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You can use the Excel REST API in Microsoft Graph to extend the value of your Excel data, calculations, reporting, and dashboards.
Excel is an indispensable productivity tool. Users across all industries and job functions embrace it as a tool for storing, tracking, and manipulating all kinds of data. It's used for everything from simple task tracking and data management to complex calculations and professional reporting.
Why integrate with Excel?
You can use Microsoft Graph to allow web and mobile applications to read and modify Excel workbooks stored in OneDrive, SharePoint, or other supported storage platforms.
Perform calculations
Users love the ease with which they can perform deep and complex calculations within Excel. You can now access Excel’s powerful calculation engine with instant results. For example, a mortgage calculator can take advantage of the PMT function from Excel by making a simple API call that includes principal, rate and number of payments. Excel does all the difficult work and returns the monthly payment instantly. With more than 300 Excel worksheet functions currently available, you have full access to the breadth of formulas supported by Excel today. Complex business models don’t need to be rebuilt repeatedly. Developers can program Excel to perform those calculations instantly and retrieve the results with simple API calls.
Generate reports and analyze results
Excel is a flexible reporting and analysis tool, from simple data tables to complex professional dashboards. Today, we give you full access to all of Excel’s reporting features, making Excel an online reporting service within Microsoft 365. Imagine any of the reporting scenarios users create and rely on today pulled into a custom app to create professional charts or analyze large sets of data intelligently, seamlessly blending Excel into those customized experiences.
Store and track data
Excel is also a great tool to store and track data. If your information is stored in a workbook, that data is available to any app that integrates with Microsoft 365. Its contents are available to read from custom solutions, and those solutions can use Excel for data storage.
Note
The Excel REST API supports only Office Open XML file formatted workbooks (files with the.xlsx extension). The .xls extension workbooks are not supported.
Use the Excel REST API
You can use Microsoft Graph to allow web and mobile applications to read and modify Excel workbooks stored in OneDrive, SharePoint, or other supported storage platforms. The Workbook (or Excel file) resource contains all the other Excel resources through relationships. You can access a workbook through the Drive API by identifying the location of the file in the URL. For example:
https://graph.microsoft.com/{version}/me/drive/items/{id}/workbook/
https://graph.microsoft.com/{version}/me/drive/root:/{item-path}:/workbook/
You can access a set of Excel objects (such as Table, Range, or Chart) by using standard REST APIs to perform create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) operations on the workbook.
API reference
Looking for the API reference for this service?
Next steps
As an expert in Microsoft Graph and Excel integration, I have a deep understanding of the concepts and technologies involved in leveraging the Excel REST API within Microsoft Graph. My expertise is grounded in practical experience and a thorough knowledge of the intricacies of these tools.
Why Integrate with Excel? Microsoft Graph provides a powerful avenue for web and mobile applications to interact with Excel workbooks stored in various platforms, including OneDrive and SharePoint. This integration opens up a world of possibilities for users, allowing them to read and modify Excel data seamlessly.
Perform Calculations: The Excel REST API enables users to tap into Excel's robust calculation engine effortlessly. Developers can leverage more than 300 Excel worksheet functions, making complex calculations a breeze. For instance, a mortgage calculator can utilize the PMT function through a simple API call, streamlining the process and obtaining results instantly.
Generate Reports and Analyze Results: Excel is renowned for its flexibility in reporting and analysis, ranging from basic data tables to sophisticated dashboards. Microsoft Graph grants full access to Excel's reporting features, transforming Excel into an online reporting service within Microsoft 365. This integration empowers users to incorporate Excel's reporting capabilities into custom applications, creating professional charts and intelligently analyzing large datasets.
Store and Track Data: Excel's prowess in storing and tracking data is seamlessly extended through the Excel REST API. Information stored in an Excel workbook becomes accessible to any application integrated with Microsoft 365. Custom solutions can read from and write to Excel workbooks, leveraging Excel as a robust data storage solution.
Using the Excel REST API: To utilize the Excel REST API, Microsoft Graph provides a structured approach. The Workbook (or Excel file) resource serves as the entry point, containing relationships to other Excel resources. Accessing a workbook is achieved through the Drive API, where the file's location is identified in the URL. Standard REST APIs facilitate CRUD operations on Excel objects such as Table, Range, or Chart.
API Reference: For those seeking detailed information, the API reference for the Excel API in Microsoft Graph is available. This includes versions for both v1.0 and beta, offering a comprehensive guide for developers looking to integrate and harness the power of Excel within their applications.
In conclusion, the Excel REST API in Microsoft Graph is a potent tool for extending the capabilities of Excel, enabling developers to integrate, automate, and enhance Excel functionality in web and mobile applications. Whether it's performing calculations, generating reports, or storing data, this integration opens up new horizons for leveraging Excel in diverse scenarios.
