How to use Application.ShowToolTips in the xlwings API way

In the Excel object model, the Application.ShowToolTips property controls whether Excel displays ScreenTips for toolbar buttons. When enabled, hovering the mouse over a command button in the ribbon or toolbar will show a small descriptive text box. This can enhance user experience by providing quick guidance, especially in custom-built Excel applications or when distributing workbooks to less experienced users. From a developer’s perspective, managing this setting via xlwings allows you to ensure a consistent interface behavior programmatically, aligning with the application’s intended usability.

Syntax in xlwings:
The property is accessed through the xlwings.App object, which corresponds to the Excel Application. In xlwings, you typically interact with the active application instance or create a new one. The property is a Boolean value.

import xlwings as xw

# Connect to the active Excel instance
app = xw.apps.active

# Get the current ShowToolTips setting
current_setting = app.api.ShowToolTips

# Set the ShowToolTips property
app.api.ShowToolTips = True # or False

Here, app.api provides direct access to the underlying Excel Application object’s COM interface, allowing you to use the standard Excel VBA properties and methods. The ShowToolTips property accepts a Boolean: True turns on ScreenTips, False turns them off. Note that changes affect the entire Excel application, not just a specific workbook.

Code Examples:

1. Checking the Current Setting:
   This is useful for diagnostics or to conditionally adjust other settings based on the current state.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.apps.active
if app.api.ShowToolTips:
    print("ToolTips are currently enabled.")
else:
    print("ToolTips are disabled.")

2. Temporarily Disabling ToolTips:
   You might want to turn off ToolTips during a macro-intensive process to prevent visual distractions, then restore the original setting.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.apps.active
original_setting = app.api.ShowToolTips
try:
    app.api.ShowToolTips = False
    # Perform tasks where ToolTips are not needed
    # e.g., automated data processing
    print("ToolTips disabled for operations.")
finally:
    app.api.ShowToolTips = original_setting
    print(f"ToolTips restored to {original_setting}.")

3. Ensuring ToolTips are Enabled for User Interaction:
   In a user-facing application, you might enforce ToolTips to be on to aid navigation.

import xlwings as xw
# Start or connect to Excel
app = xw.App(visible=True) # New instance, visible
app.api.ShowToolTips = True
# Open a workbook and perform tasks
wb = app.books.open('example.xlsx')
# ... additional code
# The user will see ToolTips throughout the session