Python27 Microsoft Excel functions

ExcelFunc.py

"""This script is an example of simple read and write functions to a spreadsheet.  One may import these features
into their own programs or use them as an example for using the COM interface in Python.

This is quite possibly the most useful code I have ever written to facilitate automated testing or code 
generation in a windows environment. Please let me know where this code gets used so I can keep a small
record of other people it has helped =D. 

Writen by William Christensen, wirewc@gmail.com
"""

from win32com.client import Dispatch


def read(columns,rows,columnOffset=0,rowOffset=0,sheets=0): 
    """Function takes arguments for rows, columns, and the left most corner of the data.
    Use default value (0) for the active sheet or list a number to specify otherwise.
    This function returns a list array of the data."""
    xl = Dispatch("Excel.Application")
    myArray = []
    for i in range(rows):
        tempL = []
        for j in range(columns):
            if (sheets ==0):
                tempL.append(xl.ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Cells(i+rowOffset+1,j+columnOffset+1).Value)
            else:
                tempL.append(xl.ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(sheets).Cells(i+rowOffset+1,j+columnOffset+1).Value)
        myArray.append(tempL)
        del tempL
    return myArray

def write(data,column=0,row=0,sheet=0):
    """Writes first argument to any cell.  Use default value to use the active sheet or specify the sheet number."""
    xl = Dispatch("Excel.Application")
##        xl.ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(sheet).Cells(column,row).Value = data
    if (sheet == 0):
        xl.ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Cells(column+1,row+1).Value=data
    else:
        xl.ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(sheet).Cells(column+1,row+1).Value=data
    del xl

def writeArray(data,columnOffset=0,rowOffset=0,sheet=0,):
    """Writes an array (first argument) to an excel spreadsheet.  Other arguments are used to shift the
    array to the right and how far down from the first cell (A1).  Use the default value to use the active
    sheet or specify the sheet number that you wish to write too."""
    xl = Dispatch("Excel.Application")
    for i in range(len(data)):
        for j in range(len(data[i])):     
##                xl.ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(sheet).Cells(i+rowOffset+1,j+columnOffset+1).Value=data[i][j] # original function for writing the array. 
            if (sheet ==0):
                xl.ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Cells(i+rowOffset+1,j+columnOffset+1).Value=data[i][j]
            else:
                xl.ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(sheet).Cells(i+rowOffset+1,j+columnOffset+1).Value=data[i][j]
    del xl