How to Embed a Fully Interactive Plotly Figure in Excel on MacOS

Are you tired of static charts and graphs in Excel? Do you want to take your data visualization to the next level? Look no further! In this article, we’ll show you how to embed a fully interactive Plotly figure in Excel on MacOS. Yes, you read that right – interactive! With Plotly, you can create stunning, web-based visualizations that allow your audience to explore and engage with your data like never before.

What is Plotly?

Plotly is an open-source graphing library that allows you to create interactive, web-based visualizations. It supports over 40 unique chart types, including 3D charts, statistical charts, and more. With Plotly, you can create interactive dashboards, reports, and presentations that are perfect for business, education, or research.

Why Use Plotly in Excel?

Excel is an amazing tool for data analysis, but its built-in charting capabilities can be limited. That’s where Plotly comes in. By embedding Plotly figures in Excel, you can:

• Create interactive charts that allow users to hover, zoom, and pan
• Visualization complex data sets with ease
• Drill down into data with interactive filtering and sorting
• Share interactive reports and dashboards with others

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, make sure you have the following:

• Microsoft Excel 2016 or later (MacOS)
• Plotly Python library installed (pip install plotly)
• A basic understanding of Python programming
• A MacOS computer with Python installed

Step 1: Create a Plotly Figure in Python

The first step is to create a Plotly figure using Python. We’ll use a simple example to get started.

import plotly.graph_objects as go

# Create a sample dataset
x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
y = [1, 3, 5, 7, 9]

# Create a line chart
fig = go.Figure(data=[go.Scatter(x=x, y=y)])

# Show the figure
fig.show()

This code creates a simple line chart using Plotly’s graph_objects module. The fig.show() function displays the figure in your default web browser.

Step 2: Save the Plotly Figure as HTML

Next, we need to save the Plotly figure as an HTML file.

fig.write_html("plotly_figure.html", auto_play=False)

This code saves the figure as an HTML file named “plotly_figure.html” in your current working directory.

Step 3: Embed the HTML File in Excel

Now, we need to embed the HTML file in Excel. To do this, we’ll use Excel’s built-in web browser feature.

Open a new Excel worksheet and go to the “Insert” tab. Click on the “Web” button in the “Illustrations” group.

In the “Insert Web” dialog box, enter the path to your HTML file (plotly_figure.html). Check the “Display as icon” checkbox and click “OK”.

Excel will now display the Plotly figure as an icon. Right-click on the icon and select “Open”. This will open the HTML file in Excel’s built-in web browser.

Step 4: Resize and Customize the Embed

By default, the Plotly figure will be displayed at a fixed size. To resize the figure, click and drag the corners of the web browser object.

You can also customize the appearance of the embed by using Excel’s built-in formatting options. For example, you can change the border style, background color, and more.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of embedding Plotly figures in Excel:

• Use Excel’s built-in formatting options to customize the appearance of the embed.
• Use Plotly’s built-in layout options to customize the appearance of the figure.
• Use Excel’s “Developer” tab to add custom VBA scripts that interact with the Plotly figure.
• Use Plotly’s Python API to create dynamic, data-driven visualizations.

Common Issues and Solutions

Here are some common issues you may encounter when embedding Plotly figures in Excel:

Issue	Solution
Figure not displaying in Excel	Check that the HTML file is in the correct location and that Excel has permission to access it.
Figure not interactive in Excel	Check that the Plotly figure is being displayed in a web browser object, and that JavaScript is enabled.
Figure not resizing in Excel	Check that the web browser object is set to resize with the cell.

Conclusion

Embedding Plotly figures in Excel is a powerful way to create interactive, web-based visualizations. With these steps, you can take your data visualization to the next level and create stunning reports and dashboards. Remember to customize your embed with Excel’s built-in formatting options and Plotly’s built-in layout options.

Happy plotting!

Frequently Asked Question

Unlock the power of interactive data visualization in Excel on your Mac!