Text Assignment Sometimes Works and Sometimes Doesn't...

[Gryfphon]

Hi guys

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this post and trying to help.

Below is a snippet of the code (... indicates code omitted for simplification) where I am trying to annotate a chart after it is generated.

The code sometimes behaves like the Text assignment (last line of code below) is simply a comment and doesn't place the strings into the textbox; when that happens I place a code execution BREAK on the assignment and "Step-Into" the line and it works. Other times it works just fine. Hoping for some possible explanations as to Why?

 ...

    ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddChart.Select
    ActiveChart.ChartType = xl3DPieExploded
    
         With ActiveChart.Parent
             .Height = 600 ' resize
             .Width = 700  ' resize
             .Top = 5      ' reposition
             .Left = 320   ' reposition
         End With
         
' set range for graph

    If lastRow > 8 Then

        Source = "Graph!" & Range("A2:B10").Address

     Else
        Source = "Graph!" & Range("A2:B8").Address

    End If

    ActiveChart.SetSourceData Source:=Range(Source)
    ActiveChart.HasTitle = False
    ActiveChart.HasTitle = True
    ActiveChart.ChartTitle.Text = "Competitive Range of Hourly Rates"
    ActiveChart.ApplyLayout (1)
    
    ActiveWindow.Visible = True
    Range("A2").Select
    
    ActiveSheet.ChartObjects(1).Activate
    ActiveChart.Shapes.AddTextbox(msoTextOrientationHorizontal, 10, 20.5, 198, 167.25).Select
    
    Sheets(wsName).Select
    
    With ws
    
    
    If lastRow > 8 Then
    
        EvaluateString = "Hourly Rate    Low Pts  Mid Pts " & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(2, "A").Value & "              " & .Cells(2, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(2, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(3, "A").Value & "       " & .Cells(3, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(3, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(4, "A").Value & "       " & .Cells(4, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(4, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(5, "A").Value & "       " & .Cells(5, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(5, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(6, "A").Value & "       " & .Cells(6, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(6, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(7, "A").Value & "        " & .Cells(7, "E").Value & "     " & .Cells(7, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(8, "A").Value & "        " & .Cells(8, "E").Value & "       " & .Cells(8, "F").Value & Chr(10)


        EvaluateString2 = "" & _
                  .Cells(9, "A").Value & "        " & .Cells(9, "E").Value & "       " & .Cells(9, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
                  .Cells(10, "A").Value & "           " & .Cells(10, "E").Value & "              " & .Cells(10, "F").Value & Chr(10)

     Else

        EvaluateString = "Hourly Rate    Low Pts  Mid Pts " & Chr(10) & _
              .Cells(2, "A").Value & "              " & .Cells(2, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(2, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
              .Cells(3, "A").Value & "       " & .Cells(3, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(3, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
              .Cells(4, "A").Value & "       " & .Cells(4, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(4, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
              .Cells(5, "A").Value & "       " & .Cells(5, "E").Value & "    " & .Cells(5, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
              .Cells(6, "A").Value & "        " & .Cells(6, "E").Value & "      " & .Cells(6, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
              .Cells(7, "A").Value & "        " & .Cells(7, "E").Value & "       " & .Cells(7, "F").Value & Chr(10) & _
              .Cells(8, "A").Value & "        " & .Cells(8, "E").Value & "       " & .Cells(8, "F").Value & Chr(10)
 
        EvaluateString2 = ""
        
    End If
    
    End With
    
    Selection.ShapeRange(1).TextFrame2.TextRange.Characters.Text = EvaluateString & EvaluateString2

 '''

Thanks again for all your help