PHPExcel Deletes Embedded VBA

Hi Experts.

I'm developing a PHP Application that needs to write data to an Excel report.  To do this, I'm using a pre-created Excel file (.xls, not .xlt) that has buttons and VBA, copy it, then use the PHPExcel library to update the copied file, using the following code:

	private static function excel_create_file($title, $with_compare, $sess_id, $date_range_1, $date_range_2,&$db){
        
        //copy template file
       
            //Temporarily Change directory to root to copy files...
            $currentDIR = getcwd();
            chdir("../");
            $rootDIR = getcwd();
            //Change DIR back
            chdir($currentDIR);
            
        $slash = DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;

        //echo 'dir = ' . $currentDIR . '<br>';
        
        $file_name = "SearchReport_" . $sess_id . ".xls";
        
        $file_from = $rootDIR . $slash . "search_bookings" . $slash . "report_template.xls";
        $file_physical = $rootDIR . $slash . "downloads" . $slash . $file_name;
        
        global $env;
        $file_virtual = $env['url'] . '/downloads/' . $file_name;
        
        $copy_success = copy($file_from, $file_physical);
        
    /** Include PHPExcel */
        error_reporting(E_ALL);
        set_time_limit(0);
                
        $fileType = 'Excel5';
        
        require_once '../excel_lib/PHPExcel/IOFactory.php';
        
        // Read the file
        $objReader = PHPExcel_IOFactory::createReader($fileType);
        $objPHPExcel = $objReader->load($file_physical);

        // Admin/cover sheet
        self::excel_sheet_admin($objPHPExcel, $title, $date_range_1, $date_range_2);
/*        
        //Create 1 product sheets
        self::excel_sheet_1_product($objPHPExcel, 'Loc_CSSTAlpha', TRUE, $with_compare, $sess_id, $db); //Report 4.4
*/
        // Write the file
        $objWriter = PHPExcel_IOFactory::createWriter($objPHPExcel, $fileType);
        $objWriter->save($file_physical);
        
        return $file_virtual;
        
    }
    
    private static function excel_sheet_admin(&$excel_obj, $title, $date_range_1, $date_range_2){
        
        $excel_obj->setActiveSheetIndexByName('Admin')
                  ->setCellValue('B3', $title)
                  ->setCellValue('B4', $date_range_1)
                  ->setCellValue('B5', $date_range_2);
    }
    

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if I comment out Lines 27-47 (the PHPExcel) the buttons and their VBA are maintained, but as soon as I release these lines, and run the above code, I lose my buttons and VBA. Even hitting Alt+F11 my VBA code is deleted.

How can I populate an existing Excel file while maintaining the buttons and VBA?

I know that VBA is not PHP, but Excel is VBA.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.