How to call python script on excel vba?

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 folder\helloworld.py"""
Ret_Val = Shell("C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python.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 folder\helloworld.py""", I had to use triple quotes for this to work. If I use just regular quotes like: args = "F:\my folder\helloworld.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.

Try this:

RetVal = Shell("<full path to python.exe> " & "<full path to your python script>")

Or if the python script is in the same folder as the workbook, then you can try :

RetVal = Shell("<full path to python.exe> " & ActiveWorkBook.Path & "\<python script name>")

All details within <> are to be given. <> - indicates changeable fields

I guess this should work. But then again, if your script is going to call other files which are in different folders, it can cause errors unless your script has properly handled it. Hope it helps.

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_path\Python\Python38\python.exe"""
    PythonScript = "C:\your_path\from_vba.py"
    
    objShell.Run PythonExe & PythonScript
    
End Sub

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

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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.