Executing Excel macro on/from specific open file - excel

Question

I've got a need to open some Excel files and "pause" then close them. In this process I run one macro on opening, and another on closing. The opening one works fine because it is done as each file is opened. But the closing part of the code I can't get it to run the correct macro. They have the same names, but the file contests are different, and what the macro does per file is different.
This is the gist of what I'm doing now
Set xlApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
xlApp.Visible = True
path = "\\Gaalpa1cdfile19\north_sa_staff\Reports\Rpt-ProductionCurves\"
filename2018P1 = "2018 P1.xlsm"
Set xlbook2018P1 = xlApp.WorkBooks.Open(path & filename2018P1)
' Run Macro
xlApp.Run "AutoRefresh"
filename2018P3 = "P3 2018 HRR.xlsm"
Set xlbook2018P3 = xlApp.WorkBooks.Open(path & filename2018P3)
'Run Macro
xlApp.Run "AutoRefresh"
'My "pause"
WScript.Echo ("All Files were" & Chr(013) & _
"opened and refreshed, update ppt before OK" & Chr(013) & _
" DO NOT CLICK OK" & Chr(013))
'==========================
'Below is the trouble spot.
'==========================
xlapp.Run "'" & filename2018P1 & "'" & "!AutoPublish"
xlbook2018P1.Close False
Set xlbook2018P1 = Nothing
xlapp.run "'" & filename2018P3 & "'" & "!AutoPublish"
xlbook2018P3.Close False
Set xlbook2018P3 = Nothing
The first part works fine, but trying to run the file's respective AutoPublish macro does not. The code works fine if I leave out that Run line. (The real file names have spaces and I had to add the single quotes to get it to accept the filename.)
What it appears to be doing is using the macros from the last file opened, not the one it's directed to use it the run line. I think I need a way to "select" the correct file, or give it focus so the macro could run without an explicit filename argument, which it appears to be ignoring anyway.
EDIT:
Solution was:
xlbook2018P1.Activate ' This fixed it, I think
xlapp.Run "'" & filename2018P1 & "'" & "!AutoPublish"
xlbook2018P1.Close False
Set xlbook2018P1 = Nothing
xlbook2018P3.Activate
xlapp.run "'" & filename2018P3 & "'" & "!AutoPublish"
xlbook2018P3.Close False
Set xlbook2018P3 = Nothing

Answer 1

When tackling similar tasks, I usually work around by implementing a master Excel file first, and call a sub in this master file via VBS. The advantage to me seems it is way easier to fullfill all tasks in the VBA of the master file rather than having to code all that in VBS.
Create a master file, e.g. "Master.xlsm", list all your files you need to open on a sheet named "Files" in column A, starting in row 1.
Insert a module and place the following sub in this module:
Sub Main()
Dim strPath As String
Dim strFile As String
Dim lRow As Long
Dim i As Long
Dim k As Integer
Dim n As Long
Dim wb(1 To 3) As Workbook
Dim wbTest As Workbook
Set wbMaster = ThisWorkbook
strPath = "\\Gaalpa1cdfile19\north_sa_staff\Reports\Rpt-ProductionCurves\"
'Check how many files you need to open
With Sheets("Files")
lRow = Sheets("Files").Range("A" & .Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Row
End With
'open all available files
For i = 1 To lRow
Workbooks.Open (wbMaster.Sheets("Files").Range("A" & i).Value)
Next
'now run the two macros in each open file
For k = 2 To Workbooks.Count 'this will work only if your master file is the only one open when starting the sub!
Workbooks(k).Run "'" & Workbooks(k).Name & "'!AutoRefresh"
DoEvents
Workbooks(k).Run "'" & Workbooks(k).Name & "'!AutoPublish"
DoEvents
Next
'and close all files previously opened except for the master file
For n = Workbooks.Count To 2 Step -1
Workbooks(n).Close False
Next
End Sub

Answer 2

It seems like a possible explanation for what you're seeing is that your AutoPublish macro refers to ActiveWorkbook and not the safer ThisWorkbook. If another workbook is active when it's called that could lead to unexpected results.