LibrePythonista is an extension for LibreOffice Calc. The extension allows Interactive Python code to be run directly in a spreadsheet. LibrePythonista has its own PIP package manager to install additional Python packages.
LibrePythonista is currently in beta and is subject to change based on feedback.
LibrePythonista is free and open source software so there are no fees to start using it.
LibrePythonista bring the power of Pandas, Matplotlib and much more to LibreOffice Calc.
All python code is executes on your local computer. This can alleviate many concerns around data privacy as your data
Using LibrePythonista is it possible to create Data frame's, Series, custom Graphs an much more directly in a spreadsheet.
LibrePythonista is built using OOO Development Tools which removes many barriers when working with the LibreOffice API.
LibrePythonista brings the power of Python analytics into LibreOffice Calc. Use it to process data in Calc with Python code. You type Python directly into a cell via the code edit window, the Python calculations runs locally, and your results are displayed in the sheet.
LibrePythonista comes with a core set of Python libraries. Use Python libraries to simplify your data analysis, find patterns and hidden insights, and visualize your data with plots.
LibrePythonista is a powerful tool for data analysis and visualization in LibreOffice Calc. It allows you to:
- Run Python code directly in a Calc cell
- Use Python libraries like Pandas, Matplotlib, and NumPy
- Install other python packages using a built-in package manager
- Create Data frames and Series
- Create custom graphs and charts
- Use Python to process data in Calc
- Use Python to automate tasks in Calc
- Use Python to create custom functions in Calc
- And much more
To begin using LibrePythonista, select a cell and on the LibrePy menu, Insert Python. This tells Calc that you want to write a Python formula in the selected cell.
Alternatively insert using shortcut Shift+Ctl+Alt+L or by clicking on the toolbar button.
LibrePythonista uses the custom Python function lp() to interface between Calc and Python. The lp() function accepts Calc objects like ranges, named ranges, and data ranges.
You can also directly type references into a Python cell with the lp() function. For example, to reference cell A1 use lp("A1") and for the range B1:C5 use lp("B1:C5"). For a named range with headers named MyRange, use lp("MyRange", headers=True).
If the range or named range has empty rows at the end of the range then collapse=True can be used. The collapse parameter instructs the Data frame to exclude empty rows at the end of the named range. This way when new data is added to the end of the range the Data frame will automatically recalculate to include the new rows.
Example named
df = lp("A2:D81", headers=True, collapse=True)
The following image shows a Python in Calc calculation adding the values of cell A1 and B1, with the Python result returned in cell C1.
When a cell contains Python code It can be edit by clicking the control and choosing Edit Code.
As of version 0.6.0, the code editor has been updated to include syntax highlighting and code completion. Currently the code editor is experimental.
To activated the experimental code editor, open the LibreOffice Extension Manager and click on the LibrePythonista extension. Then click on the Options button. Navigate to LibrePythonista -> Options check the box for Use Experimental Python Cell Editor and click OK. Now restart LibreOffice to activate the new code editor.
Or Python cells and charts can right click and choose Pythonista --> Edit Code
Image for the code editor for the example above.
LibrePythonista is designed to run Python code locally on your computer. This means that your data never leaves your computer. LibrePythonista does not send your data to any external servers. LibrePythonista is open source software and the code is available on GitHub.
LibrePythonista allows Python code to be run at the sheet level. This means that Python code can be run in any cell in the sheet. This can be a security risk if the sheet is from a untrusted source. To mitigate this risk, LibrePythonista will not run Python code unless macros have been enabled for the sheet. This means that the user must enable macros for the sheet before Python code can be run.
Usually, when a sheet is opened, LibreOffice will ask the user if they want to enable macros. If the user does not enable macros, then Python code will not run. If the user enables macros, then Python code will run.
The recommended security setting for LibrePythonista is Medium. This setting will allow Python code to run when macros are enabled. To set the security level, go to Tools -> Options -> LibreOffice -> Security -> Macro Security and set the security level to Medium.
If you find an installation issue, please refer here: (For Linux - tested on linux mint 22)
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If you get following error message in dialog box when installing the extension:
"Failed to register package <some_package>"
Try to install libreoffice-script-provider-python package from package manager.
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If you have a fresh copy of linux or python3-pip package is not install or simply "pip3" command is not working on terminal. Please install python3-pip otherwise extension will not start.
As of version 0.7.0 LibrePythonista can also uninstall the Python Packages that were installed as part of the extension.
There are two ways to uninstall the extension python packages.
The first way is via the extension options from the LibreOffice Extension Manager.
Note: LibreOffice must be a fresh start for this method to work. If you are not sure then restart LibreOffice and then try again.
Open the LibreOffice Extension Manager and click on the LibrePythonista extension. Then click on the Options button. Navigate to LibrePythonista -> Uninstall. Select the packages to uninstall and click on the Uninstall button. This will remove the selected Python packages.
If you want to uninstall the extension then select all the packages and click on the Uninstall button. This will remove all the Python packages that were installed as part of the extension.
Next, Click OK to go back to the Extension Manager and then click Remove to remove the extension.
Note: If the extension is not removed then any python package that was removed will be reinstalled when LibreOffice is restarted.
The second way, and the recommended way. When LibrePythonista is installed it also writes a script file that can be used to uninstall the extension Python packages. The script location is different depending on the operating system and installation type, such as FlatPak and Snap.
To get the command to uninstall the extension Python packages, open the LibreOffice Extension Manager and click on the LibrePythonista extension. Then click on the Options button. Navigate to LibrePythonista -> Uninstall. Select the packages to uninstall and click on the Copy command button. This will copy the command to the clipboard.
Next you can uninstall the extension from LibreOffice and then close LibreOffice. Open a terminal (PowerShell on Windows) and paste the command that was copied to the clipboard and press enter. This will remove all the Python packages that were installed as part of the extension.
Important: It is important that LibreOffice not be running when this command is run. If LibreOffice is running then the command may not work correctly.
The output will be something like this:
bash "/home/username/.config/libreoffice/4/user/cleanup_LibrePythonista.sh"
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_typing-extensions.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_seaborn.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_matplotlib.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_verr.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_pandas.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_ooo-dev-tools.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_librepythonista-python-editor.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_odfpy.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_debugpy.json
Deleted file: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/LibrePythonista_sortedcontainers.json
Deleted folder: /home/username/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/typing_extensions-4.12.2.dist-info
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