How to Automate Excel with R

Written by Matt Dancho on October 7, 2020


This article is part of a R-Tips Weekly, a weekly video tutorial that shows you step-by-step how to do common R coding tasks.

Let’s learn how to automate Excel with R, using openxlsx and tidyquant.


(Click image to play video)


Automate Excel with R Tutorial

Using R to automate Excel is an awesome skill for automating your work (and life). Your company lives off Excel files. Why not automate them & save some time?

Here’s an Excel File you’re going to make in this tutorial from R. 👇

Excel Spreadsheet


First, collect your data using tidyquant, an awesome package for importing & working with Financial Data.

Import Data


The previous code makes this Pivot Table (stock returns by year and symbol).

Import Data


…And this stock chart over time.

Plot Data


Now for the magic - Let’s add the Pivot Table & Stock Plot to Excel! 🔥

  1. Initialize a workbook
  2. Create a worksheet
  3. Add the stock plot
  4. Add the Pivot Table
  5. Save the workbook
  6. Open the workbook (programmatically)

Create Excel Workbook with R


Excel Workbook


You’ve just automated creation of an Excel Workbook with R.

It’s magic! 💥 💥 💥

Excel Workbook


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