How do I import a COM object namespace/enumeration in Python?

The Problem (Q-score 7, ranked #159th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2009

I’m relatively new to programming/python, so I’d appreciate any help I can get. I want to save an excel file as a specific format using Excel through COM. Here is the code:

import win32com.client as win32 

def excel():
    app = 'Excel'
    x1 = win32.gencache.EnsureDispatch('%s.Application' % app)
    ss = x1.Workbooks.Add()
    sh = ss.ActiveSheet
    x1.Visible = True
    sh.Cells(1,1).Value = 'test write'
    ss.SaveAs(Filename="temp.xls", FileFormat=56)
    x1.Application.Quit()

if __name__=='__main__':
    excel()

My question is how do I specify the FileFormat if I don’t explicitly know the code for it? Browsing through the documentation I find the reference at about a FileFormat object. I’m clueless on how to access the XlFileFormat object and import it in a way that I can find the enumeration value for it.

Thanks!

Why this Range / Worksheet targeting trips people up

The question centers on reaching a specific cell, range, or workbook object. In Excel VBA, this is the #1 source of failures after activation events: every property (.Value, .Formula, .Address) behaves differently depending on whether the parent Workbook is explicit or implicit.

The Verified Solution — niche answer (below median) (+8)

12-line Excel VBA pattern (copy-ready)

This question is a bit stale, but for those reaching this page from Google (as I did) my solution was accessing the constants via the win32com.client.constants object instead of on the application object itself as suggested by Eric. This lets you use enum constants just like in the VBE:

>>> import win32com.client
>>> xl = win32com.client.gencache.EnsureDispatch('Excel.Application')
>>> C = win32com.client.constants
>>> C.xlWorkbookNormal
-4143
>>> C.xlCSV
6
>>> C.xlErrValue
2015
>>> C.xlThemeColorAccent1
5

Also, unless you’ve manually run the makepy utility, the constants may not be available if initializing the application with the regular win32com.client.Dispatch(..) method, which was another issue I was having. Using win32com.client.gencache.EnsureDispatch(..) (as the questioner does) checks for and generates the Python bindings at runtime if required.

I found this ActiveState page to be helpful.

When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #159th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 98% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Excel VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2009 and 2026

The answer is 17 years old. The Excel VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.