# Function to read data from an Excel file

def read$\_$excel$($file$\_$path, sheet$\_$name$=$None$)$:

try:

workbook $=$ openpyxl.load$\_$workbook$($file$\_$path$)$

if sheet$\_$name:

active$\_$sheet $=$ workbook$[$sheet$\_$name$]$

else:

active$\_$sheet $=$ workbook.active

data $=[]$

for row in active$\_$sheet.iter$\_$rows$($min$\_$row$=2,$ values$\_$only$=$True$)$:

row$\_$data $=[$cell$\_$value for cell$\_$value in row$]$

data.append$($row$\_$data$)$

return data

except FileNotFoundError:

print$("$File not found. Please provide a valid file path."$)$

return $[]$

except Exception as e: # Catch broader errors

print$($f$"$An error occurred: $\{$e$\}")$

return $[]$

# Function to generate preferences based on votes

def generate$\_$preferences$($votes$)$:

preferences $=\{\}$

for agent$\_$id$,$ agent$\_$votes in enumerate$($votes$,$ start$=1)$:

# Ensure agent$\_$votes is a list before sorting

agent$\_$votes$\_$list $=$ list$($agent$\_$votes$)$ # Convert to list if necessary

# Sort indices based on values in agent$\_$votes, breaking ties with original order

ordered$\_$indices $=$ sorted$($range$($len$($agent$\_$votes$\_$list$)),$ key$=$lambda i: $(-$agent$\_$votes$\_$list$[$i$],$ i$))$

# Obtain ordered preferences from sorted indices

ordered$\_$preferences $=[]$

for index in ordered$\_$indices:

ordered$\_$preferences.append$($index $+1)$ # Add $1$ to align with $1-$based indexing

preferences$[$agent$\_$id$]=$ ordered$\_$preferences

return preferences