Run and compile vba script in visual studio

Question

I've been working with macros on VBA for a while, and there's some information on them that I want to hide. As excel is a very unsafe language, I've come with the idea of creating an .exe file of the compiled script to avoid people from accessing my code. I've been looking for the way to do this with Visual Studio, but can't get the answer. Can someone show me how to do this? Many thanks in advance :)

Answer 1

I dont think that you can create EXEs/DLLs by using vba. EXEs/DLLs are compiled assemblies, therefore you need a programming language/environment that can be compiled. Compiled means "pre-translated to machine language". VBA is just an interpreted language, that means that it will be translated on the fly in the VBA environment. I think you have to use C#, C++ etc. to do this. For further infromation please see:

Create a DLL using VBA editor

http://www.geeksengine.com/article/create-dll.html

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dt232c9t(VS.80).aspx

You can lock and hide your VBA code without creating a DLL:

http://www.excel-easy.com/vba/examples/protect-macro.html

http://www.ozgrid.com/VBA/protect-vba-code.htm

Best way to protect Excel VBA code?

But I am not sure if that solves your problem: You say, that excel VBA seems to be an unsafe language. I am not sure if I understand what you mean. If you just want to hide the contents of the script, see above. Up to now this will protect your code better than in further versions of excel. But I think there is still a way to crack that, e. g. Brute Force attack etc. Usually that are enhanced methods but if you want to be sure you (or better an experienced programmer have to create a programm (exe) for that. If secure means something different (why do you want to hide your code?) than let me know, maybe there is a other way to achieve what you want to do.

Answer 2

using ADODB;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace HiddenConnectionString
{
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsDual),
Guid("2FCEF713-CD2E-4ACB-A9CE-E57E7F51E72E")]
public interface IMyServer
{
    Connection GetConnection();
    void Shutdown();
}

[ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.None)]
[Guid("57BBEC44-C6E6-4E14-989A-B6DB7CF6FBEB")]
public class MyServer : IMyServer
{
    private Connection cn;

    private string cnStr = "Provider=MSDAORA.1;Password=YourPass;User ID=YourID;Data Source=YourServer";
    public MyServer()
    {

    }

    public Connection GetConnection()
    {
        cn = new Connection();
        cn.ConnectionString = cnStr;
        cn.Open();
        return cn;
    }

    public void Shutdown()
    {
        cn.Close();
    }
}
}

You might get this error... It is because of the InterfaceType Guid

Access is denied. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070005 (E_ACCESSDENIED)) Check this link for the solution:

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/26accc30-9cfb-4d86-9c27-780f51929ecb/access-is-denied-exception-from-hresult-0x80070005-eaccessdenied?forum=vsreportcontrols

This is the code but I would visit the link that Stefan suggested.