Function inlining in SQL Server 2019. Starting with SQL Server 2019, scalar functions written in T-SQL may be inlined. This means they will be folded into the query and no longer incur the UDF ...

The 2012, 2014, and 2016 editions of the SQL Server are expected to break. While both 2014 and 2016 still remain in support, 2012 is out of support but will receive extended security updates.

When a VBA solution falls short of your needs, there's probably a Windows API function that can handle the job. Susan Harkins lists 10 handy APIs and explains how you can put them to work.