How to wait until ActiveWorkbook.RefreshAll finishes before executing more code

How to wait until ActiveWorkbook.RefreshAll finishes before executing more code

Do you ever find yourself frustrated when your code doesn't execute correctly because it doesn't wait for the RefreshAll command to finish? 😫 Don't worry, you're not alone! In this blog post, we'll address this common issue and provide you with easy solutions to ensure your code runs smoothly. Let's dive in! 💪

The Problem

The problem arises when you have a subroutine that calls ActiveWorkbook.RefreshAll to bring new data from an XML source on a website. The subsequent subs and functions end up not executing correctly because there's not enough time given for the RefreshAll command to finish. This results in repeated rows not being correctly erased. 😔

The Failed Attempt

You've probably tried using Application.Wait and the Sleep function to pause the code execution until the refresh process finishes. However, these methods also pause the refresh process, leading to undesired outcomes. You need a solution that allows the rest of the code to wait until the refresh process completes before executing further.

The Good News!

One possible workaround that you mentioned is implementing a second flow to be executed after the refresh process finishes. While this might work, it isn't the ideal solution. The good news is that we have a better approach for you!

The Solution

We'll use a combination of events and a Boolean flag to achieve the desired functionality. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Declare a Boolean variable, let's call it refreshComplete, and set its initial value to False.

   Dim refreshComplete As Boolean refreshComplete = False

2. Add an event handler to the Workbook object that triggers when the refresh process completes. In this event handler, set the value of refreshComplete to True.

   Private Sub Workbook_AfterRefresh(ByVal Success As Boolean) refreshComplete = True End Sub

3. Before calling the ActiveWorkbook.RefreshAll command, insert a loop that continuously checks the value of refreshComplete. The loop should complete when refreshComplete is True.

   Do While Not refreshComplete DoEvents Loop

4. Finally, place your subsequent code after the loop. This code will now wait until the RefreshAll process finishes before executing.

   ' Your subsequent code goes here

And there you have it! 🎉 By following these steps, you can ensure that your subsequent code waits until the RefreshAll finishes before executing, eliminating any errors or undesired outcomes.

Call to Action

Now that you know how to wait until RefreshAll finishes before executing more code, go ahead and give it a try in your VBA project. Don't let frustrating errors hold you back! If you have any questions or additional tips, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy coding! 👩‍💻👨‍💻

Resources:

• MrExcel Forum

• Official Microsoft VBA Documentation