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For VBA users
Replace your VBA macros with Functions
A guide for users coming from Excel desktop with macros. How to migrate VBA logic to LAMBDA + JS, no Alt+F11 required.
schedule 6 minutes read
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Step 1
Why no VBA in this SaaS?
VBA needs the desktop Excel runtime. This platform runs 100% in the browser (no install) and files are processed server-side with ClosedXML — an xlsx reader/writer that doesn't execute VBA. On top of that, executing arbitrary user-submitted VBA would be a huge security hole. The fix: LAMBDA + JS sandbox, which cover ~95% of VBA cases without any of those problems.
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Step 2
Mental mapping: VBA → Functions
VBA
Functiontaking args, returning a value → LAMBDA. VBASublooping cells and modifying → JS sandbox. VBA with InputBox / MsgBox → not applicable (the AI chat replaces this). VBA with file I/O / web requests → not supported (security). VBA with UserForm → the AI handles a conversational flow instead. -
Step 3
Case 1: math function (LAMBDA)
Your VBA macro had:
Function ContaxTax(price As Double) As Double : ContaxTax = price * 1.21 : End Function. Ask the AI: "Create ConTax that takes a price and adds 21%." Result:=ConTax(A2)works identically in any cell. And the file is portable to desktop Excel.💡 Tip: If your VBA function does math with conditionals, that's still LAMBDA territory: <code>=LAMBDA(x, IF(x < 0, 0, x * 1.21))</code>. -
Step 4
Case 2: row loop (JS)
Your VBA macro had:
For Each c In Range("A2:A100") : c.Offset(0,1) = UCase(c.Value) : Next. Ask the AI: "For A2:A100, put the uppercase value in column B". Result: it uses compute_with_js withdata.map(r => (r[0]||"").toUpperCase()). Same effect, secure sandbox, saved in Functions. -
Step 5
Case 3: regex / complex pattern (JS)
Your VBA macro had a custom string parser with substr, instr, etc. JS does the same with regex in one line. VBA example: extract 4 digits from a product code. JS equivalent:
data.map(r => { const m = String(r[0]||"").match(/\d{4}/); return m ? m[0] : null; }). Way more readable and secure. -
Step 6
What VBA does and Functions don't (yet)
File / network access: blocked by design in the JS sandbox (this is what stops a malicious script from reading your disk). Workbook events (Worksheet_Change, Workbook_Open): no — the app isn't an event host. UserForms: the AI chat replaces this. External API calls: would be a future feature via a specific tool, not arbitrary JS.
💡 Tip: If your VBA macro does something on this list, drop us feedback in the suggestions panel (floating 💡 button bottom-right). -
Step 7
Migrate gradually
If you have a .xlsm with many macros, you don't need to migrate all at once. Upload the file (the app preserves macros even though it doesn't execute them), and for each flow you wanted the macro to run, just ask the AI to do it. You'll find that most macros boil down to 1–3 sentences in plain English. The functions the assistant creates accumulate in the panel — soon you have your personal set of "macro replacement functions".
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