arcpy script to write field aliases based on an Excel lookup table using pandas

writeFieldAliases.py

# start with an excel table with two columns
# first row should be headers "FIELD" and "ALIAS"
# copy both columns to clipboard including headers
# use copyFieldsToClipboard to get the list
# optionally add a column called "RENAME" and run renameFields

import pandas as pd

def copyFieldsToClipboard(lyr):
	fieldList = [f.name for f in arcpy.ListFields(lyr)]
	pd.DataFrame(fieldList).to_clipboard()

def writeFieldAliases(lyr):
	#create a dictionary, alias found by fieldDict['FIELD']['ALIAS']
	fieldDict = pd.read_clipboard(index_col=0).to_dict('index')
	for f in arcpy.ListFields(lyr):
		if f.name in fieldDict:
			arcpy.management.AlterField(lyr,f.name,new_field_alias=fieldDict[f.name]['ALIAS'])

def renameFields(shp):
	fieldDict = pd.read_clipboard(index_col=0).to_dict('index')
	for f in arcpy.ListFields(shp):
		if f.name in fieldDict:
			arcpy.management.AlterField(shp,f.name,new_field_name=fieldDict[f.name]['RENAME'])