Fixed issue with variables not being updated in Excel file

direct_xml_update.py

@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ def update_excel_with_direct_xml(excel_path, store_name):
     """
     Update all references to {store_name} in the Excel file by directly modifying XML
     
+    This function preserves all cell values and formulas that were previously set
+    by the update_excel_variables function.
+    
     Args:
         excel_path: Path to the Excel file
         store_name: The store name to replace {store_name} with
@@ -39,6 +42,10 @@ def update_excel_with_direct_xml(excel_path, store_name):
                     
                     # Only modify XML files that might contain formulas or text
                     if item.filename.endswith('.xml'):
+                        # Skip sheet8.xml which is the Variables sheet (based on common Excel structure)
+                        if 'sheet8.xml' in item.filename:
+                            print(f"Skipping Variables sheet: {item.filename}")
+                        else:
                             # Convert to string for text replacement
                             try:
                                 text_content = content.decode('utf-8')

server.js

@@ -35,22 +35,33 @@ app.post('/calculate', async (req, res) => {
     await updateConfig(formData);
     console.log('Config file updated successfully');
     
-    // Run Python script to create Excel file
-    exec('python3 create_excel.py', (error, stdout, stderr) => {
-      if (error) {
-        console.error(`Error executing Python script: ${error}`);
-        console.error(`stderr: ${stderr}`);
-      } else {
+    // Run Python script to create Excel file synchronously
+    const { execSync } = require('child_process');
+    try {
+      console.log('Executing Python script...');
+      const stdout = execSync('python3 create_excel.py', { encoding: 'utf8' });
       console.log(`Python script output: ${stdout}`);
-      }
-    });
       
-    // Send success response
+      // Send success response after Python script completes
       res.json({
         success: true,
-      message: 'Form data saved successfully'
+        message: 'Form data saved and Excel file created successfully'
       });
       console.log('Success response sent');
+    } catch (execError) {
+      console.error(`Error executing Python script: ${execError.message}`);
+      if (execError.stderr) {
+        console.error(`stderr: ${execError.stderr}`);
+      }
+      
+      // Send error response for Python script failure
+      res.status(500).json({
+        success: false,
+        message: 'Error creating Excel file',
+        error: execError.message
+      });
+      console.error('Error response sent for Python script failure');
+    }
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error processing form data:', error);
     console.error('Error stack:', error.stack);

update_excel.py

@@ -101,11 +101,17 @@ def update_excel_variables(excel_path):
         # Update the cells
         for cell_ref, value in cell_mappings.items():
             try:
-                sheet[cell_ref] = value
+                # Force the value to be set, even if the cell is protected or has data validation
+                cell = sheet[cell_ref]
+                cell.value = value
                 print(f"Updated {cell_ref} with value: {value}")
             except Exception as e:
                 print(f"Error updating cell {cell_ref}: {e}")
                 
+        # Save the workbook immediately after updating the cells
+        print("Saving workbook after updating variables...")
+        wb.save(excel_path)
+        
         # Update sheet names - replace {store_name} with actual store name
         store_name = user_data.get('store_name', '')
         if store_name:
@@ -140,6 +146,23 @@ def update_excel_variables(excel_path):
                 # Reload the workbook to get the changes
                 wb = openpyxl.load_workbook(excel_path)
                 
+                # Re-apply the variables to make sure they weren't overwritten
+                print("Re-applying variables after XML modification...")
+                try:
+                    sheet = wb['Variables']
+                    for cell_ref, value in cell_mappings.items():
+                        try:
+                            cell = sheet[cell_ref]
+                            cell.value = value
+                            print(f"Re-applied {cell_ref} with value: {value}")
+                        except Exception as e:
+                            print(f"Error re-applying cell {cell_ref}: {e}")
+                    
+                    # Save the workbook again
+                    wb.save(excel_path)
+                except Exception as e:
+                    print(f"Error re-applying variables: {e}")
+        
         # Save the workbook
         wb.save(excel_path)
         print(f"Excel file updated successfully: {excel_path}")