Excel DDE for IB's TWS API problem

T

travis

You know how some IB automated traders use Excel DDE to get data and even implement systems, through IB's TWS API?

Well, all of a sudden today (after months working fine) it stopped working and instead of receiving data as usual, excel just freezes (in other words it hangs, it stalls...) and I get no data, but I have to terminate excel and start all over again but no avail. I can't understand what the cause might be. Maybe something else I installed.

I tried reinstalling excel, tws, all api's versions but it still doesn't work. It happened before and I solved it with system restore, but some registry program deleted most of my restore versions so I can't do that.

Any suggestions?
 
Ok, listen. I have tried to understand a little better my problem. I will tell you and maybe you can help me.

I have two applications open: 1) excel and 2) tws, plus a 3) third application running in the background, the IB API, which tells excel how to make queries via DDE. I hope so far I got it right.

1) Now, I reinstalled many times and many versions of Excel, so that cannot be the problem.

2) I reinstalled many times and many versions of TWS, so I cannot have any problems from that either.

3) I reinstalled many times and many versions of API, so that cannot be the problem either.

The problem must be therefore in DDE, and if I knew exactly how DDE works and what files it involves, what ports and what language... I would immediately solve it. But I know nothing about it.

Before I take up a manual and after studying it for three months I solve my problem, isn't there anyone here who can tell what could be wrong my DDE on my system?

I tried searching on the internet, but I can't really find that many people who have had this problem - so far only two people, and their solutions didn't help me.

http://www.vtsoftware.co.uk/support/hangs.htm

and

http://microsoft-personal-applicati....word.mailmerge.fields/2013392/1/Default.aspx
 
All right, thanks. I did, but I will try it once more.

I read a post that taught me that I can also press F8 to check step by step what could be wrong in the VBA. What I see is this:

The flow of execution of macros goes back and forth between "sheet12" (request historical data) and module "util", until it stops right here in module "util":

Function composeControlLink(server, topic, id, reqType, rawReq) As String
composeControlLink = composeLink(server, topic, TICK_CHAR & id, reqType & QMARK & rawReq & TICK_CHAR)
End Function

----

Anyone has any ideas why? By the way both I and guy who wrote that post have the hanging problem exactly at the same spot in the code:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TWSAPI/message/7012
 
Well, but I didn't change anything in your sample sheet (which I am using for the historical data request), and that same sample sheet worked fine for months. I think it is a problem entirely within my computer. Somehow I installed something that is keeping DDE from working properly. I think neither excel nor IB is the cause.

The reason I am asking everyone is that I don't want to reinstall XP all over again, if there's a way to fix it otherwise, and I think there must be.
 
Quote from travis:


I tried reinstalling excel, tws, all api's versions but it still doesn't work.

Any suggestions?
More...

Try uninstalling/reinstalling both the API and TWS again, but this time go and manually delete the "JTS" folder. (and don't forget to enable dde on new install)

Are you using a modified version of the TwsDde.xls sheet? If so have you tried the getting quotes from the original TwsDde.xls?

(Whenever I install the API, I have to do it in safe mode otherwise there is some file that cannot be accessed and the api is not fully installed)
 
Ok, I have kind of tried already all the things you said, but I will try them again in all details you mention. Unfortunately pretty soon they will shut everything down for the weekend, so I won't know if things don't work for this reason or for the usual reason. Thanks for the advice. I feel I am getting closer to the answer. I don't want to reinstall XP - it would be a defeat.
 
Quote from travis:

Ok, I have kind of tried already all the things you said, but I will try them again in all details you mention. Unfortunately pretty soon they will shut everything down for the weekend, so I won't know if things don't work for this reason or for the usual reason. Thanks for the advice. I feel I am getting closer to the answer. I don't want to reinstall XP - it would be a defeat.
More...


You can work on this through the weekend using edemo account (password demouser).

Also can you answer:
Are you using (having freezes with) a modified version of the TwsDde.xls sheet? If so have you tried the getting quotes from the original TwsDde.xls?
 
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