Can't work with ranges if workbook and sheet are not active [duplicate]

Answer 1

Set rExceptions = wbImport.Sheets(sSht).Range(Cells(rCell.Row, iHeadCol), _
                                              Cells(rCell.Row, iLastCol))

You've qualified Range, but not Cells: either of these if not qualified with a specific sheet will refer to the ActiveSheet. Somewhat counter-intuitively, the (qualified) wrapping Range doesn't "casade" down...

Try this:

With wbImport.Sheets(sSht)
    Set rExceptions =  .Range(.Cells(rCell.Row, iHeadCol), _
                              .Cells(rCell.Row, iLastCol))
End with