Excel like app using Python
i want to code in python that lets me create spreadsheet to perform basic arithmetic ops
ChatGPT said:
To create a basic spreadsheet-like tool in Python that can perform basic arithmetic operations (like
addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), you can use openpyxl for working with Excel files or build
a simple terminal-based version using plain Python and maybe pandas.
Here's a minimal terminal-based version to get you started:
✅ Simple Spreadsheet in Terminal
python
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class SimpleSpreadsheet:
def __init__(self):
self.cells = {}
def set_cell(self, cell_name, value):
self.cells[cell_name.upper()] = value
def get_cell(self, cell_name):
return self.cells.get(cell_name.upper(), 0)
def evaluate_formula(self, formula):
try:
# Replace cell names with their values
tokens = formula.split()
for i, token in enumerate(tokens):
if token.isalpha() or (token[:-1].isalpha() and token[-1].isdigit()):
tokens[i] = str(self.get_cell(token))
return eval(" ".join(tokens))
except Exception as e:
return f"Error: {e}"
def display(self):
print("\nSpreadsheet:")
for cell, value in sorted(self.cells.items()):
print(f"{cell}: {value}")
print()
# Example usage
sheet = SimpleSpreadsheet()
sheet.set_cell("A1", 10)
sheet.set_cell("B1", 5)
print("A1 + B1 =", sheet.evaluate_formula("A1 + B1")) # Output: 15
sheet.display()
🧮 Features:
Set values to cells (like A1, B1, etc.)
Evaluate formulas with basic arithmetic using cell references
Display current cell values
🛠 If you want to extend this:
Add support for reading formulas like "=A1 + B1" and auto-calculating
Save/load to/from a .csv or .xlsx file (via csv or openpyxl)
Build a GUI using tkinter or PyQt
Would you prefer a version that saves to an actual Excel file or works with a GUI?
You said:
i need a gui based interface
ChatGPT said:
Great! Let's build a GUI-based spreadsheet-like application in Python that allows you to enter values
and formulas (like =A1+B1) and perform basic arithmetic operations.
We'll use tkinter (Python's built-in GUI library) and support a grid of cells with basic arithmetic parsing.
✅ GUI Spreadsheet in Python with Tkinter
🔧 Features:
Click and edit cells
Supports simple formulas like =A1+B1 or =A1*2
Displays computed results
📦 Requirements:
Only tkinter, which comes with standard Python.
🧾 Code:
python
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import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import messagebox
class SpreadsheetApp:
def __init__(self, master, rows=5, cols=5):
self.master = master
self.rows = rows
self.cols = cols
self.cells = {}
self.entries = {}
self.build_grid()
def build_grid(self):
for row in range(self.rows + 1):
for col in range(self.cols + 1):
if row == 0 and col == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text="").grid(row=0, column=0)
elif row == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text=chr(ord('A') + col - 1)).grid(row=0, column=col)
elif col == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text=str(row)).grid(row=row, column=0)
else:
entry = tk.Entry(self.master, width=10)
entry.grid(row=row, column=col)
coord = f"{chr(ord('A') + col - 1)}{row}"
entry.bind("<FocusOut>", lambda e, c=coord: self.evaluate_cell(c))
self.entries[coord] = entry
tk.Button(self.master, text="Evaluate All", command=self.evaluate_all).grid(row=self.rows + 1,
column=0, columnspan=self.cols + 1)
def evaluate_cell(self, coord):
entry = self.entries[coord]
content = entry.get()
if content.startswith("="):
try:
formula = content[1:]
for key in self.entries:
val = self.entries[key].get()
if val.startswith("="):
continue # skip unresolved formulas
formula = formula.replace(key, val)
result = eval(formula)
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, str(result))
except Exception as e:
messagebox.showerror("Error", f"Error evaluating {coord}: {e}")
def evaluate_all(self):
for coord in self.entries:
self.evaluate_cell(coord)
if __name__ == "__main__":
root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Simple Spreadsheet")
app = SpreadsheetApp(root)
root.mainloop()
🧪 Try:
Type 10 into A1, and =A1*2 into B1. Click away to auto-evaluate or hit "Evaluate All".
🧠 Next Steps (Optional Ideas):
Add save/load to file
Expand to larger grid
Support for more complex formulas (SUM, ranges)
Undo/redo, copy-paste
Would you like help adding file saving/loading or more spreadsheet functions like SUM() or cell
highlighting?
You said:
please explain each line of code
ChatGPT said:
Sure! Let's go line by line through the GUI spreadsheet code to explain exactly what's happening. This
will help you understand how the application is structured and how everything works.
🔍 Line-by-Line Explanation
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import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import messagebox
Imports the tkinter GUI toolkit.
tk is used for building the interface.
messagebox is used to show pop-up error messages.
🧱 SpreadsheetApp Class
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class SpreadsheetApp:
Defines a class to encapsulate all the spreadsheet logic.
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def __init__(self, master, rows=5, cols=5):
The constructor initializes the spreadsheet with a default 5x5 grid.
master is the main window (passed in from root later).
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self.master = master
self.rows = rows
self.cols = cols
self.cells = {}
self.entries = {}
self.master: stores the main window.
self.rows and self.cols: number of rows and columns.
self.entries: stores cell widgets like {"A1": <Entry widget>}.
🔧 Build the Grid
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self.build_grid()
Calls a method to build the grid of Entry boxes and labels.
🧱 Method: build_grid
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def build_grid(self):
Sets up the visible spreadsheet grid.
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for row in range(self.rows + 1):
for col in range(self.cols + 1):
Loops through each row and column. Adds 1 to include the header row/column (e.g., A, B, 1, 2).
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if row == 0 and col == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text="").grid(row=0, column=0)
Top-left corner is blank (no label).
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elif row == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text=chr(ord('A') + col - 1)).grid(row=0, column=col)
Top row: shows column headers (A, B, C, ...).
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elif col == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text=str(row)).grid(row=row, column=0)
First column: shows row headers (1, 2, 3, ...).
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else:
entry = tk.Entry(self.master, width=10)
entry.grid(row=row, column=col)
For all other cells, create an editable text box (Entry).
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coord = f"{chr(ord('A') + col - 1)}{row}"
Generates cell names like "A1", "B2", etc.
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entry.bind("<FocusOut>", lambda e, c=coord: self.evaluate_cell(c))
When the user leaves the cell (focus out), it tries to evaluate it.
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self.entries[coord] = entry
Stores the entry widget in a dictionary keyed by its cell name.
▶ Button to Evaluate All
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tk.Button(self.master, text="Evaluate All", command=self.evaluate_all).grid(row=self.rows + 1,
column=0, columnspan=self.cols + 1)
Adds a button at the bottom to evaluate all formulas in all cells.
🧠 Method: evaluate_cell
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def evaluate_cell(self, coord):
Evaluates a single cell (e.g., when user exits that cell).
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entry = self.entries[coord]
content = entry.get()
Gets the cell's content (user input).
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if content.startswith("="):
Checks if the content is a formula (starts with =).
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try:
formula = content[1:]
Strips the = to get the actual formula (e.g., A1+B1).
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for key in self.entries:
val = self.entries[key].get()
if val.startswith("="):
continue # skip unresolved formulas
Replaces all cell references in the formula with actual numbers.
Skips unresolved formulas (to avoid circular errors).
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formula = formula.replace(key, val)
Replaces, for example, A1 with its value (10).
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result = eval(formula)
Evaluates the formula using Python’s eval() function (e.g., "10 + 5" → 15).
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entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, str(result))
Replaces the formula in the cell with the result.
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except Exception as e:
messagebox.showerror("Error", f"Error evaluating {coord}: {e}")
Shows an error message if something goes wrong during evaluation.
🧠 Method: evaluate_all
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def evaluate_all(self):
for coord in self.entries:
self.evaluate_cell(coord)
Loops through all cells and evaluates each one.
▶ Main Program Execution
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if __name__ == "__main__":
root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Simple Spreadsheet")
app = SpreadsheetApp(root)
root.mainloop()
This part creates the main window and runs the app:
o tk.Tk() → creates the main GUI window
o SpreadsheetApp(root) → builds the app inside the window
o mainloop() → keeps the window open
🧪 Try Example
1. Run the script.
2. In cell A1, type: 10
3. In B1, type: =A1*2
4. Click outside or press "Evaluate All" — B1 should now say 20.
Would you like to extend this to:
Keep formulas in the cell after evaluation?
Add saving/loading functionality?
Handle circular references or advanced functions?
Let me know!
You said:
yes definetely
ChatGPT said:
Awesome! Let's gradually enhance your spreadsheet app with the following features:
✅ Upgrade Plan
1. Retain formulas in cells
Currently, formulas are replaced by values. We'll keep the formula and display the value
separately.
2. Add Save/Load to file
Save the spreadsheet (including formulas) to a file and reload it later.
3. Prevent circular references
Detect if a formula refers to itself directly or indirectly (basic validation).
We'll tackle these features step-by-step. First, let’s enhance the app to:
🔁 1. Keep formulas while displaying evaluated values
🔧 Update Explanation:
Store raw content (e.g., =A1+2) internally.
Show the evaluated result visually, but keep the original input when editing again.
🧾 Modified Code (Part 1 – Preserve Formulas):
Replace your current class with the one below (other code stays the same):
python
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class SpreadsheetApp:
def __init__(self, master, rows=5, cols=5):
self.master = master
self.rows = rows
self.cols = cols
self.entries = {}
self.formulas = {} # NEW: Store formulas per cell
self.build_grid()
def build_grid(self):
for row in range(self.rows + 1):
for col in range(self.cols + 1):
if row == 0 and col == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text="").grid(row=0, column=0)
elif row == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text=chr(ord('A') + col - 1)).grid(row=0, column=col)
elif col == 0:
tk.Label(self.master, text=str(row)).grid(row=row, column=0)
else:
coord = f"{chr(ord('A') + col - 1)}{row}"
entry = tk.Entry(self.master, width=10)
entry.grid(row=row, column=col)
entry.insert(0, "") # empty cell
entry.bind("<FocusIn>", lambda e, c=coord: self.show_formula(c))
entry.bind("<FocusOut>", lambda e, c=coord: self.save_and_evaluate(c))
self.entries[coord] = entry
tk.Button(self.master, text="Evaluate All", command=self.evaluate_all).grid(row=self.rows + 1,
column=0, columnspan=self.cols + 1)
def show_formula(self, coord):
# Show formula when user clicks into the cell
entry = self.entries[coord]
if coord in self.formulas:
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, self.formulas[coord])
def save_and_evaluate(self, coord):
entry = self.entries[coord]
content = entry.get()
self.formulas[coord] = content
self.evaluate_cell(coord)
def evaluate_cell(self, coord):
entry = self.entries[coord]
content = self.formulas.get(coord, "")
if content.startswith("="):
try:
formula = content[1:]
for key in self.entries:
val = self.formulas.get(key, self.entries[key].get())
if val.startswith("="):
continue
formula = formula.replace(key, val)
result = eval(formula)
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, str(result))
except Exception as e:
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, "ERR")
messagebox.showerror("Error", f"Error in {coord}: {e}")
else:
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, content)
def evaluate_all(self):
for coord in self.entries:
self.evaluate_cell(coord)
✅ What’s New:
self.formulas: Keeps raw formulas like "=A1+5".
On focus-in, you see the formula again.
On focus-out, the formula is saved and the value is shown.
Evaluating doesn’t overwrite the formula anymore.
🧪 Test It:
1. Enter 10 in A1
2. Enter =A1*2 in B1
3. Click elsewhere — value shows as 20
4. Click back on B1 — formula =A1*2 reappears
Would you like me to now add:
📂 Save/Load to file?
🛑 Circular reference detection?
Let’s continue!
You said:
that would be great.
ChatGPT said:
Excellent! Let’s move forward and add Save/Load functionality to your spreadsheet. This will allow
users to store their spreadsheet (including formulas) and reload it later.
📂 Step 2 – Add Save & Load
We’ll store data in a simple format:
Save as a JSON file, mapping cell names (like "A1") to their formulas or values.
Example:
json
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{"A1": "10", "B1": "=A1*2"}
🧾 Updated Code: Add Save & Load Buttons
Add this below the evaluate_all() method in your SpreadsheetApp class:
python
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import json
from tkinter import filedialog
def save_to_file(self):
file_path = filedialog.asksaveasfilename(defaultextension=".json",
filetypes=[("JSON files", "*.json")])
if file_path:
try:
with open(file_path, "w") as f:
json.dump(self.formulas, f)
messagebox.showinfo("Saved", "Spreadsheet saved successfully!")
except Exception as e:
messagebox.showerror("Save Error", f"Could not save file: {e}")
def load_from_file(self):
file_path = filedialog.askopenfilename(filetypes=[("JSON files", "*.json")])
if file_path:
try:
with open(file_path, "r") as f:
loaded_data = json.load(f)
self.formulas = loaded_data
self.update_all_cells()
messagebox.showinfo("Loaded", "Spreadsheet loaded successfully!")
except Exception as e:
messagebox.showerror("Load Error", f"Could not load file: {e}")
def update_all_cells(self):
for coord in self.entries:
if coord in self.formulas:
self.evaluate_cell(coord)
else:
self.entries[coord].delete(0, tk.END)
🧱 Add Buttons to GUI
In your build_grid() method, below the "Evaluate All" button line, add:
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tk.Button(self.master, text="Save", command=self.save_to_file).grid(row=self.rows + 2, column=0,
columnspan=self.cols // 2)
tk.Button(self.master, text="Load", command=self.load_from_file).grid(row=self.rows + 2,
column=self.cols // 2, columnspan=self.cols // 2)
✅ What’s New:
save_to_file() → Opens a save dialog and writes formulas to a .json file.
load_from_file() → Loads saved formulas and refreshes the spreadsheet.
update_all_cells() → Reevaluates loaded data across the grid.
🧪 Try It Out:
1. Enter 10 in A1, =A1*2 in B1
2. Click Save
3. Clear your spreadsheet or close app
4. Click Load, choose the file — your formulas and values should return
🔄 Next Step: Detect Circular References?
Would you like a basic protection mechanism that prevents formulas like A1 = B1 + 1 and B1 = A1 + 1
from looping infinitely?
Let me know — I can show you how to build a simple dependency tracker for that.
You said:
thats the most required part, what do you think
ChatGPT said:
You're absolutely right — circular reference detection is critical for any spreadsheet app. Without it,
formulas that depend on each other in a loop (like A1 = B1 + 1 and B1 = A1 + 1) will create infinite loops
or incorrect results.
🚨 Why Circular Detection is Essential
❌ Problem Without It:
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A1 = B1 + 1
B1 = A1 + 1
This results in infinite recursion: A1 needs B1 → B1 needs A1 → repeat.
✅ With Detection:
We can warn the user: “Circular reference detected involving A1 and B1”.
🧠 Plan: Simple Dependency Tracker
Key Idea:
While evaluating a cell (e.g., A1), keep track of the path of dependent cells.
If a cell reappears in that path → circular reference!
✅ Step 3 – Add Circular Reference Detection
🧾 Modified evaluate_cell() with dependency tracking:
Replace your existing evaluate_cell() with this version:
python
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def evaluate_cell(self, coord, visited=None):
if visited is None:
visited = set()
if coord in visited:
self.entries[coord].delete(0, tk.END)
self.entries[coord].insert(0, "CIRC")
messagebox.showerror("Circular Reference", f"Circular reference detected at {coord}")
return
visited.add(coord)
entry = self.entries[coord]
content = self.formulas.get(coord, "")
if content.startswith("="):
try:
formula = content[1:]
for key in self.entries:
val = self.formulas.get(key, self.entries[key].get())
if val.startswith("="):
self.evaluate_cell(key, visited.copy())
val = self.entries[key].get()
formula = formula.replace(key, val)
result = eval(formula)
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, str(result))
except Exception as e:
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, "ERR")
messagebox.showerror("Error", f"Error in {coord}: {e}")
else:
entry.delete(0, tk.END)
entry.insert(0, content)
✅ How It Works:
visited: a set of all cells currently being evaluated in this chain.
When we re-visit the same cell (e.g., A1 → B1 → A1), we detect the loop.
Shows "CIRC" in the cell and displays an error message.
🧪 Test It:
1. Set A1 = B1 + 1
2. Set B1 = A1 + 1
3. You should get:
o A message: "Circular reference detected at A1"
o A1 shows CIRC, B1 shows CIRC
✅ What We’ve Achieved So Far
Feature Status
Basic GUI spreadsheet ✅
Formula parsing ✅
Feature Status
Formula retention ✅
Save/load to file ✅
Circular detection ✅
Would you like to:
Add support for more functions like SUM(A1,B1)?
Expand the grid size dynamically?
Export to .xlsx (Excel) format?
Let me know where you’d like to go next!
