How to create an excel file with an autofilter in the first row with xlwt?

Question

I am using Python 2.6 + xlwt module to generate excel files.

Is it possible to include an autofilter in the first row with xlwt or pyExcelerator or anything else besides COM?

Thanks

Answer 1

AFAIK xlwt doesn't allow you to add a filter.

However you can add a filter using Mark Hammond's Python Win32 Extensions. Download for 2.6 here.
Something like this should work (tested in Python 2.5.4):

from win32com.client import DispatchEx
xl = DispatchEx("Excel.Application")
xl.Workbooks.Open("c:/excel_file.xls")
xl.ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Columns(1).AutoFilter(1)
xl.ActiveWorkbook.Close(SaveChanges=1)
xl.Quit()
del xl # ensure excel.exe process ends

Answer 2

I found this message in a Google group. It looks like it's not possible, unfortunately.

Answer 3

I have the same issue, running a linux server.

i'm going to check creating an ODS or XLSX file with auto-filter by other means, and then convert them with a libreoffice command line to "xls".