Spreadsheet Automation: Beyond VBA
VBA served us well, but modern spreadsheet automation offers better options—more maintainable, more powerful, and easier to version control.
Python + openpyxl
Use openpyxl for creating formatted Excel reports from DataFrames with custom styling, column widths, and multiple sheets.
Google Sheets API
The Google Sheets API enables reading and writing spreadsheet data programmatically, perfect for collaborative sheets updated by automation.
Microsoft Graph for Excel Online
For SharePoint and OneDrive integration, Microsoft Graph API provides Excel workbook manipulation capabilities.
When to Use Each
- Local files: Python + openpyxl
- Collaborative: Google Sheets API
- SharePoint: Microsoft Graph
- Simple macros: Office Scripts
Move beyond VBA for better maintainability and integration.