Get/set hyperlink URL string, or None
.row	Row number (1-based)
.column	Column number (1-based)
.coordinate	A1-style coordinate string
.column_letter	Column letter string
.data_type	"n" number, "s" string, "b" bool, "d" date, "f" formula, "e" error

Differences from openpyxl

Feature	openexcel	openpyxl
Read speed	~5× faster (C, SAX)	Baseline
Write speed	~8× faster (C, buffer)	Baseline
Cell objects	Cell with value, format, coordinate, data_type	Full Cell
Number formats	Read/write format strings	Full format API
Formulas	Read/write formula strings (no evaluation)	Read/write formula strings
Merged cells	Supported	Supported
Named ranges	Supported	Supported
Freeze panes / zoom	Supported	Supported
Column/row dimensions	Supported	Supported
Font / fill / border / alignment	Supported (Font, PatternFill, Border, Side, Alignment)	Full style API
Hyperlinks	Supported (cell.hyperlink)	Supported
Data validation	Supported (DataValidation, ws.add_data_validation)	Supported
Page setup / margins	Supported (PageSetup, PageMargins, PrintOptions)	Supported
Sheet protection	Supported (SheetProtection, ws.protection)	Supported
Conditional formatting	Not yet supported	Supported
Charts / images	Not yet supported	Supported
Comments	Not yet supported	Supported

License

MIT — see LICENSE.

Vendored dependencies:

• miniz — public domain
• khash — MIT