Excel VBA update chart not visible - excel

Question

I have an excel file which iterates over different excel files to update them and create a PDF file from them.
The macro iterates over rows and opens the files. This code opens the files:
Private Sub openFile(row As Integer)
Dim filePath As String
Dim wb As Workbook
filePath = Application.ActiveWorkbook.Path + "\" + allRows(row).filename
Set wb = Workbooks.Open(filePath)
Application.Run "RefreshEntireWorksheet"
Application.OnTime Now + (TimeSerial(0, 1, 59)), "'ThisWorkbook.updateCharts """ & row & "'"
Application.OnTime Now + (TimeSerial(0, 2, 59)), "'ThisWorkbook.createEmail'"
End Sub
Now if there are multiple files, only 1 file has the charts properly updated (the file being on the front). It seems like the updateCharts code doesn't work at all:
Sub updateCharts(row As Integer)
Dim SheetName As String
Dim wb As Workbook
SheetName = "Sheet1"
With Application
.ScreenUpdating = True
.EnableEvents = True
End With
Set wb = Workbooks(allRows(row).filename)
wb.Activate
wb.Sheets(SheetName).Activate
For Each cht In wb.Sheets(SheetName).ChartObjects
cht.Chart.Refresh
DoEvents
Next cht
End Sub
I checked following links for answers, but none helped:
Can't refresh a chart in Excel VBA (Excel 2016)
Refresh all charts without blinking
excel chart not updating when data changed by vba
Excel 2013 vba refresh chart content after each iteration of For Loop
They all suggest to add an DoEvent, but that doesn't work. So the question is, how can I update charts in a different workbook via VBA?

Answer 1

I have encountered similar issues in the past, and have observed that they seem to increase as the Version of Excel increments; I suspect it is a case of falling afoul of side-effects caused efficiency enhancements elsewhere to speed up the Application in general (reducing unnecessary drawing on the screen, et cetera)
One thing that I have found (sometimes) works is to try and force the Application Window to Refresh/Redraw, by setting the WindowState to itself:
Application.WindowState = Application.WindowState
This is similar to how some people suggest using ActiveWindow.SmallScroll down:=0, ActiveWindow.SmallScroll 0, ActiveWindow.SmallScroll, or ActiveWindow.SmallScroll down:=1: ActiveWindow.SmallScroll up:=1
Combining this with the ScreenUpdating toggle, and the DoEvents, you can create a quick Subroutine like this:
Public Sub RedrawScreen()
Dim ScreenUpdating As Boolean
ScreenUpdating = Application.ScreenUpdating
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Application.WindowState = Application.WindowState
DoEvents
Application.ScreenUpdating = ScreenUpdating
End Sub

Answer 2

Try this (it works for me - Excel 2016):
DoEvents must be in your code as others said before
Delete all colours of the cells of the spreadsheet: all the background of the cells must be "no background"; use only automatic colour (black) for the text of all the cells.
Save, close and reopen the file. Now start your macro and look at your chart.
I don't know why it works, but.........it works!
For those more capable than me: do the opposite: if your chart is updating with your macro running, try to colour some text or some cells. The chart will not update anymore. The Microsoft experts should check what is happening.
Hope this helps. Bye, bb.