Reading an Excel File in Python Using Pandas

Loading an Excel file into a pandas DataFrame is a common task in data analysis. While the approach you mentioned is partially correct, there are some missing details and an alternative method that can be more efficient.

Using pd.ExcelFile and pd.io.parsers.ExcelFile.parse

The issue with your initial approach is that you're attempting to call the parse method of the ExcelFile class directly, rather than the instance of the ExcelFile class. To use this approach correctly, you need to first create an instance of the ExcelFile class and then call the parse method on that instance, passing in the sheet name you want to load.

excel_file = pd.ExcelFile('PATH/FileName.xlsx')
parsed_data = excel_file.parse('Sheet1')

However, using this approach can be less efficient because you're creating two objects (the ExcelFile instance and the DataFrame), when you could achieve the same result with a single instruction:

parsed_data = pd.read_excel('PATH/FileName.xlsx', sheet_name='Sheet1')

This method directly uses the read_excel function to create a pandas DataFrame from an Excel file. It's a simpler and more efficient approach.

In summary, the recommended way to read an Excel file into a pandas DataFrame is to use the pd.read_excel function, specifying the file path and the sheet name you want to load. This provides a direct and efficient way to work with Excel data in your Python programs.