3 Ways to Create Multiple Sheets in Excel with Shell Script

In the world of data analysis and automation, Excel remains a pivotal tool for professionals across industries. Automating tasks in Excel can significantly enhance productivity, especially when dealing with large datasets. One common automation task is creating multiple sheets within an Excel workbook, which can be tedious when done manually. This blog post explores three different methods to automate the creation of multiple sheets in Excel using shell scripting, providing a seamless way to manage your data workflow efficiently.

Why Use Shell Scripts for Excel Automation?

Shell scripting offers a powerful way to automate repetitive tasks. Here are a few reasons why using shell scripts for Excel automation can be beneficial:

• Efficiency: Scripts can run operations in the background without manual intervention.
• Consistency: Automation ensures tasks are performed the same way every time.
• Integration: Shell scripts can easily integrate with other tools or scripts to form complex workflows.

Method 1: Using LibreOffice/OpenOffice API

LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice provide extensive APIs that can be used to manipulate spreadsheets through shell scripts. Here’s how you can create multiple sheets:

1. First, ensure you have LibreOffice/OpenOffice installed with Python-UNO support.
2. Create a shell script like this:

#!/bin/bash





WORKBOOK_PATH=“/path/to/your/workbook.xlsx”



SHEETS=5



soffice –headless “macro:///Standard.Module1.CreateSheets(WORKBOOK_PATH, SHEETS)”



python << EOL
import uno
from com.sun.star.beans import PropertyValue



localContext = uno.getComponentContext()
resolver = localContext.ServiceManager.createInstanceWithContext(“com.sun.star.bridge.UnoUrlResolver”, localContext)
ctx = resolver.resolve(“uno:socket,host=localhost,port=2002;urp;StarOffice.ComponentContext”)
smgr = ctx.ServiceManager
desktop = smgr.createInstanceWithContext(“com.sun.star.frame.Desktop”, ctx)



prop = PropertyValue(Name=“Hidden”, Value=True)
prop = (prop,)
document = desktop.loadComponentFromURL(“file:///(python -c "import os; print(os.path.abspath('WORKBOOK_PATH’))”)“, “_blank”, 0, prop)



for i in range(1, $SHEETS+1):
    document.Sheets.insertNewByName(f”Sheet{i}“, len(document.Sheets))



document.storeToURL(“file:///(python -c "import os; print(os.path.abspath('WORKBOOK_PATH’))”)“, ())
document.close(True)
EOL

🔍 Note: This method relies on LibreOffice being installed, and your system might need Python and Python-UNO to be set up correctly.

Method 2: Using Excel Interop with PowerShell

If you are on a Windows environment, PowerShell offers an alternative by leveraging Excel Interop services. Here’s a PowerShell script to automate sheet creation:

1. Ensure Microsoft Excel is installed on your system.
2. Here’s the PowerShell script:

$Excel = New-Object -ComObject Excel.Application



$Excel.Visible = $false



try {
    $Workbook = $Excel.Workbooks.Open(“C:\path\to\your\workbook.xlsx”)
} catch {
    $Workbook = $Excel.Workbooks.Add()
}



1..5 | ForEach-Object {
    $Workbook.Sheets.Add() | Out-Null
    $Workbook.Sheets($_.toString()).Name = “Sheet$_”
}



$Workbook.SaveAs(“C:\path\to\your\workbook.xlsx”)
$Workbook.Close()



$Excel.Quit()
[System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($Excel) | Out-Null

Method 3: Using Python with openpyxl

Python’s openpyxl library is a popular choice for managing Excel files programmatically. Here’s how you can use it in a shell script:

1. Make sure Python and openpyxl are installed:

pip install openpyxl

2. Create the shell script:

#!/bin/bash



python << EOL
from openpyxl import load_workbook
import os

wb_path = “/path/to/your/workbook.xlsx”

try:
    wb = load_workbook(filename=wb_path)
except FileNotFoundError:
    wb = Workbook()

for i in range(1, 6):
    wb.create_sheet(title=f”Sheet{i}“)

wb.save(filename=wb_path)
EOL

Automation through scripting can greatly streamline your work processes, especially when dealing with complex or repetitive tasks in Excel. Each method discussed above provides a different approach to creating multiple sheets, tailored to different environments and needs:

• LibreOffice API method is useful if you're working in a cross-platform environment or prefer Open Source tools.
• PowerShell with Excel Interop offers a straightforward approach on Windows systems with Excel installed.
• Python with openpyxl provides versatility and ease of integration with other Python libraries.

By automating the creation of sheets, you not only save time but also ensure data consistency and reduce the potential for human error. Whether you're setting up a report template, analyzing large datasets, or managing complex spreadsheets, these methods can enhance your productivity and workflow.

Can these scripts handle existing data in the Excel files?

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Yes, the scripts are designed to work with existing Excel files by either opening them or creating new ones if they do not exist. They add new sheets without disturbing the existing data.

Is it possible to customize the names of the new sheets?

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Absolutely! In each script, there are examples where sheet names are explicitly set. You can modify these lines to assign any desired names to the new sheets.

What if my Excel file has macros or VBA code?

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Scripts like the one for LibreOffice and Python will not execute or modify VBA macros, but they can work alongside them. For Excel Interop in PowerShell, you need to ensure that the Excel environment allows script interaction with macros.