excel - python xlwt set custom background colour of a cell

Question

I am using python 2.7 and xlwt module for excel export

I would like to set backgroung colour of a cell i know i can use

style1 = xlwt.easyxf('pattern: pattern solid, fore_colour red;')

but I would like to set custom color smth. like #8a8eef or is there a palette of possible colors, because light blue is not working :)

thank you

Answer 1

Nowadays, there is a way (originally proposed here) to define and use custom colour using add_palette_colour() and set_colour_RGB().

Here's an example:

import xlwt


book = xlwt.Workbook()

# add new colour to palette and set RGB colour value
xlwt.add_palette_colour("custom_colour", 0x21)
book.set_colour_RGB(0x21, 251, 228, 228)

# now you can use the colour in styles
sheet1 = book.add_sheet('Sheet 1')
style = xlwt.easyxf('pattern: pattern solid, fore_colour custom_colour')
sheet1.write(0, 0, 'Some text', style)

book.save('test.xls')

Also see the actual pull request that made this happen.