How to use Application.StatusBar in the xlwings API way

The StatusBar property of the Application object in Excel is a useful feature for providing real-time feedback to users during lengthy operations, such as data processing, calculations, or macro execution. In xlwings, this functionality is accessible through the api property, which provides direct access to the underlying Excel object model. This allows developers to set custom messages, display progress indicators, or clear the status bar, enhancing the user experience in automated Excel tasks.

Functionality
The StatusBar property controls the text displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the Excel window. It can be used to show informative messages, progress updates (e.g., “Processing… 50% complete”), or temporary notifications. When set to False, it clears any custom message and restores Excel’s default status bar display, such as showing “Ready” or calculation status. This is particularly valuable in long-running scripts to keep users informed without interrupting the workflow.

Syntax
In xlwings, the StatusBar property is accessed via the Application object. The basic syntax is:

app = xw.apps.active # Get the active Excel application
app.api.StatusBar = "Your message here" # Set a custom message

To clear the custom message and revert to Excel’s default display:

app.api.StatusBar = False

The property is both readable and writable. You can retrieve the current status bar text by reading app.api.StatusBar, which returns a string if a custom message is set, or False if the default is active. Note that the StatusBar does not accept complex formatting; it only displays plain text. Parameters are not required for setting or clearing—simply assign a string or False as shown.

Code Examples
Here are practical examples of using the StatusBar property with xlwings:

1. Setting a Custom Message: Display a notification during data processing.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.apps.active
app.api.StatusBar = "Loading data... Please wait."
# Simulate a task, e.g., processing data
import time
time.sleep(2)
app.api.StatusBar = "Data loaded successfully."

2. Showing Progress Updates: Implement a simple progress indicator in a loop.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.apps.active
total_items = 100
for i in range(total_items):
    progress = (i + 1) / total_items * 100
    app.api.StatusBar = f"Processing... {progress:.1f}% complete"
    # Simulate work, e.g., updating cells
    time.sleep(0.1)
    app.api.StatusBar = False # Clear after completion

3. Clearing the Status Bar: Restore Excel’s default display after an operation.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.apps.active
app.api.StatusBar = "Task in progress..."
# Perform some operations, e.g., formatting a range
sheet = app.books.active.sheets[0]
sheet.range("A1:A10").value = "Updated"
app.api.StatusBar = False # Revert to default status

4. Reading the Current Status: Check if a custom message is set.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.apps.active
app.api.StatusBar = "Calculating results..."
current_status = app.api.StatusBar
print(f"Status bar says: {current_status}") # Output: Status bar says: Calculating results...