How to import excel file and find a specific column using Pandas?

Last Updated : 18 Dec, 2023

To read specific columns from an Excel file in Pandas, you have the flexibility to use either column indices or letters. This is achieved by setting the usecols argument, which can take a comma-separated string or a list containing column identifying letters or indices. In this article, we will learn how to import an Excel file into a data frame and find the specific column.

Creating a Sample DataFrame

Here, we are given the “Sample_data.xlsx” Excel file that we will use in our whole article.

Excel File Link: Link

Python3

# importing module
import pandas as pd
 
# creating dataframe
# importing excel file
 
df = pd.read_excel('Sample_data.xlsx')  
df.head()

Output

Sample_data.xlsx

Read Specific Column in Excel with Pandas

Below are some examples by which we can read specific column in Excel with Pandas in Python:

Check and display specific column Using head()
Reading specific columns from an Excel File in Pandas
Selecting a range of columns from an Excel file in Pandas
Selecting a range of columns and individual columns
Selecting multiple ranges of columns from an Excel file in Pandas
Read Specific Columns from an Excel file Using the range()

Check and Display Specific Column using head()

In this example, the code df[df["Country"] == 'Canada'].head() filters the Pandas DataFrame to display the first few rows where the “Country” column is equal to ‘Canada’. It retrieves entries specific to the country ‘Canada’ and presents a summary of the data.

Python3

df[df["Country"] == 'Canada'].head()

Output

Another column with the same methods.

Python3

df[df["Year"] == 2013].head()

Output

Another column with the same methods.

Python3

df[df["Segment"]=='Government'].head()

Output

Reading Specific Columns from an Excel File in Pandas

In this example, the code reads an Excel file, selecting and displaying specific columns (‘A’, ‘C’, ‘E’) using the usecols parameter. It prints a DataFrame containing only the specified columns from the Excel data.

Python3

# Reading specific columns
specific_columns = pd.read_excel(file_path, usecols="A,C,E")
print(specific_columns)

Output

    Segment   Product  Units Sold
0  Government  Carretera       1618.5
1  Government  Carretera       1321.0
2   Midmarket  Carretera       2178.0
3   Midmarket  Carretera        888.0
4   Midmarket  Carretera       2470.0
5  Government  Carretera       1513.0
6   Midmarket    Montana        921.0
7  Channel Partners    Montana       2518.0
8  Government    Montana       1899.0
9  Channel Partners    Montana       1545.0
10  Midmarket    Montana       2470.0

Finding a Range of Columns from an Excel file in Pandas

In this example, the code reads an Excel file, extracting columns ‘A’ through ‘C’ inclusively using the usecols parameter. It then prints a DataFrame displaying the specified range of columns from the Excel data.

Python3

# Selecting a range of columns
range_of_columns = pd.read_excel(file_path, usecols="A:C")
print(range_of_columns)

Output

    Segment Country   Product
0  Government  Canada  Carretera
1  Government  Germany  Carretera
2  Midmarket  France  Carretera
3  Midmarket  Germany  Carretera
4  Midmarket  Mexico  Carretera
5  Government  Germany  Carretera
6  Midmarket  Germany  Montana
7  Channel Partners  Canada  Montana
8  Government  France  Montana
9  Channel Partners  Germany  Montana
10  Midmarket  Mexico  Montana

Selecting a Range of Columns and Individual Columns

In this example, the code reads an Excel file, selecting columns ‘A’ through ‘C’ and column ‘E’. It then prints a DataFrame displaying the specified range and individual columns from the Excel data.

Python3

# Selecting a range of columns and individual columns
range_and_individual = pd.read_excel(file_path, usecols="A:C,E")
print(range_and_individual)

Output

    Segment   Product  Units Sold   Manufacturing Price
0  Government  Carretera       1618.5                   $3.00
1  Government  Carretera       1321.0                   $3.00
2   Midmarket  Carretera       2178.0                   $3.00
3   Midmarket  Carretera        888.0                   $3.00
4   Midmarket  Carretera       2470.0                   $3.00
5  Government  Carretera       1513.0                   $3.00
6   Midmarket    Montana        921.0                   $5.00
7  Channel Partners    Montana       2518.0                   $5.00
8  Government    Montana       1899.0                   $5.00
9  Channel Partners    Montana       1545.0                   $5.00
10  Midmarket    Montana       2470.0                   $5.00

Selecting Multiple Ranges of Columns from an Excel file in Pandas

In this example, the code reads an Excel file, selecting columns ‘A’ through ‘C’ and columns ‘E’ through ‘F’. It then prints a DataFrame displaying the specified multiple column ranges from the Excel data.

Python3

# Selecting multiple ranges of columns
multiple_ranges = pd.read_excel(file_path, usecols="A:C,E:F")
print(multiple_ranges)

Output

           Segment     Product  Units Sold   Manufacturing Price Sale Price
0        Government   Carretera       1618.5                   $3.00      $20.00
1        Government   Carretera       1321.0                   $3.00      $20.00
2         Midmarket   Carretera       2178.0                   $3.00      $15.00
3         Midmarket   Carretera        888.0                   $3.00      $15.00
4         Midmarket   Carretera       2470.0                   $3.00      $15.00
5        Government   Carretera       1513.0                   $3.00      $350.00
6         Midmarket     Montana        921.0                   $5.00      $15.00
7  Channel Partners     Montana       2518.0                   $5.00      $12.00
8        Government     Montana       1899.0                   $5.00      $20.00
9  Channel Partners     Montana       1545.0                   $5.00      $12.00
10        Midmarket     Montana       2470.0                   $5.00      $15.00

Read Specific Columns from an Excel file Using the range() Class

In this example, the code utilizes the range() class to read specific columns from an Excel file. It reads columns at index 0 and 1, creating a DataFrame, and then prints the result, showcasing the selected columns.

Python3

#  Using the range() class to read specific columns
range_class = pd.read_excel(file_path, usecols=range(0, 2))
print(range_class)

Output

           Segment  Country
0        Government   Canada
1        Government  Germany
2         Midmarket   France
3         Midmarket  Germany
4         Midmarket   Mexico
5        Government  Germany
6         Midmarket  Germany
7  Channel Partners   Canada
8        Government   France
9  Channel Partners  Germany
10        Midmarket   Mexico