Python and VBA

Date: 2025 09-September 07

You can redistribute VBA, but there are some important limitations and practical approaches. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1️⃣ Redistributing VBA

VBA lives inside Office documents (Excel .xlsm, Word .docm, etc.). So distributing VBA usually means distributing the file itself, or embedding the VBA code into user files.

Options:

1. Prebuilt workbook/add-in

   • Create an .xlam Excel add-in or a .xlsm workbook with the VBA macros.

   • Users copy it to a location (e.g., %APPDATA%\Microsoft\AddIns) or open it directly.

   • Advantages: Easy, works with standard Office installations.

   • Limitations: Requires the user to enable macros, which Office will often warn about.

2. Export/Import VBA modules

   • Each VBA module can be exported as a .bas file.

   • Users can import it into their own workbooks manually.

   • Can be automated programmatically via COM (see below).

2️⃣ Automating VBA setup from Python

Python can interact with Office through COM automation (pywin32) to:

• Open a workbook

• Insert VBA modules

• Write VBA code

• Save the workbook or add-in

Example: Adding a macro from Python

import win32com.client as win32

# Start Excel
excel = win32.Dispatch("Excel.Application")
excel.Visible = False

# Open a workbook (or create a new one)
wb = excel.Workbooks.Add()

# Add a module
module = wb.VBProject.VBComponents.Add(1)  # 1 = standard module

# Add VBA code
vba_code = '''
Sub RunPipelineEds()
    Dim cellVal As String
    cellVal = ActiveCell.Value
    Shell "powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command \\"poetry run pipeline query '" & cellVal & "'\\""
End Sub
'''
module.CodeModule.AddFromString(vba_code)

# Save as macro-enabled workbook
wb.SaveAs(r"C:\Users\george.bennett\Desktop\pipeline_macro.xlsm", FileFormat=52)  # 52 = xlsm
wb.Close()
excel.Quit()

Notes:

• Python requires Excel installed on the machine (desktop COM automation).

• VBProject access often needs trusted access to the VBA object model enabled in Excel’s Macro Settings.

• Users still must enable macros to run it.

3️⃣ Packaging for distribution

• You can include a template .xlsm or .xlam with your Python tool.

• Python installs the template in a user’s Documents or %APPDATA% folder.

• Your tool can optionally create a shortcut or ribbon button pointing to the workbook/add-in.

4️⃣ Security and limitations

• Office warns users when macros are present. There’s no way to bypass this safely.

• Some corporate environments disable macros entirely.

• COM automation can fail if Excel isn’t installed or the user lacks permissions.

✅ In short:

• VBA can be redistributed via workbooks or add-ins.

• Python can automate installing or injecting VBA using pywin32 COM automation.

• Users must still enable macros, and Excel must be installed.

• True global integration (like “highlight text anywhere and right-click → pipeline-eds”) isn’t possible with VBA alone — you’re limited to Office.

A Python workflow for installing a reusable Excel macro works like this:

1. Copies a .xlam add-in to %APPDATA%.

2. Registers it automatically in the user’s Excel.

3. Creates the “Run pipeline-eds” right-click menu on cells.

This would let your Python CLI tool fully set up Excel integration.