Common questions and answers about xlmerg usage, especially for Vanta.com workflows.

A: xlmerg merges two Excel files intelligently - it takes your old file (with manual review entries) and a new file (fresh Vanta export) and combines them, preserving all your manual work while updating system data.

A: No! xlmerg runs entirely in your web browser. Just visit https://iinaveedahmed.github.io/xlmerg or download the HTML file.

A: Completely safe. xlmerg processes everything locally in your browser. No data is ever uploaded to servers or transmitted anywhere. It works offline too.

A: Excel files (.xlsx and .xls). The tool uses the first column (Account name) as the primary key for matching rows.

A: xlmerg is designed specifically for Vanta workflows:

• Upload your previous Vanta export (with completed manual reviews)
• Upload fresh Vanta export (with new users/tools/changes)
• xlmerg preserves all manual review data while updating system information

A: New employees are automatically added as new rows with blank review fields, ready for you to conduct access appropriateness reviews. No manual copying needed.

A: When Vanta detects new tools (like Slack, Datadog, etc.), xlmerg adds the entire new sheet or section with all accounts ready for review. Your existing reviews remain untouched.

A: xlmerg uses column name matching, so it automatically adapts to Vanta export format changes. New columns are added, renamed columns are mapped correctly.

A: Simple rules:

• Manual review data (conducted by, approved by, access decisions) → Always preserved from old file
• System data (roles, status, dates) → Updated from new Vanta export
• Blank cells in new file → Don't override old values
• New accounts → Added with blank review fields

A: These "orphaned" accounts are added to the bottom of the merged file and marked in the change log. This usually happens when employees leave or accounts are deactivated.

A: Yes! xlmerg maps columns by name, not position. If Vanta adds new columns or rearranges them, xlmerg handles it automatically.

A:

• System data conflicts → New file wins (more current)
• Manual data conflicts → Old file wins (preserves your work)
• Blank vs data → Data always wins (no overwriting with blanks)

A: xlmerg handles files up to 50MB efficiently. Typical Vanta exports (1000-5000 accounts) process in 10-30 seconds.

A: Currently optimized for desktop browsers. Mobile support is planned for future releases.

A: Currently processes one pair at a time. Batch processing is on the roadmap for future versions.

A: Check these items:

• File format must be .xlsx or .xls
• File size under 50MB
• File isn't password protected or corrupted
• Try refreshing the page and uploading again

A: Verify these items:

• First column contains Account name/unique identifier
• Both files have similar structure (account-based data)
• No special characters in sheet names
• Manual review data is in expected columns

A: This usually means:

• Files are identical (no system updates from Vanta)
• New file has no new accounts or role changes
• Changes are in excluded sheets
• Account names don't match between files (check spelling/formatting)

A: Try these solutions:

• Use Chrome or Firefox (best compatibility)
• Clear browser cache and reload
• Disable browser extensions temporarily
• Check browser console for specific error details

• Schedule: Run Vanta exports same day/time weekly
• Naming: Use dates in filenames: vanta_2025-01-22.xlsx
• Review priority: Start with highlighted changes, then new accounts
• Documentation: Use "Changes made" column for audit notes

• Shared folders - Google Drive/SharePoint for team access
• Review assignment - Split new accounts among team members
• Approval workflow - Use "Review approved by" consistently
• Backup strategy - Keep previous weeks for audit trail

• Change documentation - Note why access was granted/revoked
• Reviewer attribution - Always fill "Review conducted by"
• Approval tracking - Document who approved decisions
• Date accuracy - Use consistent date formats

Traditional process: 5 hours/week × 52 weeks = 260 hours/year
xlmerg process: 2 hours/week × 52 weeks = 104 hours/year
Annual savings: 156 hours = ~4 weeks of work time

Security analyst salary: $75/hour
Annual time savings: 156 hours
Cost savings: $11,700/year per reviewer
Team of 3 reviewers: $35,100/year savings

• Zero data loss incidents (previously 2-3 per year)
• 100% review completeness (previously missed 5-10% of accounts)
• Faster audit preparation (days to hours)
• Improved compliance scores (complete change tracking)

If you have multiple Vanta environments (dev, staging, prod):

• Process each environment separately
• Use consistent naming: vanta_prod_2025-01-22.xlsx
• Maintain separate review cycles
• Aggregate for company-wide reporting

For organizations with custom Vanta connectors:

• xlmerg adapts to any column structure
• New integration data appears as new columns
• Manual mapping handled automatically
• Custom fields preserved across merges

• SOC2: Use xlmerg output for access review evidence
• ISO27001: Maintain required access documentation
• NIST: Support periodic access reviews
• Custom frameworks: Adapt change logs to requirements

• Getting Started - Basic setup and first merge
• Advanced Usage - Power user features
• Troubleshooting - Detailed problem solving

Still have questions? Ask in GitHub Discussions or create an issue.

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