DDE Link for Spreadsheets

Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is a communication process that permits applications to share data. Barchart Trader allows you to connect any quoteboard using DDE to either Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice Calc, or LibreOffice Calc and auto-update the spreadsheet as Barchart Trader gets new data.

DDE is available only on Windows installations, and only from a Quoteboard or a Fixed Quoteboard.

Spreadsheets and Macros

In order to use DDE, your spreadsheet needs to allow macros to be executed. This is typically a security setting found under Tools, or may be a setting you are asked to enable when starting the DDE connection.

 

Start a DDE Connection

1. Open a Quoteboard or a Fixed Quoteboard and place it on your workspace.
2. Click the Action menu, found in the top right corner of the quoteboard, select Export Quoteboard, then select with Excel (DDE) or OpenOffice (DDE).
   
   Result: The Quoteboard is saved as an .xls file (Excel) or .ods file (OpenOffice) on your computer. The dialog shows you the location of the file and allows your to either open the location/folder where the file was placed, open the file, or dismiss the dialog by pressing OK:
   
   
   

The Worksheet

The file can now be opened with your spreadsheet software.

Important: Barchart Trader must be open for the spreadsheet to receive updates.

If you've opened the spreadsheet before opening the application, or to restart the DDE connection, click the Refresh All button at the top of the spreadsheet.

The worksheet will be populated with new data from Barchart Trader. If desired, you may add or change symbols on the spreadsheet.

Add a Symbol

1. Position your cursor in an open cell in the Symbol column.
2. Enter the desired symbol.
   Result: The spreadsheet automatically pulls in the remaining data columns and will continue to update using data from the application. The symbol is NOT added to the quoteboard in Barchart Trader.
   
   

Change a Symbol

1. Position your cursor in the cell containing the Symbol you wish to change.
2. Enter the desired symbol.
   Result: The spreadsheet automatically pulls in the data for the new symbol. The symbol is NOT added to the quoteboard in Barchart Trader.

Formatting Your Spreadsheet

Once data is imported to the spreadsheet, it may be necessary to format the cells to receive the type of data being retrieved via DDE. For example, price fields may need to be formatted with the proper decimal places or commas and time fields may need to be formatted as HH:MM:SS.

Underlying Formulas

DDE places a formula in each cell in the worksheet so the appropriate data can be pulled from the application. If desired, you can enter these formulas in new cells to pull in data that was not on the original quoteboard in the application.

Excel Formula =Trader|Quotes![Symbol].[Field]
Examples:

• =Trader|Quotes!AAPL.last
• =Trader|Quotes!'ZW*0.previous'

OpenOffice/LibreOffice Formula=DDE("Trader";"Quotes";"Symbol.Field")
        or =DDE("Trader";"Quotes";CONCATENATE($A5;".Field"))
where A5 = the column/row containing the symbol

Examples:

• =DDE("Trader";"Quotes";"AAPL.last")
• =DDE("Trader";"Quotes";"ZW*0.previous")
• =DDE("Trader";"Quotes";CONCATENATE($A23;".volume"))

Available Quote Fields

Available Quote Fields	Description
contract	Displays the full futures contract. If the symbol is ZW*0, the contract would return, for example, ZWK15
last	Last Price
open	Open Price
high	High Price (current session)
low	Low Price (current session)
previous	Previous Settle Price
volume	Volume (current session)
change	Price Change
changeper	Percent Change
lastsize last_size	Size of the Last Trade
bid	Bid Price
bidsize bid_size	Bid Size
bid_both	Bid x Size
ask	Ask Price
asksize ask_size	Ask Size
ask_both	Ask x Size
exchange	Exchange
month month_year	The expiration month and year
name	Symbol name
expiration exp_date	Expiration date (futures)
time short_time	Time stamp for the last bid/ask
tradetime trade_time	Time stamp for the last trade
settle	Settle Price (current session)
prevsettle	Previous Session Settle Price
issettled is_settled	Yes / No to indicate if settled
vwap	Volume Weighted Average Price
oi open_interest	Open Interest