As an example, SPY futures [...]]]> The multiplier column in Twsdde.xls is not used by the code that constructs the links to retrieve data. Filling it in has no affect on the contract received. This creates an issue when attempting to retrieve data for Futures with more than one contract available with the same contract expiration month.

As an example, SPY futures are available in contracts with a multiplier of 1000 and 100 on the ONE exchange.

The error message received in this case is “The contract description specified for SPY is ambiguous;”

The solution is to first find the local symbol. You can do this by first adding the contract in TWS, right click on the contract name within TWS, then select contract details and select “details”.
This will open the page shown below and you can find the local symbol. As shown below, leave out the other parameters such as expiration date as it’s inherit in the local symbol (and will result in no data).

The instructions are:

Below is an image of the file.

Both files contain the exact same set of Open High Low Close data. The formula based version should be easier to understand and serves as a way to verify that the VBA code that I wrote is [...]]]> This post includes  two example excel files that show both VBA and Formula based calculations for the indicator "Stochastics".

Both files contain the exact same set of Open High Low Close data. The formula based version should be easier to understand and serves as a way to verify that the VBA code that I wrote is correct. Both methods give the same result for both %k and %D.  The major benefit of using VBA is that the parameters for Stochastics can be easily changed from the input boxes. In addition the VBA method shows only the final result rather than take up five columns.

The VBA based version can be downloaded here.

The formula version can be downloaded here. Below is an image of the formulas used in the formula based version.

Below is the code that I wrote for the VBA based version.

Sub ETstochastic() 'written by Exceltrader www.exceltrader.net
Dim StochSetting As Integer, Ksetting As Integer, Dsetting As Integer
Dim A() As Double, B() As Double, C() As Double, D() As Double, E() As Double
Dim Count As Long
Dim Xcounter As Integer, Xavg As Double
Dim Zcounter As Integer, Zavg As Double
Dim x As Integer, y As Integer, z As Integer
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''  The below three lines are the Stochastic settings.
''  The Values can either be changed here or uncomment the inputbox lines to be prompted.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
StochSetting = 14 'InputBox(Prompt:="Enter Stoch settings Number of Periods.", Title:="Stochastic Period", Default:="13")
Ksetting = 2 'InputBox(Prompt:="Enter Moving Average For %K", Title:="%K Setting", Default:="5")
Dsetting = 3 'InputBox(Prompt:="Enter Moving Average For %D", Title:="%D Setting", Default:="6")
Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("Svba")
    With ws
    LR = .Cells(Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row
'does the same as formula =E15-(MIN(D1:D15))
        For Each DataRange In ws.Range(.Cells(2, "A"), .Cells(LR, "A"))
        Count = DataRange.Row
        ReDim Preserve A(1 To Count)
                If Count >= StochSetting + 1 Then
                     A(Count) = .Cells(Count, "E") - Application.Min(ws.Range(.Cells(Count - StochSetting, "D") _
                     , .Cells(Count, "D")))
                End If
        Next DataRange
     'does the same as formula   =MAX(C36:C50)-MIN(D36:D50)
        For Each DataRange In ws.Range(.Cells(2, "A"), .Cells(LR, "A"))
        Count = DataRange.Row
        ReDim Preserve B(1 To Count)
                If Count >= StochSetting + 1 Then
                     B(Count) = Application.Max(ws.Range(.Cells(Count - StochSetting, "C"), .Cells(Count, "C"))) _
                     - Application.Min(ws.Range(.Cells(Count - StochSetting, "D"), .Cells(Count, "D")))
                     End If
        Next DataRange
        '=100*(I50/J50)
        ReDim Preserve C(StochSetting + 1 To UBound(B))
            For Count = StochSetting + 1 To UBound(B)
                   C(Count) = (A(Count) / B(Count)) * 100
            Next Count
        '=AVERAGE(K49:K50)
        ReDim Preserve D(StochSetting + Ksetting To UBound(B))
            For Count = StochSetting + Ksetting To UBound(B)
                For Xcounter = Count - Ksetting + 1 To Count 'just go back and get the first C and go forward to current
                    Xavg = C(Xcounter) + Xavg
                Next Xcounter
                D(Count) = Xavg / Ksetting
                Xavg = Empty
      

60;     Next Count
            ReDim Preserve E(StochSetting + Ksetting + Dsetting - 1 To UBound(B))
            For Count = StochSetting + Ksetting + Dsetting - 1 To UBound(B)
                For Zcounter = Count - Dsetting + 1 To Count 'just go back and get the first C and go forward to current
                    Zavg = D(Zcounter) + Zavg
                Next Zcounter
                E(Count) = Zavg / Dsetting
                Zavg = Empty
            Next Count
  x = Empty: y = Empty: z = Empty
  x = LBound(E)
  y = UBound(E)
  'put the stochastics on the workbook. Change column Letter as needed
  .Cells(x - 1, "J") = "%D"
  .Cells(x - 1, "I") = "%K"
  For z = x To y
  .Cells(z, "J") = E(z)
  .Cells(z, "I") = D(z)
  Next z
End With
End Sub
            
            
            

DataConverter.xls allows you to configure the Number of OHLC bars that should be condensed down into a single bar. You [...]]]> If you have ever wanted to take your existing Open High Low Close historical trading data and convert it into larger time frame, the following Excel VBA based data converter I wrote may do the trick.

DataConverter.xls allows you to configure the Number of OHLC bars that should be condensed down into a single bar. You also can list the file name, sheet, and columns where your data is located.  The data will almost instantly be transformed into the higher time frame you have requested.
Instructions:

1. Download DataConverter.xls
2. Open DataConverter.xls. (Quickstart!: Skip the directions below. Just Open file and press “Convert” to see how it works with default settings.
3. If you have OHLC Data in a workbook, open that file (you can also just use the default sample data that is contained on the sample data sheet in DataConverter.xls)
4. Enter the Column letter for each type of data (Time/date, Open, High, Low, Close, Volume)
5. Enter the Name of the WorkBook and worksheet that contain the data. For example, to convert 1 Minute bars to 4 minute bars, simply enter 4. To convert 3 minute bars to 15 minute bars enter 5 (5*3=15) etc etc.
6. Finally press the “Convert” Button.  The converted data will appear in a new workbook. Save as desired.

The constant volume bar option, updates a new bar after a certain amount of volume has completed. This amount should be entered into D3 of the “Live” sheet. Checks are in place to prompt [...]]]> I have added the option of constant volume  bar charts (as alternative to time based) for the Excel/VBA based automated trading platform

The constant volume bar option, updates a new bar after a certain amount of volume has completed. This amount should be entered into D3 of the “Live” sheet. Checks are in place to prompt if the values are not entered and the constant volume is set to override the default time based bars.

Below is an example of Constant volume bar charting. You will notice that each bar contains roughly the same amount of volume.

Projected volume for the current volume bar is now displayed in grey. In the example below, the red bar shows actual volume. The grey bar shows projected volume based on the current pace of volume and the amount of time left for the current bar.

Projected volume can be useful when [...]]]> changelog for Excel/VBA Automated Trading Platform

Projected volume for the current volume bar is now displayed in grey. In the example below, the red bar shows actual volume. The grey bar shows projected volume based on the current pace of volume and the amount of time left for the current bar.

Projected volume can be useful when the current bar is relatively new and a sudden increase in the pace of volume may otherwise not be evident until the bar is nearing it’s close.

(see example shown in image below)

changelog for Excel/VBA Automated Trading Platform

This is very similar to a version I have been using for my [...]]]> In addition to the free files located under “Instructions and Downloads”, there is now a new file under “Products and Services” for live trading via Interactive Brokers. This Excel VBA based file is an all in one solution for testing, trading and charting.

This is very similar to a version I have been using for my personal trading for years. However this is a much improved version so I am pretty excited to have it completed and am in the process of converting my personal system over to this version. I hope that others find if useful.

The Youtube video below shows both live trading mode and backtesting mode.